New one-year work scheme for postgraduates

I just came across this on the UKCOSA site whilst looking for other information.  Anyone starting  their  Master's or PhD course after May 1, 2006  will be allowed to stay and work for a year after they graduate.

From the UKCOSA site:

New one-year work scheme for postgraduates[24 Mar 06]
The Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme is being extended to postgraduate students who successfully complete and obtain a UK recognised Master's degree or PhD in any subject. This means that your area of study does not need to be on a list of approved subjects, nor does it have to be related to science or engineering. If you qualify under the scheme, you will be able to work in the UK for up to one year following successful completion of your course. However, this extended scheme applies to you only if you start your course on or after 1 May 2006.

The amended Immigration Rules (paragraphs 135O to 135T) are available on the website of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office.
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/laws___policy/immigration_r ules/part_5/section_1.html? [nofollow]

 

I can't get to the IND website so if someone else can or has inside knowledge (paging Victoria!) I would love to have some "official" confirmation of this..

Finally got onto the website- for anyone who was wondering, here's the relevant paragraphs from the Immigration Rules:

135O. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter as a participant in the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme are that he:

(i) has successfully completed and obtained either:

(a) a UK recognised degree (with second class honours or above), Master's degree or PhD in a subject approved by the Department for Education and Skills for the purposes of this scheme at either:

(i) a publicly funded institution of further or higher education; or

(ii) a bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and
attendance; or

(b) a UK recognised Master's degree or PhD in any subject, where study for this qualification commenced on or after 1 May 2006, at an institution which is on the Department for Education and Skills' Register of Education and Training Providers, and is either:

(i) a publicly funded institution of further or higher education; or

(ii) a bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and
attendance; and

.....(rest of requirements here, blah blah no public funds, only for twelve months etc etc.)

These changes were adopted on March 13 and came into effect on April 3. I do wonder why it hasn't been more widely publicized, though- this is a great opportunity for new 2006 postgrad students (like me!)

Def. good to know!

OMG, this is incredible news.  It could change everything.  I know it's long time away, but there always was that niggling thought of "I wonder what I can do AFTER I finish my Master's (June 2007)" and now...wow...another year!!  Bless Home Office and their wonderful change of regulations!!  I am very, very excited about this.

Too bad I started in February 2006 

Wow, this is great news! I have been looking into the Scotland scheme for graduates and while I would be happy studying and living in Scotland my true love is London, so I'll definitely be looking into this new scheme. Thanks for the info!

For those interested in confirmation of this scheme, I found it on the following website: http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/schemes_and_programmes/graduate_students.html?