In a speech at the Embassy Education Conference in London published on the U.K.’s government website on July 23, U.K. Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Philipson, made clear that the country values and welcomes international students.
The speech reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the graduate visa route.
Specifically, U.K.’s current graduate route visa will remain in place to let international students stay to work in the country for two years after graduating, and as announced by Philipson, it will rise to three years for PhD graduates.
Highlighting the new government’s recognition of the significant contributions made by international students, Phillipson said: “International students are welcome in the U.K. This new government values their contribution – to our universities, to our communities, to our country.”
According to statistics from the U.K. government, study visa applications dropped to 34,000 in the first quarter this year, a decrease from 46,900 applications in 2022.
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