A sweeping new initiative aimed at confronting the grim job realities faced by tens of thousands of Indian students in the United Kingdom has taken shape in the heart of Westminster.

The Indian National Students Association (INSA) UK has partnered with AI-driven platform Creoo to launch the Indian National Students Employability Council (INSEC) — billed as the first national body dedicated exclusively to improving career outcomes for Indian students, who now number an estimated 166,000, the largest international cohort in Britain.

The move follows months of growing anger and anxiety among students over the UK’s post-study work visa — the Graduate Route — which allows graduates to work for up to 18 months. Students say the reality is far bleaker: employers either reject applications upfront or don’t respond at all, feeding fears of an underlying hiring bias.

“In the last 18 months alone, over 36 panels have discussed international students, yet students report little tangible improvement. INSEC is not another panel, it is a commitment that starts today,” said Ayesha Goyal, Founder and CEO of Creoo, setting the tone for what organisers framed as an accountability-driven intervention.

INSEC has pledged a National Career Roadshow across leading universities — including the London School of Economics, University College London, and King’s College London — and will publish the first-ever UK-wide study on ‘Indian Student Outcomes’ early next year.

That will be followed by the creation of a National Advisory Board to secure Indian student representation in policymaking.

The urgency of the moment was captured by INSA UK National President Amit Tiwari, who said:

“What is the point of doing studies here when I do not even get a response to my application from the employer? That is what students are asking.”

The India-UK Student Leadership Summit — hosted in the Houses of Parliament and opened by Labour MP Navendu Mishra — spotlighted a student community navigating not just cultural adjustments but also the harsh reality of unequal opportunity. Mishra framed the initiative against a broader diplomatic backdrop, noting that the recently finalised UK–India trade deal makes 2024 a “crucial year for the bilateral relationship”.

Speakers urged Indian students to build community strength and leadership. “Our community must be well represented. Else others will represent us — and it can be misrepresentation,” warned Mishra. Lord Krish Raval, noting the “privileged position” of Indian students, encouraged wider participation in civic and volunteering initiatives to strengthen their foothold in the UK.

With complaints of discrimination persisting, INSA UK confirmed it is in talks with the High Commission of India and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to push for employer sensitisation and a fair hiring landscape.

What began as whispered frustration among job-seeking graduates has now evolved into a policy-driven mobilisation. For thousands preparing to enter the UK workforce, INSEC represents not just another initiative — but the possibility of finally being seen, heard and hired.