Stricter visa rules and fewer scholarships have been forcing students to think twice about studying in the UK, which is known to offer quality education in several fields.
As per data published by the US-based Higher Education Statistics Agency recently, there was a 23.5 per cent drop in the number of Indian students in the UK in 2012. India, however, remains the second-most common country of origin for foreign students in Britain after China.
“South Indian cities like Bangalore and Chennai are extremely important to us, as we get many students wanting to pursue either engineering or management in the U.K.,” said Rachel Sunderland, senior marketing manager, Bournsemouth University.
Changes to the post-study work visa from April last year removed the option for most foreign students to stay and work for two years after their studies, which is why, say experts, the number of postgraduate students travelling from non-EU countries to study at UK universities fell for the first time in 16 years
“Now students can no longer remain in the country to work. This is a major deterrent. The fee for UK universities for a one-year postgraduate course is over £11,000 and an equal amount is needed for stay and food,” said Rama Prasad, a final-year engineering student. “It would be difficult to repay the student loan if I am not able to work there for two years post-studies,” she said.
Figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that fewer than 30,000 students from India were studying at UK higher education institutions in 2011-12, compared to around 40,000 in the previous year. . which sent 79,000 students last year.
Many universities have been warning the UK government that recent changes to student visa rules mean they face losing bright foreign students to rival colleges in the US, Canada and Australia where procuring the work visa is relatively simpler.
A visa officer from the UK High Commission while interacting with students who visited the one-day Education@UK exhibition organised by British Council on Sunday, advised them to communicate frequently with their sponsoring universities when they were involved in visa processes, which are constantly changing.
This year, students opting for a course with a duration of over six months, will also have to undergo a pre-entry tuberculosis screening.
Consultants however say the decline is not a worrying trend.
“Now we find many students, very focussed in specific areas of studies wanting to go to the UK. What is appealing about education in the UK is that it becomes easier to go to other European countries. You can finish mechanical engineering in Britain and work in Germany,” said Mohammed Ghani, director, Limra Overseas Educational Consultants.
Students are hopeful too. “Under new rules, students can stay for three years post-study if they find graduate-level jobs. Earlier, UK recruiters used to hire Indian nationals only if they did not find anyone suitable from an EU country for that specific job. Now that might change, said Vishwanath Rajan, an IT employee who was looking to pursue a management course in the UK.
Keywords: UK visa, student visa, studies abroad
The Hindu Staff Reporter has said correctly but generally. Post-Study
Work has been stopped. Not withdrawn. This is due to Economic
Recession and every nation's law says (Not only says, it is
understood) that their citizens are first.
The unemployment number in UK has come to 80,000 which would be
favourable and normalized by 2014 after the bail out of USD (Logically
speaking it is stupid, but whole world depend on them).
Especially employment is not easily sought for GENERAL Management
(MBA) & Engineering (EEE, ECE, IT) students whereas students with
tough technical specialization are given 1st preference.
It means, Finance, Genetics, Architecture, International Accounting,
Banking, Operational Research etc...
UK is not a place to get degrees to mentioned back of our name. A
place of interest, enthusiasm and exploration of new & different
things.
I strongly say this as am a "Portsmouth University - UK" student.
Simple rule of thumb. Go to UK with your Dad's excess money but not with a education loan because u'll end up being bankrupt after you finish your MS there. there is no glamour which most of the students think about UK. you come to UK only if your dad had earned enough which will not make any difference if you spend 25 lakhs ending up without any job in UK. unlike US which is a vast and a free society UK is still a small and a moderate society which does not have jobs for its own population then it comes the EU nations and last the Non EU nations so we are the last and out preferenced.
There is no need to feel upset. SWADESHI is the answer. Even if Indian Institutions are not world-class, so be it. We will live with this inadequacy, this flaw., and still move on. These things take time. Institutions need decades to achieve excellence.
Let us study in 3rd class institutions.. and yet emerge 1st class students.. and workers. If we smile and move on., imbibe SWADESHI in academia.. no one can stop us. We have this huge country. We have human resources. With our two hands, we can change the face of India.
India's economy will not grow due to exports. We dont care. We have to produce goods and services for our local population. That is enough to feed / sustain us.
SWADESHI.. AH ! SWADESHI !
SHAM! Do not be lulled by the words, the situation here is pretty worse than expected. Students from the top 4 schools, LBS, LSE, Oxford Cambridge MIGHT stand a chance of getting recruited. As for working elsewhere in Europe, say goodbye to it. All non-English speaking nations (France, Germany etc) require a knowledge of their local language. If you do not possess it, there is no chance of securing employment. The UK market is the least favourable market for Indians, as we are still seen as IT geeks, and not possessing any transferable skills. I have been here over the last 6 years and this is the ground reality. Enough said! Further choice and the resulting burden lies at your doorstep.
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