EU students may be going elsewhere — shrinking policies and fierce competition
International students at British universities are to be allowed to stay in the UK for two years after graduating, compared with four months currently. However, it may be not good news for the EU students. This not only means that they will have more competitors, but after Brexit, they will also face more tense policies, and Britain will restrict the movement of people with EU countries to a certain extent.
“I am lucky to be an EU student.” Amber, a UCL student from Slovakia, replied when I asked about the work visa. She didn’t know that I was going to tell her next that Britain’s mobility policy will be tightened after Brexit.
After I told her, although she was a little glad, I could tell that she didn’t like the idea. “I hope there will be some sort of agreement between the UK and EU to make like conditions better for EU students. If not, there will be probably less student studying in the UK” Obviously, this is also the concern of other EU students.
However, Nancy, a PhD student from India, shows her ambition: “It’s going to be very difficult, it’s going to be competitive. But in other ways, I think there will be more opportunities for other countries people. Because before when we did not have any work Visa, it was difficult for international students to get Tier 2. Because the preference was given for only home students and European students, but now I think since after Brexit be more opportunities for us.”