Indian students can stay in UK if they get jobs: British minister

PANAJI: Vince Cable, Britain's secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, said that though Indian students were highest in the UK, their number has now fallen due to a wrong perception that Indian students are not welcome in the UK anymore. "The UK government did tighten rules to stop certain abuses and also acted against illegal universities, but Indian students are most welcome and can stay on in the UK if they get jobs," Cable told mediapersons in Panajion Monday. He is in Goa as part of an India tour to pursue the twin goals of business and education.

Cable explained that there are approximately 25,000 Indian students studying in the UK and genuine students studying in genuine institutions will get their visas. "There is no cap on the number of Indian students in the UK and there is provision to work after study in a graduate-level job (20,000 pounds per annum) for three years, extendable to another three years," said Cable.

He further explained that up to 700 scholarships are offered to Indians by UK institutions each year, and Britain's flagship Chevening programme, run by the Foreign and Commonwealth office, is now in its 30th year. "In 2015-16, the Chevening budget for India will increase to 2.4 million pounds, four times what it is now, which will fund 150 scholarships for Indians," said Cable, adding that 500 GREAT awards are also being offered to Indian students for undergraduate and postgraduate courses ranging from engineering, law and business to art and design.

Cable pointed out that the UK's largest visa operation in the world is in India, with 12 UK visa application centres across the country, which, in 2013, received over 4 lakh visa applications, a 5% increase from 2012, and of which 90% were successful. Visitor visas also increased by 6% to 3,16,857; work visas by 10% to 53,598; and student visitor visas by 7% to 13,608, said Cable.

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