The UK government has issued updated guidance to confirm that international students, including indians, will remain eligible for post-study work rights at the end of their degree course even if they have to begin the 2020-21 academic year online from abroad given the coronavirus lockdown. The UK home office said the Graduate Visa route, commonly referred to as a post-study work visa and designed for overseas students to be able to work or look for work for two years after completing their course, will apply to the 2020-21 intake as long as they are physically present in the UK by april 2021 to complete the final semester.
"Students will normally be expected to undertake their studies in the UK to be eligible for the Graduate route. However, if students are required to either continue their current studies or commence a new course by distance or blended learning due to COVID-19, they will still be eligible to switch into the Graduate route on a concessionary basis f they spent some time studying outside the UK," notes the home office guidance issued this week.
"Students will benefit from this concession if they enter the UK before 6 april 2021 and complete the final semester of their studies in the UK," it says. A number of UK universities have indicated plans for a so-called blended teaching approach, incorporating online as well as some physical lessons, as the coronavirus lockdown and social distancing rules remain in place around the world.
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