SAUWS to support the ‘Post Study Work Visa’ campaign to enable non-EU students (and potentially EU students as well if Brexit happens) who want to work in the UK to do so once they have graduated. SAUWS should also support the ‘Post Study Work Visa Now’ campaign which was recently started by several Scottish students' associations.
Why you think it is important
International students pay staggering amounts of money in tuition fees, visa costs, and NHS bills and as such are being treated like cash cows. The current salary requirement to stay in the UK on a Tier 2 Visa is anywhere between £21,000 to £41,000 depending on the type of job, the current average starting salary for new graduates in Scotland is £21,000, some of which are as little as £17,000. At UWS we have 2,560 non-EU students and 1,268 EU students, with the uncertainty around Brexit, current EU students may also be affected in the future meaning we are potentially losing all this talent and expertise year on year.
Is there anything else you think we should know?
Most of the students affected by the rules around Post Study Visas are being forced to go home unjustly despite having built their lives in their city of study, and despite making the UK culturally, socially, intellectually and financially stronger. It is a disgrace that international graduates are otherwise forced to leave or otherwise deported. In addition, since the abolishment of Post Study Visas (Fresh Talent Scheme) in 2012, the Scottish Government has continuously supported post-study work visa schemes and highlighted the need for a specific post-study work pathway for international students in Scotland.
I have read the guidance on what makes a good policy on the student council page
Passed Feb 2019