There is Direct Co-Relation Between Post Study Work Rights and Return on Investment for Study Abroad Aspirants

A Wall Street Journal article from June 4, 2025, claims that foreign students boost the US economy by more than $40 billion. Rumors of possible restrictions on Optional Practical Training (OPT), a crucial route for international graduates to obtain work experience, were mentioned in the article. The UK government has declared its plan to shorten the Graduate Route's 2-year post-study work term to a total of 18 months. These changes pose a threat to the structure that supports this student flow. Post Study Work is a crucial component of financial viability, which was previously considered as a soft benefit.

After earning a US bachelor's education at an accredited private institution, an Indian student who returns home right away could need to work for over thirty years to recoup the expense. After two years of employment in the country of education, that number decreases as much as 11 years in the case of the USA or as minimal as three years between Canada and Australia. A period of employment following graduation can reduce the payback period for Chinese graduates by nearly six years. In all cases, students who can work after studying recoup their investment considerably more quickly than those who are unable to. There is no denying the economic impact, which is becoming more and more inevitable.

In order to earn the equivalent of a three-year college degree at Russell Group institutions, students who return to India right after graduation would have to work for 14years; if they attended a non-Russell Group university, they would need to work for two years less. The entire cost of a one-year master's degree can be earned in less than five years by graduates of master's programs who return home right away. The repayment period can be shortened by a minimum of eight years for a comparable undergraduate pupil who operates in a graduate-level position in the UK and subsequently returns home, making the equivalent repayment in just over half a decade.

However, universities cannot make education affordable by relying solely on immigration policy. It might not be financially feasible to lower fees. Institutions need to reconsider delivery instead. By starting their studies at home and finishing them abroad, students can obtain the global experience and credentials that employers value most. This is made possible by offshore degrees, mixed approaches, and transnational partnerships.

Additionally, a crucial component of the package for international students is the post-study work. It is not depleting public resources or serving as a route to permanent migration. In the UK, for instance, students on post-study work pay an extra fee for accessing National Health Service. The duration of post study work lowers the cost of a top-notch education for students and gives the host nation access to a valuable talent pipeline, particularly in fields with significant labor shortages like modern technology as well as other skilled fields that are crucial for economic growth.