In a relief to thousands of students from India who are planning to go to the United Kingdom this year, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended the continuation of the graduate route work visa, also known as PSW or post-study work visa, in its current form.

This visa enables international students to work for two years in the UK after graduating from a British university such as a Russell Group university (top institutions) like Oxford, Cambridge or LSE, or a non-Russell Group one such as Sussex, SOAS and University of West London.

For the unversed, the committee was entrusted with the task by Home Secretary James Cleverly to review the graduate route visa and submit the report on May 14.

Key findings of the report:

Will the graduate rote visa be axed, as was anticipated by some sections of students and agents?

No, the visa category will continue in its current form, the MAC report has noted.

During the review, did they find that the objectives of introducing this category were met?

It is mentioned in the report that there was a target of six lakh international students in the UK which was meant to be achieved by 2030. However, this target has been met way before the deadline. While it is difficult to assess the contribution of the graduate route towards meeting of this target, the review shows it has played a major role.

“Based on our analysis, the graduate route is broadly achieving its objectives and supporting the International Education Strategy. We recommend retaining the graduate route in its current form,” the report reads.