Britain introduces pilot visa scheme for foreign students

Britain has introduced a pilot visa scheme for foreign students who wish to apply for a Masters degree course in select universities. This would facilitate them to stay in the UK for six months after having completed their courses. Known as the Tier 4 Visa Pilot Scheme, it was launched by the UK Home Office in the last week of July. Eligible for the scheme are students who bag admission for a one-year’s Master course at Imperial College London, Cambridge, Oxford or Bath universities. Students are given access to a rationalised visa application, which presents them with an opportunity to stay in the UK six months after having completed their studies in order to work, to travel or float a new venture. Imperial College London’s president, Professor Alice Gast, is quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying that this scheme would benefit the students and their country as their graduates would add value to Britain by pursuing their entrepreneurial concepts, studying further and improving the UK’s talent pool. To be eligible for this pilot scheme, visa applications should be decided on or after 25 July this year and students must be enrolling for studies in the academic years of 2016-17 or 2017-18. They also need to apply for a visa for Masters degree of 13 months or less. The scheme is expected to be trialled for two years, after which it could be made permanent or altered based on the popularity it achieves. A report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England has revealed that the number Indian students enrolling in the UK educational institutions declined to 10, 235 in 2012-13 from 18,535 in 2010-11. It is expected this new pilot scheme may up the numbers again. If you want to pursue higher education in the UK, come over to Y-Axis and avail our professional guidance to file for a student visa at one of our 19 offices located in the major cities of India.