Jardine wins Government concession on No Grade Graduations and Visas

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has received assurances from the UK Government that overseas students who have not received their results due to the grade boycott will be able to extend their discretionary permission and will be exceptionally exempt from meeting academic progression requirements.

Christine raised the issue at Education questions in Parliament today, urging the Government to address the issue affecting her constituents studying at the University of Edinburgh.

Before this intervention, some international students graduating from university this term and intending to take up places on Masters or PhD courses this autumn, but without final degree classification due to the ongoing marking and assessment boycott, were being left with no choice but to return to their country of origin to reapply for a new student visa. 

Christine said, "I am delighted that the Government has listened to our calls, acknowledged the absurdity of this situation and has offered a solution. 

“Sending students off on a labyrinthine journey to reapply for a fresh visa was clearly ridiculous, and risked jeopardising students’ futures and livelihoods so I am glad that the Government has changed tack.

“These students have worked for years, taken on debt, dealt with Covid restrictions and are now facing ending their university life in such a regrettable fashion.  

“Students who would have otherwise enjoyed a summer in Scotland before moving on to their Masters programme were facing a mad dash back to their home countries that could cost them thousands of pounds in order to apply for a fresh visa. 

"I will now await the Minister's letter with further details and to confirm these necessary changes.”