UK Visa Uncertainty Puts MRes Programmes in the Crosshairs
The UK's recent spike in international applications for Master of Research (MRes) qualification have stirred an unexpectedly sharp reaction across the higher education and international recruitment sectors, with many questioning the motivations behind the massive increase in applications from Africa and South Asia. At the centre of the storm is the decision to downgrade or limit post-study work rights and dependant visa eligibility for students on postgraduate taught programmes, while PhD students are still eligible for three years post-study work and dependants are eligible for visas due to the length of a PhD.
The move has triggered frustration from universities, consternation from international education agents, and a flurry of questions from prospective students caught in limbo. Unlike standard one-year master’s courses, the MRes is a research-heavy postgraduate qualification, often serving as a pathway to doctoral study. Yet in the most recent guidance issued to immigration compliance officers, the Home Office appeared to reclassify it in a way that raised doubts over its suitability for Graduate Route eligibility—despite being a recognised master’s-level qualification.
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