Student visa

I am curious as to the success rate (or stories of success) about going to school in the UK for one year and graduating.  Then being successfully hired by a UK firm.

I have 5 strategies I want to try if needed to enter in and work in the UK with hopes of living there permenantly with time.  The "get a second master's degree, but this time in the UK" strategy.

I don't believe so.  You are now allowed to switch your student visa to a work permit, if you find employment after your studies.  But even with 5 years on a WP, I don't think  you're eligible for citizenship.  Residency, yes. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong! 

Wait wait, WHAT?! Who? How? Can you link me to information on this? If it's true, it would be nice, as it would take a bit of pressure off the "Eek, we have to get married ASAP" situation between my boyfriend and I.

I don't believe so.  You are now allowed to switch your student visa to a work permit, if you find employment after your studies. 

I think there are certain restrictions on this (like for non-shortage fields the employer has to prove that they couldn't find an equally qualified UK or EU candidate or the employment has to be in your field [so basically the same as trying to find UK employment from the US).  That's what I was told by my international office when I was a student, but I'm not sure if that's changed in the past year.  The British Council has a little bit of info at http://www.educationuk.org/ , and there's a .pdf file on UK employment after a student visa on the UKCOSA site at http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/guidenote.htm#workafter . 

Thanks. I'll have to look into it more.

Sorry, I should have clarified.  I'm in a shortage field so as a teacher, I can switch over to a WP from an student visa.