I know a lot of students will be thinking about coming to Scotland for their LL.M - but if you haven't already thought about it, the Graduates' Fresh Talent Working in Scotland Scheme, might be just what you need to make your shortlist include a Scottish institution or two!

Here's a news article about the scheme posted on the Scottish Executive's website:

"The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme came into effect on June 22, 2005.

Overseas students can now apply to stay and work in Scotland for two years after the end of their course without the need for a work permit.

The Executive developed this scheme in conjunction with the UK Home Office who have overall responsiblity for immigration.

Those eligible to apply for permission to stay are those who have graduated with a Higher National Diploma from a Scottish Further Education College or a first degree, Master's degree or Ph.D. from a Scottish Higher Education Institution. It does not include students graduating with a Higher National Certificate or postgraduate diploma, recipients of honorary degrees, or people who lived outside Scotland while studying.

Students will have one year from the time they complete their studies to apply. This means that those who completed their course up to one year before the scheme launched are also eligible to apply.

Applicants should intend to work in Scotland during the time they are allowed to stay, and either leave the country at the end of the two year period or switch to one of the managed migration schemes. They must be able to maintain themselves and any dependants who are in Scotland with them without applying for help from public funds. If they have received sponsorship to help pay for their studies, the applicant must also provide a letter stating that the sponsor has no objection to the individual staying in Scotland.

Applications for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme must be made after the applicant has completed their course. Applications made from within the UK must be made before leave as a student (including as a student nurse, to re-sit examinations or to write up a thesis) expires.

Students who leave Scotland after their graduation ceremony may still apply to take part in the Scheme provided the application is made within a year of the date of completion of studies (taken as the date on the graduation certificate or, for a Masters or Ph.D. graduate, the date of the expiry of leave to enter or remain as a student).

Application forms are available from the Home Office. Decisions on applications will be made by the Home Office, not the Scottish Executive.

Further details are available on:

www.workingintheuk.gov.uk

www.scotlandistheplace.com"

Hope that's of interest to some of you!

Cheers,

Colin.
Distance Learning LLM
School of Law
The University of Edinburgh
www.law.ed.ac.uk/distancelearning/