In a major setback for about 42,000 Indian students studying in Britain, an ongoing four-month-long strike across 145 universities has left them grappling with the difficult decision of whether to return to their home country. The strike, which has impacted the evaluation process, is jeopardising the completion of graduation and post-graduation degrees, essential for these students to pursue further studies or work opportunities in the country. As a result, they face the risk of losing their legal right to stay in Britain once their visas expire at the end of the academic session.
Sumit Sharma, an MA student at the University of Edinburgh, expressed his inability to apply for a PhD program due to the unavailability of his degree. If final year Indian students fail to obtain their degrees within the next two months, they will be left with no choice but to return. In accordance with British regulations, students who fail to complete their courses and do not receive their degrees within the specified time frame are obligated to leave the country.
However, returning to India comes with additional expenses, as they will have to reapply for visas, including visa fees, estimated to cost around Rs 5 lakh per student. These unforeseen circumstances are causing disruptions to their living arrangements, as many students currently rent accommodations and hold jobs in Britain. The absence of their degrees has even led some students to decline job offers they had previously secured.
As the students stare at the possibility of returning to India without the necessary qualifications, their dreams of further studies and career prospects in Britain hang in the balance.
Also Read: ‘Targeted Misinformation’: Adani Again Slams Hindenburg Report
