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UK Home Office has launched the Student Route visa system replacing Tier 4 with a 70 points requirement for international students on 5 October 2020. UK Government announced that the new Student Route visa system, originally set for a launch early 2021, will be launched on 5 October 2020 in a bid to attract ‘the best and brightest international students from across the globe’.

The new Student route system, Home Office said, ‘improves’ on the Tier 4 student visa route by making it ‘more streamlined for sponsoring [British educational] institutions and their students, creating clearer pathways for students, and ensuring the UK remains competitive’ in the global higher and further education market.

Students will require a minimum of 70 points for UK Student Route visa

With the implementation of the Student Route, international students will now have to meet a minimum points requirement to qualify for the UK student visa. International students applying for a student visa will require a total minimum of 70 points to be granted leave.

Overseas students will be able to achieve the required points total by demonstrating that they have been granted admission at a UK educational institution eligible to sponsor foreign students, meet English language requirements, and evidence they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their studies in the UK.

PSW Graduate Route will follow Student Route implementation

Once the Student Route is implemented replacing the Tier 4 system, the UK is set to reintroduce the PSW post-study work visa system in the form of the Graduate Route by summer 2021.

All graduates after 6 April 2021 will be eligible for the 2-year UK PSW visa, with international students completing their PhD in the UK eligible for 3 years PSW unlike 2 years for postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Dependants of postgraduate students with the PSW visa will also be eligible to work for the duration of the graduate’s stay in the UK.