Select committee: Scottish Affairs Committee
Conclusion 78
First Report - Universities and Scotland
Published 28 May 2021
Addressed to Scotland Office
Scottish Affairs Committee Universities and Scotland All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The UK Government has also announced, as recommended by our predecessor Committee,185 a new Graduate visa route—initially piloted in Scotland with great success186—which will open for applications from 1 July 2021. This will allow undergraduates to remain in the UK to work for up to two years after successfully completing their studies.187 This visa route will be unsponsored, meaning that applicants will not need a job offer to apply. In addition, there will be no minimum salary requirements or caps on numbers.188 After the two years, students will be able to switch onto a Skilled work visa if they find a job which meets certain skill requirements.189 Matt Crilly said to us that the introduction of the post-study work visa was “incredibly welcome” and “vital”.190 Scottish Government influence over UK immigration policy
From: Scottish Affairs Committee, First Report - Universities and Scotland (HC 54), 28 May 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 27 April 2022 (deadline 28 July 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response sets out continued work with the devolved administrations and existing UK-wide policies on international students, immigration, research funding and talent, and states it will submit a response to the earlier Immigration and Scotland report "shortly".
- On the Turing Scheme, it confirmed funding for three years, including "£110 million for the 2022/23 Academic Year". It states the scheme "prioritises pupils, students and learners over staff and inward mobility funding", and says the first year's impact will be evaluated.
- On Erasmus+, it states that President Von Der Leyen "has previously confirmed that association by part of a country is not legally possible".
- On UKRI, it states that Board appointees "are not recruited to represent any constituency, sector or regional grouping", while a legal requirement to have regard to research conditions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is taken into account. It says Research England's place on the Executive Committee reflects its status as a legal component of UKRI.
- On visa costs, it states that "UK visa fees are broadly in line with our competitors" and that it will "continue to keep visa fees under review".