The Management Board approved a pilot scheme for selecting students to receive College endorsement of their applications for a new post-study work visa, The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa.
This new visa follows the withdrawal of the Post Study Work visa, which many of Imperial’s international students have applied for in the past. There will be 1,000 Graduate Entrepreneur visas granted each year, and Imperial is one of 89 institutions able to endorse applications. The College has been granted an allocation of up to 10 endorsements, to be used by 5 April 2013.
In order to select students for visa endorsement, the College will incorporate existing formal forms of academic assessment into the process, for example performance in Entrepreneurship modules that feature in some Business School courses, and the results of business-focused challenges organised by other departments. A College panel, including academic staff with expertise in innovation, will review applications and make the final selection. The scheme, which will be managed by the International Office, will be piloted over 2012-13.
Applications will open to students this Friday 29 June, and more information can be found on the International Office’s website.