Rumours circulating on TikTok and X that the government will scrap the Graduate visa route in November and give foreign students only 30 days to leave have been debunked by fact-checking charity Full Fact. Its 29 Oct 2025 report confirms that while the upcoming Immigration Bill will shorten the post-study stay from two years to 18 months (three years for PhDs) from 1 Jan 2027, the route will remain open.
The clarification matters for universities and employers reliant on international-graduate talent. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, more than 67,000 Graduate visas were granted in 2024-25, with Indian nationals accounting for 43 %. Misinterpretation of the new rules had already prompted some students to accelerate job searches or postpone U.K. enrolment.
HR teams planning early-career hiring pipelines should note that graduates who obtain the visa before 2027 will still receive the full two-year permission. Sponsors should update recruitment collateral and FAQs to avoid reputational damage. Education agents predict that reducing stay length could shift some demand towards Canada and Australia but believe the impact will be modest if messaging is clear.
The episode highlights how fast-moving social-media narratives can disrupt mobility planning, underscoring the need for real-time policy monitoring.
The clarification matters for universities and employers reliant on international-graduate talent. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, more than 67,000 Graduate visas were granted in 2024-25, with Indian nationals accounting for 43 %. Misinterpretation of the new rules had already prompted some students to accelerate job searches or postpone U.K. enrolment.
HR teams planning early-career hiring pipelines should note that graduates who obtain the visa before 2027 will still receive the full two-year permission. Sponsors should update recruitment collateral and FAQs to avoid reputational damage. Education agents predict that reducing stay length could shift some demand towards Canada and Australia but believe the impact will be modest if messaging is clear.
The episode highlights how fast-moving social-media narratives can disrupt mobility planning, underscoring the need for real-time policy monitoring.
