University of Birmingham Offers Scholarships and Career Support for Indian Students in 2025

New Career Support Programme Targets Post-Study Success for Indian and Chinese Students in the UK

The Indian and Chinese students, after completing their studies at Russell Group universities in the UK, face challenges when navigating the local job market after graduation. In response to this growing concern, two leading Russell Group universities, the University of Birmingham and the University of Glasgow, UK, have jointly launched a new initiative aimed at improving career outcomes for international students. To make the students' employment journey seamless, the university had created an in-country role titled Employability Relationship Manager, based in India. This role is expected to strengthen links between graduates, local employers, alumni networks, and career services, helping students transition more effectively into the Indian job market.

This initiative will provide organised support via pre-entry orientations, skills development programs and post-graduation interaction. This step is in response to rising demand by international students for defined career lines after they finish their degrees at UK universities. Parallel to this, the two institutions have also entered into an exclusive partnership with JOBShaigui, a reputable Chinese graduate career portal. The site will offer customised services like online seminars, career counselling, employer gateway, and networking opportunities. These are part of a sustained effort to assist students from high-priority markets, India and China, where the two universities have a combined alumni network of more than 400,000 graduates globally.

High-level officials of the University of Birmingham, which has more than 2,000 Indian students, said that students now need more assurance of their post-graduation jobs. Though the universities already have career preparation while pursuing studies, it was appreciated that support after graduation will have to be reinforced. The new role in India will also organise career fair events, CV courses, interview training, and apprenticeships and training programs. It was also observed that Indian graduates often seek jobs in the UK after completing their studies, but many eventually return to India. The initiative is expected to be particularly impactful in India, which represents the largest cohort of graduate visa holders. Students from disciplines such as computer science, engineering, business management, finance, and healthcare will be supported, although the universities clarified that students from all fields, including humanities, will receive equal guidance.

The drive coincides with a push for international students in the UK to "hone their skills" for domestic and international labour markets. Employers are more and more focused on putting emphasis on innovative thinking and flexibility over memorised knowledge, thus pushing UK universities to reimagine how they equip students with the skills for working life. While the University of Birmingham has an overseas campus in Dubai, which is popular with Indian students because of its proximity and sizable Indian population, it reaffirmed that there were no plans to have a campus in India on the horizon. Instead, the university is cultivating strategic collaborations with Indian universities, including a possible tie-up with IIT Bombay in fields like quantum technology, AI, and energy systems, based on its current collaboration with IIT Madras.

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, Birmingham has unveiled new scholarships for Indian students, providing between £4,000 and £5,000 to pursue postgraduate taught master's programs beginning in September 2025. Students who join the Dubai campus are also eligible for extra funding of up to 40%, as well as merit-based scholarships. Despite strong enrolment figures,98,014 study visas were granted to Indian students in the year ending June 2025; concerns remain over proposed immigration changes. The UK’s immigration white paper suggests reducing the Graduate Route by six months and introducing a levy on international student fees. In response, universities are working to ensure that graduates remain career-ready, with access to UK jobs in UK sectors and employer sponsorship at graduate-level salaries.

University leaders emphasised that universities with an emphasis on employability and education career destinations will be in a stronger position to adapt to policy shifts. The message was unequivocal: if the graduates are well-equipped and competitive, they will continue to prosper, whether in the UK or at home in India. This effort solidifies the position of Russell Group universities in the UK in determining global education outcomes and underscores the value of ongoing support outside the classroom. With students considering choices between international unis, such as leading unis in the UK, affordable unis in the UK, and study-abroad universities, career-readiness is emerging as a determining consideration for picking where to pursue learning.

Editor’s Note

Career readiness is becoming a key factor in international education. To support Indian and Chinese graduates, the University of Birmingham and the University of Glasgow have launched a joint initiative. They have appointed an Employability Relationship Manager in India to strengthen links with employers, alumni, and career services. The role will provide pre-entry briefings, skills training, and post-graduation guidance to help students enter the local job market. Meanwhile, the universities have teamed up with JOBShaigui, China's top graduate career portal, to provide online workshops, career guidance, and employer networking. These measures are part of a larger initiative to connect with alumni and grow career services in priority regions, where the two universities have a combined global alumni base of over 400,000 graduates. The program will be particularly useful in India, which has the largest number of graduate visa holders and significant demand for career opportunities in areas such as computer science, engineering, finance, and healthcare.

The initiative follows an appeal to international students in the UK to acquire skills for the domestic and international job markets. Employers now place more importance on flexibility, creativity, and real-world experience, compelling Russell Group universities to rethink preparing students for work. To mark its 125th anniversary, Birmingham has also announced scholarships for Indian students worth £4,000–£5,000 for master’s programmes starting in September 2025. Dubai campus students may receive up to 40% extra funding plus merit awards. Despite strong enrolment,98,014 study visas were issued to Indian students by June 2025; however, concerns remain about proposed immigration reforms. The UK’s immigration white paper suggests cutting the Graduate Route by six months and introducing a levy on international student fees. In response, universities are working to keep graduates competitive and ensure access to jobs and sponsorships at graduate-level salaries.

As per Skoobuzz, this initiative underlines the Russell Group’s role in shaping global education and highlights the importance of long-term career support for international students.

FAQs

1. What is the Employability Relationship Manager role introduced by Russell Group universities in the UK?

The University of Glasgow, UK and the University of Birmingham have collaborated in placing an in-country Employability Relationship Manager in India. This position is meant to assist international graduates, especially Indian students, by establishing relationships with employers in the region, alumni communities, and career services. The objective is to ease the process of students moving into the Indian labour market following studies at Russell Group universities in the UK.

2. Why is post-study career support significant for Indian and Chinese students studying at UK universities?

Several Indian and Chinese students go back home after studying at a UK university, such as those universities in the UK that are the best, like Glasgow and Birmingham. Although they get career advice while still in study, it can prove tricky to navigate local labour markets after graduation. This project offers organised assistance, including CV sessions, interview skills, and employer networking, to enhance employment rates and make graduates career-ready in both the UK and internationally.

3. Are there scholarships for Indian students studying at the University of Birmingham?

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, the University of Birmingham has unveiled scholarships for Indian students between £4,000 and £5,000 for postgraduate taught master's courses commencing in September 2025. Up to 40% extra funding is also offered for students taking up space at the Dubai campus, and there are merit-based prizes too. The scholarships place Birmingham among the more affordable universities in the UK for Indian postgrads.

4. How would UK immigration reforms influence international students' career aspirations?

The UK immigration white paper suggests trimming the Graduate Route by half a year and a fee levy on fees for international students. Nevertheless, Russell Group universities in the UK are looking to keep graduates competitive by providing longer-term career support and employer sponsorship schemes. This enables the students to gain UK employment in UK industries and remain employed within the UK upon graduation.