Earlier this year, the government announced that it would reintroduce post-study work rights for international graduates from UK universities.

While this decision has broadly been welcomed, it appears that some are confused about whether the new rules will apply to them.

The Pie News reported that the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has been inundated with calls from foreign students trying to clarify their position and whether they’ll qualify for the right to post-study work.

According to the government, the option to stay in the UK and work after completing a degree here will apply to anyone who graduates from their course from the summer of 2021 onwards. As a result, some international students are deferring their start date in order to benefit from the new rules.

Vivienne Stern, from UK Universities International, told the news provider that they want to see the new post-study work rules introduced as soon as possible.

“We are urging the government to implement the new visa route as soon as they can, to ensure that as many current students as possible can benefit,” she asserted. Ms Stern also explained that her organisation would like to see the changes to the Tier 4 visa introduced as soon as possible as well.

This will extend the right to remain in the UK to six months for undergraduate and masters students, and one year for PhD students.

Announcing the visa changes last month, home secretary Priti Patel said that it “demonstrates our global outlook and will ensure that we continue to attract the best and brightest”.

If you’re looking for help understanding the visa rules for international students, make sure you contact UK student visa consultants who can advise you on your specific situation.