The United Kingdom on Tuesday reduced the post-study work period for international students, including Nigerians, from two years to 18 months, effective from January 2027.
This was announced by the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, on October 14, while outlining the reasons for requiring immigrants to meet an A-level standard in English Language.
According to a statement released on the UK government’s website on Wednesday, the duration for foreign students to secure a graduate-level job after completing their studies will now be limited to 18 months instead of the current two years.
The statement read, “Laid in changes before Parliament this week, the measures form part of the government’s flagship immigration white paper and Plan for Change to deliver on the priorities of working people for tighter control of who comes to this country while continuing to attract top global talent.
“The time for international students to find a graduate-level job after completing their studies will also be cut to 18 months from the current two years. The immigration skills charge (ISC), which is paid by employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers and reinvested in training the domestic workforce, is being raised by 32%.
“The ISC increase is the first since 2017 and will be used to boost investment in British workers and reduce reliance on overseas recruitment. The Parliamentary process to increase the charge will begin later this week. To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the current 2 years for most from 1 January 2027. It comes after data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.”
Recently, the UK also announced that an additional fee will be imposed on international students, making education in the country more expensive than before.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programmes in the 2025/26 academic year have already risen by 3.1%, increasing from £9,250 to £9,535.
Furthermore, stricter English language standards are being introduced for international students entering the country for study, employment, and settlement purposes.
Statistics indicate that fewer foreign students chose the UK as their study destination in 2024.
UK immigration regulations were earlier revised in January 2024 to stop students from bringing dependents, except for those enrolled in postgraduate research programmes or courses funded by government scholarships.
