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The UK government has announced a reduction in the post-study stay period for international students. UK Graduate Visa, UK Immigration Rules 2027, UK Post-Study Work Visa, International Students UK, Home Office Graduate Route.

Starting January 1, 2027, the Graduate visa will allow foreign students to remain in the UK for 18 months instead of the current two years. (Reuters)

The UK’s Home Office has introduced a law reducing the maximum post-study stay for foreign students to 18 months from the current two years, effective from 1 January 2027. This will reduce the time for international students to find a graduate-level job and leave the country after completing their studies.

Home Office announced that a law has been introduced in Parliament, wherein the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the current 2 years for most foreign students from 1 January 2027.

A Graduate visa permits you to stay in the UK for at least 18 months after completing an eligible course in the UK. A Graduate visa lasts for 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and for 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027.

If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years. You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example, a Skilled Worker visa. Data shows that many foreign students holding study visas had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.

The cost of studying in the UK will also go up for international students. The financial requirement for student visas will also be increased for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, meaning foreign students will have to demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support themselves.

UK announces higher fees for employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers. Currently, you need £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London and £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London. You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 days must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

UK announces tougher English language test rules for migrants. The cost of studying in the UK has also gone up after the introduction of a ‘levy on university income from international students’.

The additional fee is expected to be passed on to overseas students, making studying in the UK more expensive than before. The tuition fees for undergraduate degrees in the 2025/26 academic year have already risen by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535.

The UK is also introducing stricter English language requirements for international students entering the country for study, work, and settlement. Data shows fewer foreign students opted for the UK as a study option in 2024. UK immigration rules were modified in January 2024, which prevent students from bringing dependants, apart from those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.

However, the latest data from the Home Office shows foreign students may be making a comeback to the UK. There has been an 18% increase in total study visas issued in the first 6 months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Jennyclay:
UK and US should eat their country

They are becoming so annoying these days, they suddenly forgot they also stole from us .

They should go to hell please!!

zoedew:
Is it not better to work hard to make your space as liveable if not more liveable than Britain?

Jennyclay:
UK and US should eat their country

They are becoming so annoying these days, they suddenly forgot they also stole from us .

They should go to hell please!!

Nwaikpe:
BUt Abduls don spoil everything for Africans oh

Daniel7543:
E be like this news pain u well well.
Tell ur leaders to do the right thing in ur country, tell ur country people to drop religion nd tribalism aside and vote for the right person.

Daniel7543:
E be like this news pain u well well.
Tell ur leaders to do the right thing in ur country, tell ur country people to drop religion nd tribalism aside and vote for the right person.

Daniel7543:
E be like this news pain u well well.
Tell ur leaders to do the right thing in ur country, tell ur country people to drop religion nd tribalism aside and vote for the right person.

SmartPolician:
Many UK universities will shut down

nairalanda1:
Yep, and they stole from Singapore, the USA, and many of their former colonies who are doing well.

Nigeria's problems started when we refused, at independence, to do what South Korea, who at 1960 was behind Senegal in per captia GDP...did . An economy based on industrial growth and development

Instead we did as the USSR did. Sell resources, import consumer goods, including the ones we could make at home. At least we had the good sense to end subsides on food, otherwise we would have long since collapsed economically. Beyond the awful state we are in now

Jennyclay:
UK and US should eat their country

They are becoming so annoying these days, they suddenly forgot they also stole from us .

They should go to hell please!!

nairalanda1:
Yep, and they stole from Singapore, the USA, and many of their former colonies who are doing well.

Nigeria's problems started when we refused, at independence, to do what South Korea, who at 1960 was behind Senegal in per captia GDP...did . An economy based on industrial growth and development

Instead we did as the USSR did. Sell resources, import consumer goods, including the ones we could make at home. At least we had the good sense to end subsides on food, otherwise we would have long since collapsed economically. Beyond the awful state we are in now

FineUsername:
Na funny race especially Nigerians you dey give that advice abi?

The ironic part is that while Nigerians who have japa and even those who’ve never left the country praise developed nations for their great welfare systems, government policies, and employment opportunities, the citizens of those same countries are busy criticizing their governments for the very same things that immigrants celebrate as the best thing since orgasm.

lucianohase:
Nigeria should start thinking of travelling to other European countries and far east Asian countries like South Korea and japan

lawani:
Nigeria was bound to be poor at some point. Two million bpd of crude oil can't save the country. If your population quadrupled in fifty years you will be poor at some point before you recover