Harvard Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana

April 23^rd onwards, international visitors traveling from or through India within the last ten days, will not be allowed to enter the UK. Only British and Irish residents will be exempt from this rule. However, they will have to quarantine in a government-approved facility for ten days.

Indian students in the UK are issued a biometric residence permit – a document which, as per official sources, gives them a right to stay in the UK. This will allow them to enter the country if they follow quarantine requirements.

Janaka Pushpanathan, director South India, British Council, told The Pie News that “Indian students holding a student visa or a Tier 4 visa, have residence rights in the UK, therefore the travel ban does not apply to them.” This means Indian students can also return to the UK after observing quarantine. Ms. Pushpanathan specified that students will have to undertake quarantine at their own expense. She also advised students to check the rules for their specific locations as different measures are being applied to Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

For many international students, the financial implications of quarantining are severe. The Pie News estimates that it could cost international students approximately 1700 GBP. For many Indian students that is a large sum of money when added to the substantial tuition fees, living costs, and the current rate of the Sterling Pound.

However, a source from the Department for Education told The PIE that students who are unable to travel will receive online tuition and remain eligible for post-study work visa concessions even if their entry to the UK is delayed.