 "Indian students take a new way to extend their stay in UK")
Ilyas Wali, an MSc graduate from UK-based Newcastle University Business School, is the first student to be endorsed by the university for the newly-modified Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa.
Wali is into the fashion importing business. "The idea of starting my own business has always been there in my head, but I have been waiting for the right opportunity. My business aims at empowering the craft artisans of Kashmir by partnering with them to exhibit their workmanship at international buyer-seller meets as well as selling through leading worldclass fashion retailers," says Wali, who has also applied for the Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa. For this kind of visa, the university needs to endorse him.
Indian students are now using the modified Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur route to extend their stay in the UK. From April 2013 onwards, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has made changes in the Tier-I (Graduate Entrepreneur) route to include an additional 1,000 places for talented MBA graduates from UK Higher Education Institutions.
The Tier-I (Graduate Entrepreneur) limit is 2,000 places a year, of which 900 will be allocated to qualifying HEIs for endorsing graduates in any subject. Besides, 1,000 places will be allocated to qualifying HEIs for endorsing MBA graduates. Also, 100 places will be allocated to UKTI for endorsing elite global graduates.
Education consultants said though this route was available for students, it was important the university concerned backs the visa application. Each UK university is given a limit for endorsing students for this visa, based on the size and capacity of the institution. It ranges from 10 seats to 20 seats from one. Newcastle University, for instance, can endorse up to 20 students, with 10 places exclusively for MBA students.
Other institutes are also active. Derek Walker, director of Careers at Saïd Business School, said there are 10 such positions for endorsement under this visa from the institute. Walker added this would be beneficial for students to extend their stay and get into entrepreneurial ventures.
The criteria are reasonably flexible. However, candidates must have a credible and genuine business idea, supported by a robust and comprehensive business plan. Notably, this visa will not permit a holder to work as an employee in the UK.
The trend is expected to continue, say overseas consultants. "We have seen a lot of enquiries from students who would want to extend their stay in the UK for another two years under the Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa route. However, since the UK has become very stringent on these regulations, apart from being endorsed by the concerned university the applicant also needs to have a viable business plan that is scalable," said a Delhi-based foreign education consultant.
The consultant said due to this criteria, while Indian students are eager to apply, UK education institutes have also become stringent so as to not allow too many students from one country.
The UK has also made further changes in its student visa granting process. It will follow the new immigration norms under which PhD students who have completed their course can apply under Tier-IV visa to stay in the country for a further 12 months, to find skilled work or to set up a business.
Wali is into the fashion importing business. "The idea of starting my own business has always been there in my head, but I have been waiting for the right opportunity. My business aims at empowering the craft artisans of Kashmir by partnering with them to exhibit their workmanship at international buyer-seller meets as well as selling through leading worldclass fashion retailers," says Wali, who has also applied for the Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa. For this kind of visa, the university needs to endorse him.
Indian students are now using the modified Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur route to extend their stay in the UK. From April 2013 onwards, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has made changes in the Tier-I (Graduate Entrepreneur) route to include an additional 1,000 places for talented MBA graduates from UK Higher Education Institutions.
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Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa is for UK graduates who have been identified by Higher Education Institutions (HEI) as having developed credible business ideas and entrepreneurial skills to extend their stay in the UK after their study is over, to establish their business in the country. It is also for overseas graduates identified by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) as elite global graduate entrepreneurs to establish one or more business in the UK. A maximum of two years total grant of leave (one initial grant followed by an extension) is allowed under the Tier-I (Graduate Entrepreneur) category.
The Tier-I (Graduate Entrepreneur) limit is 2,000 places a year, of which 900 will be allocated to qualifying HEIs for endorsing graduates in any subject. Besides, 1,000 places will be allocated to qualifying HEIs for endorsing MBA graduates. Also, 100 places will be allocated to UKTI for endorsing elite global graduates.
Education consultants said though this route was available for students, it was important the university concerned backs the visa application. Each UK university is given a limit for endorsing students for this visa, based on the size and capacity of the institution. It ranges from 10 seats to 20 seats from one. Newcastle University, for instance, can endorse up to 20 students, with 10 places exclusively for MBA students.
Other institutes are also active. Derek Walker, director of Careers at Saïd Business School, said there are 10 such positions for endorsement under this visa from the institute. Walker added this would be beneficial for students to extend their stay and get into entrepreneurial ventures.
The criteria are reasonably flexible. However, candidates must have a credible and genuine business idea, supported by a robust and comprehensive business plan. Notably, this visa will not permit a holder to work as an employee in the UK.
The trend is expected to continue, say overseas consultants. "We have seen a lot of enquiries from students who would want to extend their stay in the UK for another two years under the Tier-I Graduate Entrepreneur visa route. However, since the UK has become very stringent on these regulations, apart from being endorsed by the concerned university the applicant also needs to have a viable business plan that is scalable," said a Delhi-based foreign education consultant.
The consultant said due to this criteria, while Indian students are eager to apply, UK education institutes have also become stringent so as to not allow too many students from one country.
The UK has also made further changes in its student visa granting process. It will follow the new immigration norms under which PhD students who have completed their course can apply under Tier-IV visa to stay in the country for a further 12 months, to find skilled work or to set up a business.