Good news as UK approves work permit for Nigerians, other graduate students

The government of the United Kingdom has announced that international students who want to work in England following the successful completion of a UK degree at bachelor’s degree level or above, or an eligible professional qualification, can now do so.

The Punch reports that Nigeria is one of the main countries sending students to the UK, adding that the numbers have increased in recent years.

VAM News gathered that according to the statistics, in 2020 over 13,000 Nigerian students were granted a UK study visa, an increase of 56% on the year before.

The British High Commission says it has approved work permits for Nigerians, other graduate students. Source: UGC It added that the British government said the graduates could look for work after their studies for a maximum period of two years and three years for Ph.D. students.

A statement by the British High Commission said this would allow the UK to retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study. The commission also noted that applications for the graduate route would open on July 1, 2021, ensuring Nigerian students would continue to choose the UK as the destination to study and build their careers.

According to the report, this was contained in a statement titled, ‘New UK post-study graduate route to open to Nigerian students this summer,’ signed by the second secretary political/head of communications, British High Commission, Dean Hurlock.

It stated: ‘’Today, the UK government has confirmed the new Graduate route will open for applications on 1 July 2021, to international students who successfully complete a degree at undergraduate level or above in the UK.

"International students on the graduate route will be able to work or look for work after their studies for a maximum period of two years (three years for Ph.D. students).

This will allow the UK to retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study.’’

The high commission also disclosed that the coronavirus concessions for students unable to travel to the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic have also been extended, recognising the continuing disruption many faces in international travel.