The UK is a diverse country that invites a large number of students to study every year. It is not rare to find students who visit the UK for education and plan to stay there as well. It may look promising to have a life in the UK after college, but it requires long and complex documentation to get a visa.

Undergraduates and postgraduates may face somewhat similar visa-related problems, but postgraduates, who are pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes, struggle more uniquely due to the nature, duration, and expectations of their studies. Some of which we have tried to address here.

A Long Career but a Few Days

Students who plan to stay in the UK often start their planning beforehand. Postgraduate degrees (such as Master’s) last for one year full-time. This provides students with very little time to adjust to life in the UK. To gain experience, they need to look for internships as well while juggling their education.

Postgraduates are often busy exploring the Graduate Route Visa opportunity, which gives them the chance to stay and work for at least two years after finishing their studies. This visa allows Master’s and Bachelor’s to stay for almost two years, whereas for PhDs, it grants three years of work and stay.

Although this visa cannot be extended, students can switch to the Skilled Worker Visa when they manage to get a qualifying job.

Depending on Dependants

According to the recent changes in January 2024, dependants are not allowed for students who are enrolled in the Taught Master’s Programme. That was the most controversial shift that UK immigration put forward, which interfered with the plans of many postgraduates.

This can lead a postgraduate applicant to feel isolated and emotionally stressed, making it harder for them to focus on their studies. They are often seen asking, “Can I pay someone to write my assignment?” It can be challenging for anyone to leave their home to get a better education. The lack of emotional support from family, which a person needs by their side, can result in a decrease in academic performance.

Dependents are only allowed for applicants who are enrolled in a Research-Based Programme (MPhil and PhD).

A Skill of Achieving a Skilled Worker Visa

The first thing that postgraduates go for is to switch their Graduate Route Visa into a Skilled Work Visa, which is a big struggle. Since the Graduate Route Visa provides only two to three years of work, which is not a very long time. For a lot of students, it becomes nearly impossible to switch to their Skilled Worker Visa because of many reasons, such as:

• Two to three years of work experience in the UK is not enough to prove one’s capability in their respective field.
• Skilled Worker Visa requires sponsorship from the employer, who may hesitate to give it to their employee because of the time-consuming process of the visa and not enough trust in the person who has been working for only two to three years.
• The majority of the students who dream of studying in the UK go for the creative fields (arts and social sciences). In such fields, the chance of sponsorship is rare.

When Academics Require More than Performance

The postgraduate coursework is intense and research-based, requiring them to balance their thesis projects and part-time jobs. International postgraduates are expected to navigate visa compliance, which refers to how well these students and their universities are following the visa rules and immigration laws set by the UK Home Office.

Visa compliance can be overwhelming for students to follow sometimes, because of the demanding conditions, which include:

• Studying full-time.
• No unauthorised absences.
• No work beyond the limit suggested (20 hours per week).
• Any changes regarding contact details, accommodation, or any detail.
• No public funds.
• Valid enrolment and CAS.

Taking care of visa compliance, along with studies, a feeling of isolation, and cultural differences, leaves postgraduates emotionally exhausted. In order to stay afloat, these students often reach out to Assignment Writing Services UK so their studies don’t get affected.

Sometimes, even a failed module or delayed dissertation submission can trigger a report to the UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration). It is not an uncommon practice for postgraduates to approach Dissertation Writing Services UK to evade such an offence in their visa status.

From Student to Professional

After passing out of university through a lot of hard work and a little bit of online exam help, postgraduates move towards professional life and a career stage. Studying for a long time in the UK, a lot of postgraduates make it their goal to:

• Get settled in the UK, even if they have to go through complex documentation.
• A lot of postgraduates understand that switching to a skilled work visa means depending on an employer for sponsorship. So, they aim to start their own business instead.
• Postgraduates who have left their spouse or children behind plan to bring them to the UK as well, to provide a better lifestyle and opportunities.

It may sound promising, but the visa processing in the UK for immigration can sometimes be exhausting.

Visa Categories and Opportunities to Grab

The UK provides several visas that can lead to permanent settlement and immigration; some of them are listed below:

1. Global Talent Visa – A five-year visa attracts highly skilled and talented individuals, who are sometimes promising in the fields of academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technology.
2. Innovator Founder Visa – A three-year visa (can be extended) has replaced the Start-up Visa since July 2023. This visa attracts individuals who want to start an innovative business in the UK.
3. Health and Care Work Visa – A five-year visa, which is a subset of the Skilled Work Visa, invites individuals who are in high demand in the NHS and care sector.

Final Thoughts

It is not an unknown fact how tiring visa processing can sometimes be. But the UK still welcomes students from across the world and wants to give them a chance to fulfil their dreams. There is still a large number of students who are willing to face the hurdles just to study in the UK. However, it would be better to make it more accessible and easier for students to navigate the visa process, so that their student life and mental well-being are not too much affected.

Comments (0 Comments)