Government unveils new cuts to graduate visas

The UK government has decided to shorten graduate visas by six months under new legislation passed in October. 

The changes will see the time international graduates can stay in the country reduced from two years to 18 months.

The reduction was included in new legislation introduced to Parliament on 14 October and will apply to students applying for a graduate visa from 1 January 2027.

These changes were first announced in the government’s White Paper on immigration in May earlier this year, which indicated the government’s intentions to reduce migration across all types of visas.

In her foreword, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper sets out: “This government is determined to bring net migration down and restore control and order to the immigration system.”

Universities have criticised the changes, arguing they may negatively impact the competitiveness of the UK labour market and … cause declines in enrolment

The government believes that this change will ensure more graduates effectively contribute to the UK economy. An accompanying statement from the Home Office explained: “Data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.”

The impact of this change will be subject to continuing debate.

An impact assessment released by the Home Office suggests: “The Graduate route changes are expected to have a modest impact on Student visa demand. It is provisionally estimated a long-term reduction of approximately 12,000 Student visa applications per annum.”

However, universities have criticised the changes, arguing they may negatively impact the competitiveness of the UK labour market and have a similar impact to previous visa changes, which caused declines in enrolment.

Dr Mark Bennett, Vice President of Research and Insight at Keystone Education Group, shares this view and has suggested that these policies will have an impact on the attractiveness of the UK for higher education study. He argues that despite the recent increase in interest for studying in the UK: “The news that (most) of those students will now receive a shorter post-study-work entitlement is definitely going to have an impact. The question is: how much?”