Make it real

Arriving from India to study at Kent, Aarish Hyder pushed homesickness aside and threw himself into his new life. Keen to improve the lives of fellow international students, he successfully stood for election as an International Officer. “I decided to campaign for changes to restrictive post-study visas, which gave us just four months to find a job after graduation. I knew changing government policy wouldn’t be easy but I got in touch with my MP and spoke to Kent’s ViceChancellor and got them behind the cause.”

Aarish then worked with other student unions around the country to devise a campaign called ‘Without Us’. International students took an hour off, missing lectures to protest and to show the University what life would be like ‘without us’. The protest was a great success raising awareness of the issue and bringing all students together.

Aarish continued to campaign and eventually the post-study visa was extended from four to six months. In September 2019 he returned to his studies at Kent. Checking his social media he found lots of messages: government policy had changed, two-year post-study visas were back! A wonderful welcome home gift for Aarish, and great news for all international students.

“The change in policy proved that nothing is too big to change. I hope this success inspires others: don’t be a part of the landscape, shape it.”

Aarish Hyder, Law and Accounting and Finance