Extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU could allow Britons to study and work abroad
The House of Lords is debating extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU, which would allow British and EU citizens to work and study in each other’s countries for two years
Australian Charlotte Lyons says the Youth Mobility Visa was her only way to study in the UK
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The Youth Mobility Scheme is under way for 13 countries, including Australia, which has seen the highest number of applicants.
It allows young people to study or work for two years in the countries participating, according to certain criteria like having a minimum of £2,530 in savings and being between the age of 18-30.
Since Brexit, European students have had to apply for a Visa and pay costly overseas fees, around double the price. This ultimately limits how much European students are able to come into the UK, but also make exchanges abroad more difficult for young British people.
Charlotte’s story
Charlotte Lyons, an Australia student completing a master’s in London, explained how getting this Visa allowed her to come to London.
Charlotte Lyons says the Youth Mobility Visa was her only way to study in the UK
“I wanted to study and do my masters in London and without this visa I wouldn’t have been able to come. I was out of options and fully relying on the youth mobility scheme visa to get to London.” – Charlotte Lyons
Graph of the number of total places for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2024 based on Home Office data
Charlotte pointed out how quick and smooth the process was.
“When you’re trying to move countries, the last thing you want to think about is whether your visa is going to get denied, but it was actually very smooth.”
James MacCleary, who put forward the bill, told City News he believes extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU would bring “a solution” to the opportunities they lost with Brexit.
“My Youth Mobility Scheme Bill is a common-sense solution to fix that. It’s about giving young Brits the freedom to thrive, boosting our economy, and rebuilding a constructive relationship with our closest neighbours. Labour’s refusal to adopt it shows they’re not serious about growth or standing up for the next generation.
There is much heat around the scheme as the Labour government wants to reset EU relations, but Keir Starmer has ruled out extending the scheme.
To ‘ensure a prosperous future’
Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, Kirsty Warner is a specialist in EU-UK relations, who works extensively on the Youth Mobility Scheme, much of the issue comes from confusing the Youth Mobility Visa with a free movement pass.
Kirsty Warner, a specialist on the Youth Mobility Scheme, thinks it’s confused with free movement
“Youth mobility is not free movement, so greater UK consideration needs to be given to this youth opportunity to ensure a prosperous future” – Kirsty Warner
Other Visa routes exist for Europeans to come to study in the UK, although they are more complex, expensive, and shorter.
Speaking at Kings’ College London for the UK in a Changing Europe panel, Catherine Barnard, professor for European and Employment law at the University of Cambridge, pointed out why this bill raises an issue for Labour.
The Government gets that young people are important for the economy. Anyone who has graduated from a British University can stay for two years under the Graduate Visa scheme, and they can work for whatever employer they like. – Catherine Barnard
Future complexities
However, the situation is a bit more convoluted. Employers need to register to sponsor Internationals graduates’ Visa under the current Graduate route.
This leads some European students who want to stay in the UK fearing for future job prospects.
Theo Lemarchandel, is a French student applying for a journalism master in the UK. He thinks the Youth Mobility Visa would be a massive change for European students like him.
“I went to the UK a lot when I was a kid and it was very easy. But now with all the measures being restricted, I don’t go to as much as I used to. It’s very complicated to stay here long term or study. Everything gets so expensive and it feels like there is less proximity between France and the UK. I’m afraid without the Youth Mobility Scheme I wouldn’t be able to work after my Master’s.” – Theo Lemarchandel
Members of the House of Lords will debate the case to extend this scheme today.
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HeadlineExtending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU could allow Britons to study and work abroad
Short HeadlineUK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme to assist students in working abroad
StandfirstThe House of Lords is debating extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU, which would allow British and EU citizens to work and study in each other’s countries for two years
The Youth Mobility Scheme is under way for 13 countries, including Australia, which has seen the highest number of applicants.
It allows young people to study or work for two years in the countries participating, according to certain criteria like having a minimum of £2,530 in savings and being between the age of 18-30.
Since Brexit, European students have had to apply for a Visa and pay costly overseas fees, around double the price. This ultimately limits how much European students are able to come into the UK, but also make exchanges abroad more difficult for young British people.
Charlotte’s story
Charlotte Lyons, an Australia student completing a master’s in London, explained how getting this Visa allowed her to come to London.
Charlotte Lyons says the Youth Mobility Visa was her only way to study in the UK
“I wanted to study and do my masters in London and without this visa I wouldn’t have been able to come. I was out of options and fully relying on the youth mobility scheme visa to get to London.” – Charlotte Lyons
Graph of the number of total places for the Youth Mobility Scheme 2024 based on Home Office data
Charlotte pointed out how quick and smooth the process was.
“When you’re trying to move countries, the last thing you want to think about is whether your visa is going to get denied, but it was actually very smooth.”
James MacCleary, who put forward the bill, told City News he believes extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU would bring “a solution” to the opportunities they lost with Brexit.
“My Youth Mobility Scheme Bill is a common-sense solution to fix that. It’s about giving young Brits the freedom to thrive, boosting our economy, and rebuilding a constructive relationship with our closest neighbours. Labour’s refusal to adopt it shows they’re not serious about growth or standing up for the next generation.
There is much heat around the scheme as the Labour government wants to reset EU relations, but Keir Starmer has ruled out extending the scheme.
To ‘ensure a prosperous future’
Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, Kirsty Warner is a specialist in EU-UK relations, who works extensively on the Youth Mobility Scheme, much of the issue comes from confusing the Youth Mobility Visa with a free movement pass.
Kirsty Warner, a specialist on the Youth Mobility Scheme, thinks it’s confused with free movement
“Youth mobility is not free movement, so greater UK consideration needs to be given to this youth opportunity to ensure a prosperous future” – Kirsty Warner
Other Visa routes exist for Europeans to come to study in the UK, although they are more complex, expensive, and shorter.
Speaking at Kings’ College London for the UK in a Changing Europe panel, Catherine Barnard, professor for European and Employment law at the University of Cambridge, pointed out why this bill raises an issue for Labour.
The Government gets that young people are important for the economy. Anyone who has graduated from a British University can stay for two years under the Graduate Visa scheme, and they can work for whatever employer they like. – Catherine Barnard
Future complexities
However, the situation is a bit more convoluted. Employers need to register to sponsor Internationals graduates’ Visa under the current Graduate route.
This leads some European students who want to stay in the UK fearing for future job prospects.
Theo Lemarchandel, is a French student applying for a journalism master in the UK. He thinks the Youth Mobility Visa would be a massive change for European students like him.
“I went to the UK a lot when I was a kid and it was very easy. But now with all the measures being restricted, I don’t go to as much as I used to. It’s very complicated to stay here long term or study. Everything gets so expensive and it feels like there is less proximity between France and the UK. I’m afraid without the Youth Mobility Scheme I wouldn’t be able to work after my Master’s.” – Theo Lemarchandel
Members of the House of Lords will debate the case to extend this scheme today.
