On Thursday 10th September, the government introduced rules for a simplified points-based visa system slated to commence from 5 October 2020 for all overseas students. As part of the new system students will be required to achieve 70 points to be granted an appropriate visa to study in a UK-designated university.
The students will achieve the required points if they can demonstrate that they have an offer from an approved educational institution, speak English and are able to support themselves during their course term.
But there are not large number of takers for such socially-distanced courses. Kolkata based 23-year old Rohan Sharma was slated to pursue his MBA at the University of Greenwich in London. He had already received a confirmation from the university and paid £3000 as his deposit. He was only left with his visa processing when in March the UK government announced a nationwide lockdown.
He said, “As the cases started to increase both across the UK and in India, my parents decided that with all the uncertainty, it was better if I dropped the idea of studying oversees this year. Now, I have joined my father’s business, coming up with strategies to help him stay afloat.
“Despite, all the measures introduced by the government, my parents are still not convinced about letting me travel as their friends have spoken about their daughters and sons living stranded and in poor conditions. And, I was not intent on distance learning classes because the campus experience in the UK would have helped me with all networking opportunities and perhaps, helped with me gain industry experience as well after the completion of my degree.”
The social distancing rules are introduced at a time when Conservative thinktanks have warned the government to transform British Universities’ heavy reliance on international students. Overseas students from South and South East Asian and American countries pay tuition fees twice as that of students from EU, EEA and the UK. Now, a sizeable number of foreign students are choosing to either defer plans of studying in the UK owing to fears of coronavirus or are struggling to shore up the funds needed to sustain their basic living in the UK. As a result, universities are seen struggling to remain afloat and fund their research programs with many Russell Group universities previously announcing permanent closure if they did not receive any assistance from the Chancellor. While they have yet, to receive any government bailout, these universities have been authorised to resume lectures and kick-start Spring semesters with socially distanced public health guidelines.
Chief Executive of the Russell Group Dr Tim Bradshaw said, “The UK is a global leader in higher education, research and innovation. As we look to the UK’s future place in the world, we want to protect our hard-won status and the opportunities it provides to help with the economic recovery of towns and cities across Britain - as well as finding solutions to the wider challenges that face our society.
“We welcome these changes to the immigration rules, which will help to ensure the UK remains an internationally attractive place for the best and brightest students to study. We will continue to work with the government to ensure our visa system remains flexible and responsive to developing issues, such as those emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.”
Disclaimer: Education is a very important pathway to pursue a career. Beware of fake educational agents operating across different parts of India including cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. There are reports that some are operating in bad faith and to make easy money.
