For an Indian planning an MBA in the UK, what is the current job market and post-study visa situation? I’ve also heard life has become more difficult; is that right?
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It’s real. Rent in London is insane. Energy bills are high. Groceries are expensive. Your budget from pre-2022 is useless now. You need a much larger contingency fund. If you’re not going to a top-10 program that justifies the investment, you need to think very carefully.
Hello @kavya_ripple
Thankyou for putting out your question and to answer this, I would like to give you a persepectives based on the current situations that might help you for the consideration. Before jumping to main part of the question, I would like to mention that one of the major positives about studying from top Universities and working in the UK is that it holds great post-brand value that you can utilise for yourself, and progress yourself in your career, subjective to lots of suitability factors.
When it comes to job market, the situation is very challenging as a result of the change in the immigration rules that makes the market very competitive. Even for junior, senior or mid-senior roles, there are numerous applications and are being considered only if they are having relevant experience. When it comes to the post-study work visa and securing a job for the two years, the factors includes the field job, univeristy of graduation, skills and relevant experience to match the requirements. On one hand, students were able to secure their core field job right after graduation, and some took a bit later time to secure the same, and as mentioned lots of factors are involved for the same. When it comes to post expiring of the work visa, since there are lots of restrictions applied on the companies and with almost 150+ occupations removed from the skilled worker related jobs and sponsorship, finding field jobs sponsorship is quite a daunting task.
Also, when it comes to living in London, I agree that it is very expensive and cost of living expenditure is high, though it is managable if you are able to get the job to sustain yourslef well for the two years of your visa, get the experience and if everything goes well, you can take the decision. There’s no right or exact answer to this question as it is subjective and depend upton a lot of factors, though it is also important to have a headsup of the current situation and make your decision. Well, there are a lot of other scenerios to consider UK for international students, the answer is just a small part of the same.
I hope you will consider the points before making the decision for yourself.
Hope it helps!
Regards
Diksha Sinha
@kavya_ripple For Indian students considering an MBA in the UK, the situation is a bit mixed right now. The UK still offers the Graduate Route visa, which allows you to stay and work for two years after your degree (three for PhDs), but the government is reviewing this policy and may reduce it to 18 months for many students. Shifting to a Skilled Worker visa later is possible, but only if you land a job with an approved sponsor and meet rising salary thresholds. The job market itself has tightened due to slower economic growth, inflation, and cost pressures, meaning competition for graduate roles is tougher than it was a few years ago. Employers now place more emphasis on relevant experience, internships, and practical skills, so choosing a business school with strong career support and industry ties is crucial. On top of that, living costs in the UK have increased significantly, making it important to secure work quickly. So yes, life has become somewhat more challenging for international MBA students compared to a few years ago, but opportunities still exist for those who plan strategically, build strong networks, and focus on in-demand sectors like consulting, finance, and tech.
hey @kavya_ripple So right now the UK is still giving the Graduate Route visa (2 years after masters), but there’s talk it might get cut down to 18 months. Nothing final yet, but keep an eye on updates. Job market wise… it’s a bit tough compared to a few years back. MBAs do land roles in consulting, finance, tech etc., but it’s more competitive and you really gotta network + apply early.
Living costs are no joke either — think £1,100–1,300/month on food + rent + travel (London even higher). Most students survive with a mix of loans + part-time jobs (20 hrs/week allowed), but tuition + living isn’t fully covered by just part-time.
If you’re middle-class and planning an MBA here, it’s doable but needs planning. Pick unis with solid career support, line up internships asap, and maybe keep a backup option (Canada/Germany) in case UK visa rules change again.
Official visa info: GOV.UK – Graduate Route
Living cost breakdown: Save the Student survey