FE News quotes Adam Kyte on the MAC's review of the graduate visa route

The Migration Advisory Committee recently published its ‘Rapid Review of the Graduate Route‘. The report finds that the route is ‘not undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system’ and indeed confirms that it supports the Government’s International Education Strategy.

The Review is unequivocal in its recommendation to government to maintain the Graduate Visa route.  

Adam Kyte, Associate, comments on the review for FE News:

It’s a relief to see that the MAC has recognised the value of the Graduate route to the UK; not only for the higher education sector but also for UK employers, whom we increasingly see having to rely this route to fill skills shortages given the increasing costs and salary restrictions for Skilled Worker visas.

There is a widening gap at the junior end of the UK employment market following the introduction of higher salary thresholds for Skilled Workers. The Graduate route serves a dual purpose of providing a stepping stone to more senior or higher paid roles, and a source of temporary employment which both the graduate and the UK can benefit from.

Suggestions of “abuse” of the Graduate route fall away in the face of the data: 63% of Graduate visa holders are in salaried employment within the first month of their visa, with 61% in employment for the full first 12 months of the visa.  It is particularly interesting that the research shows domestic graduates and Graduate visa holders filling similar roles across industry, with similar earnings within 18 months post-graduation.

Read the full piece in FE News here.