Changes to the UK’s post-study work visa will apply from the start of 2027, the Home Office has confirmed.

The time international graduates can stay in the country is being reduced from the current two years to 18 months.

The change – first announced in the government’s White Paper on immigration earlier this year – was included in new legislation introduced to Parliament on 14 October.

Universities have been deeply opposed to the reduction, arguing that employment rights are a key factor international students use in deciding where to study.

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Confirming the maximum stay will be shortened from 1 January 2027, the Home Office said it wanted to “ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy”.

Data has shown “that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended”, the statement added.

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Current rules state students can stay after graduating from a UK course, with no restrictions on what job they must obtain, or how much money they need to earn.

The government is thought to have considered insisting that applicants acquire a graduate-level job in order to qualify for the visa before eventually deciding just to shorten it by six months.

Critics have questioned the effectiveness of such a plan, saying it is unlikely to make a difference to overall migration numbers.

But universities fear it may hurt the UK’s competitiveness at a time when it is beginning to recover from steep declines in enrolments caused by the last set of visa changes, introduced in January 2024.

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The Home Office is also raising the immigration skills charge (ISC), paid by employers who sponsor skilled foreign workers, by 32 per cent. It said the money will be reinvested in training the domestic workforce.

While the government was cutting back on some forms of immigration, it said it wanted to “position the UK as a global leader in attracting highly skilled talent”.

Changes being made include expanding the “high potential individual (HPI) route to graduates from the top 100 international universities”.

It is aiming to double the number of people coming to the UK through this route from 2,000 to 4,000, with a cap of 8,000 applications a year.

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com