Students from India offered six percent more Tier 4 visas in the UK

The data from the Government of the UK has revealed that the overseas students from India were offered six percent higher Tier 4 visas as compared to the statistics of 2009 and this was for the first time. The Office of National Statistics has revealed that 8, 692 overseas students from India were approved visas in the period for July to September 2016. This was an increase of 468 visas as compared to the statistics for the same period in 2015. The period between 2015 and 2016 witnessed an increase of 5 percent in the Tier 4 visas that were offered to the overseas Indian students which was the highest hike since 2013 with 9,207. The decrease in the last three years was considered to be because of removal of work visas after studies in 2012 that were attracting a large number of students, as quoted by the Study International. The statistics also recorded a hike of 2.6 percent for the Tier 4 visas that were given in the quarter three for 2016 to the applicants across the world when compared to the same quarter in the year 2015. Director of Education at British Council India, Richard Everitt has said that the increase was a significant breakthrough point in the market which was a result of the third quarter being a crucial period. Enhanced association between education institutions for higher studies in India and the UK has helped to enhance the clarity in the application process for Tier 4 visas. The increase in the UK scholarship prospects for students in India was also responsible for the increase in visas, added Everitt. The students from India who have been popular to pursue conventional subjects of study such as engineering and business were also making choices of a wider variety of subjects. The current trends of the study indicate that overseas students from India are choosing subjects such as fashion, media, and law. The universities in UK have good opportunities for pursuing these choices, added Everitt. Director of Universities UK International, Vivienne Stern also added that the increase in visas was a constructive sign of immigration industry’s efforts to encourage the opportunities for higher education for Indian students in the UK. These efforts are also producing results to some extent now, added Vivienne. Student’s visas for Indians were also a key issue during the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India.