The Migration Advisory Committee has proposed that the United Kingdom’s Graduate route visa’s two-year- validity should be maintained.

It, however, proposed an extension for PhD holders – recommending three years.

The committee insisted that it found no significant abuse of the Graduate route but raised concerns about recruitment agents misleading international students.

A Graduate visa permits applicants to stay in the UK for at least two years after successfully completing a course.

Also, one must be in the UK during the application.

This decision is outlined in a report titled “Rapid Review of the Graduate Route” by Asset Manager, dated May 2024.

The announcement comes amidst heightened anticipation and speculation regarding the future of post-study opportunities for international students.

The report reads, “The Migration Advisory Committee concluded that there is no substantial evidence of significant abuse of the Graduate route, defined as deliberate non-compliance with immigration regulations.

“However, they express concerns regarding the involvement of recruitment agents, particularly in certain markets, who may provide misleading information to prospective international students.

“Despite the introduction of a voluntary framework by the sector to address these concerns, the MAC questions its effectiveness, citing the lack of incentives for agents to adhere to best practices compared to universities.

“They recommend that the government consider implementing mandatory requirements to ensure good practice and advocate for universities to publish information on their use of agents to enhance transparency.

“Closure or further restrictions on the Graduate route could jeopardize the financial stability of many universities. The MAC advises against significant changes until the full impact of recent policy shifts is understood and the higher education funding model is addressed.

“Collaboration between the government and higher education sector is encouraged to align the Graduate route with labour market objectives. International graduates could be better integrated into priority sectors, benefiting both universities and the economy.

Additionally, they propose mandatory registration and quality controls for international recruitment agents to safeguard students and ensure accurate representation of UK higher education.