We have broken down the results of our survey of international student views of the post-study work route by subject and level of study to see which students most value the post-study work route option.
As part of its consultation on student visas the UK Border Agency is proposing to close or restrict the post-study work route that enables international students to seek employment in the UK for up to two years after graduation.
Although PSW is important to overseas students from all subjects and levels of study, we have found that it is slightly more important to students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) subjects, and to taught postgraduates, such as Masters students.
For example, 77 per cent of STEM students said PSW was very important in their decision to come to the UK to study, compared with 64 per cent of Arts and Humanities students.
Likewise, 62 per cent of undergraduate students said they would not have chosen to study in the UK without the post-study work route, whereas 78 per cent of taught postgraduates said this was the case.
This shows that PSW is the most important to the highly-skilled international students the UK most wishes to attract.