The Graduate Immigration Route (GIR) was introduced on July 1st, 2021, allowing all international students in the UK enrolling after July 2021 to remain in the UK for two years upon completing their course. The GIR, formerly known as the post-study work visa, was initially introduced in 2007 before being discontinued on April 6, 2012. It was then reintroduced in 2021 under the name GIR. However, within just 3 years of its reintroduction, the UK government has ordered a review for multiple factors.
First, let us understand why GIR is so important to Indian students. India is a highly price-sensitive market, which means that most students rely on external funding such as bank loans, grants, and scholarships to fulfil their dream of studying abroad. According to data shared by public sector banks, over 4,60,000 Indian students availed bank loans to study abroad, with almost 10% of them using loans to study medicine. Additionally, the scholarships offered by universities are the third biggest factor in choosing where to study (after ranking and career prospects). GIR allows Indian students to stay back, enabling them to gain international work experience, multicultural exposure, and a partial return on investment (significantly reducing the debt borrowed to support their studies). Hence, unlike some other markets such as China and MENA, the opportunity to stay back in the UK is highly valued by Indian students.
Growing numbers
So why is the UK government reviewing the GIR visa? Since the scheme’s introduction in 2021, there has been tremendous growth in the number of Indian students studying in the UK, with the number rising from 37,500 in 2019 to 133,237 in 2023, a 350% increase in just 4 years. The UK Home Office has reported that it has issued 1,75,872 GIR visas since the route‘s introduction in 2021. UK Home Secretary James Cleverly recently ordered the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent, non-departmental body that advises the UK government on migration issues, to review the impact and usage of the GIR by international students.
The Migration Advisory Committee has been tasked with examining five key areas:
1. Determining evidence of abuse: The government wants to ensure that the GIR is not being used by international students as a means to gain entry into the UK through the backdoor, especially for those who are not genuinely interested in study in the UK.
2. Identify which universities are issuing the most GIR visas and how the numbers have increased.
3. Assessing whether the GIR is actually helping international students find suitable opportunities in the UK.
4. Analysing how the UK benefits from the GIR regarding skillset and contribution to the economy.
5. Most importantly, determining whether the GIR is attracting the best and brightest students from around the world, which was the primary objective of introducing the visa.
Date of final decision
While the Migration Advisory Committee has been given a deadline of May 14 to submit their review to Home Secretary James Cleverly, it is unlikely that we will have a final decision soon after. The government has not announced a date for the final verdict, but it is predicted that it may come out in July or even later, as the government might need time to examine the review report from MAC.
Will GIR stay or go
Honestly, it is difficult to say, as only those involved in the process have access to this information. Considering the economic, cultural, and diversity benefits that international students bring to UK universities, it is unlikely that there will be a blanket ban on the GIR. According to industry experts and veterans, the government may link the visa to grades, subjects, or even a selected group of universities. It is also predicted that any decision regarding the GIR is less likely to affect students planning to study in the UK in September 2024 and may impose restrictions on future students planning to commence their studies after January 2025. There are many uncertainties, but we may only be able to answer them once we know the final verdict.
Way forward
Since the final verdict is not expected before the summer, it is best for students to continue their application process and secure university offers. Please note that most UK universities do not charge an application fee, so there is no loss for the student if they decide not to pursue the offers eventually (based on the verdict). Since students are not expected to finalise their plans until September, they have enough time to decide. They may even want to secure admission to the university of their choice by paying the necessary deposit (part of the tuition fee); however, they should check with the university about the refund policy if they decide to change their plans based on the final verdict (expected in June/July or later).
(Views expressed are personal)
(The author is co-founder, Gresham Global)