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Permission to stay under the Graduate route will enable international students to work or look for work after their studies for 2 years, or 3 years for PhD students. The work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship.

Students studying on a Tier 4/Student visa will need to make an application in the UK to be granted permission under the route after successful completion of their degree. There are specific eligibility requirements so you are advised to read the information on this page in full.

It is possible to work full-time on your Tier 4/Student visa after you have completed your course and whilst it remains valid, but with some restrictions on the type of work you can do. Information is outlined on our Working on a student visa webpage.

To be eligible to apply for a Graduate visa, you will need to:

• hold a current Tier 4/Student visa;

Not all courses at Cambridge are eligible for student visa sponsorship and therefore will not be eligible for the Graduate route. This includes most part-time taught courses which are supported under the visitor route.

• have studied a Bachelors, Masters, PGCE, or PhD at Cambridge;

Advanced Diploma, and other non-degree awarding qualifications except the PGCE, are not eligible to apply for a Graduate visa.

• have successfully completed your degree;

You are considered to have successfully completed your degree for the purpose of applying for the Graduate visa once you have received your final results and your record is updated to reflect completion. It does not mean you need to have attended a graduation ceremony. Completion for PhD students is unconditional approval, which is normally submission of the hardbound and e-thesis.

You need to have completed the degree for which your Tier 4/Student visa was granted, unless it is a change permitted under student visa policy. Students who have a Tier 4/Student visa for a four year Integrated Masters course are eligible to apply for the Graduate visa if they successfully complete their studies and exit with the Bachelors qualification and will not be proceeding to the fourth year, or after completing the fourth year. Integrated Master students are not able to apply for the Graduate visa based on successful completion of the Bachelors qualification if continuing studies in the fourth year

Following the update of your student record to reflect completion, you will need to wait until you have received an email from the International Student Office confirming UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has been notified of your successful completion before you can apply for the Graduate visa. Prior to the International Student Office notifying UKVI, your record will be reviewed to confirm you still hold a valid Tier 4/Student visa. Also see the section on 'When can I apply?'.

Masters students who do not complete all the required assessment (i.e. final submission or exam) by the original end date in their CAS should contact the International Student Office to check whether they are still eligible for the Graduate visa as this may depend on whether final results will be received prior to their current visa expiry.

• have studied for a minimum period of time in the UK on a Tier 4/Student visa;

The minimum period of study for the Graduate visa is at least 12 months OR the full length of your course, whichever is shorter. Permitted 'study abroad' activities (i.e. activities that are undertaken overseas as part of a course) or time spent overseas during permitted breaks from study such as during official vacation periods or at the weekend can be included in the minimum period.

The minimum period of study can be undertaken on more than one Tier 4/Student visa if granted to study the same qualification at the University.

If you switch to a student visa from another immigration category during your course, you would not be eligible for a Graduate visa unless you will have studied for the minimum required time as outlined above on the most recent Tier 4/Student visa prior to completion. If you are switching from another immigration category to start your studies at Cambridge, you can include the time whilst the application is pending in the minimum study period.

• provide a letter of consent if financially sponsored by a Government or international scholarship agency;

If in the 12 months before the date of application you have completed a course for which you had been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship by a Government or international scholarship agency covering fees and living costs, you must provide a letter of consent from the sponsor organisation to support the application.

• apply in the UK within the validity of your current Tier 4/Student visa.

You can only apply for the Graduate visa from within the UK, and should do so prior to your current Tier 4/Student visa expiring following the email from the International Student Office confirming your successful course completion has been reported to UKVI. Read the information for students on the marking and assessment boycott  to understand the potential implications of a delay to receiving confirmation of successful course completion and eligibility for the Graduate visa. 

Permission under the Graduate route will be granted subject to the following conditions:

• any work in the UK (including paid and unpaid, self-employment, engaging in business or any professional activity) is permitted. The only restriction is a prohibition on working as a professional sportsperson or coach;
• study is restricted on this visa and is only permitted on courses that would not meet the requirements for student visa sponsorship. If you are continuing to further study at Cambridge, or at another institution, and plan to apply for the Graduate visa, you should first check whether it will be possible for you to study on your chosen course under this visa;
• no access to public funds.

The permission granted under the Graduate route, 2 years for undergraduate and Masters students and 3 years for PhD students, will start from when the decision is made on the application.  

It is not possible to extend your permission under the Graduate route once granted. From the Graduate route, you would be able to switch to a Skilled Worker visa from within the UK if you are offered a suitable job with an employer who holds a sponsor licence.

It is only possible to be granted permission under the Graduate route once. You cannot apply again, for example, if you were to undertake another course of study.

Whilst an application for the Graduate visa is pending, the working conditions of your student visa will continue to apply. The only exception to this is if you applied for your current student visa after 6 April 2022, in which case you are able to start a full-time permanent vacancy once you have successfully completed your course and submitted the new Graduate visa application. This is otherwise not possible as a student visa does not permit filling a full-time permanent vacancy. Students on a part-time student visa are not permitted to work until they have obtained the Graduate visa. 

You should only make your application once the University has notified UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you have successfully completed your degree. This is in accordance with the Graduate route visa policy.  The International Student Office will make this report to UKVI after you have received your final results and your University record has been updated to reflect completion. Please note it can take several weeks after you have received your results for your University record to be updated. The International Student Office is not directly involved in the process of updating student records so we request that you do not contact our office to ask when this will happen unless it is close to your current visa expiry date. The International Student Office will confirm to you when the report has been made to UKVI and you will receive this by email to the email address on your student record. Do not submit your Graduate visa application until you have received this email .

You will need to apply in the UK whilst your current Tier 4/Student visa is still valid and cannot travel overseas until you have received the outcome of your application, and your new BRP if applicable (see section below titled eVisa).

If your visa expires after you have applied to the Graduate route, you will be permitted to remain in the UK whilst your application is being considered under the conditions of your Tier 4/Student permission until you have received the outcome of your Graduate visa application. 

The visa application fee is £822. In addition, the application will also require you to pay the immigration health surcharge and this is charged at £1035 per year the visa will be granted (£2070 for 2 years and, for PhD students, £3105 for 3 years).

You make an application online .

As part of the application you will need to confirm your identity. Most applicants will be able to do this using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. Once you have created a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, you will be asked to download the app to a smart phone. The app will be used to confirm your identity by scanning your BRP, or if you are an EEA or Swiss national by scanning your passport. You will be given instructions on how to use the app in the application. It is free and compatible with Android phones and iPhone 7 or newer models. If you do not own a compatible phone, you can use the app from a friend’s mobile phone as no information is stored on the phone or app after you close it.

If you cannot use the app, you will need to book an in-person appointment for biometric enrolment. This includes students who applied for their current student visa in the UK and it was issued as a digital status with no BRP (this does not apply to EEA and Swiss nationals who can use their passport with the app instead of a BRP). 

As part of the application:

• You will need your passport and current Tier4/Student BRP to apply.
• You will need to know the CAS number you used to support your Tier 4/student visa application. This will be included in the email notification sent to you once the successful completion of your degree has been reported to UKVI. 
• You will need a letter of consent if you have been financially sponsored for your studies by a Government or international scholarship agency.
• There will be no requirement to provide financial evidence with the application.

The advertised decision timeframe is 8 weeks from when you submit your application.

Please note that once you have made your application, you cannot travel overseas until you have been notified of the decision.

When granted, the visa will be issued as a digital status, also called an eVisa.

The digital status will enable you to prove your right to live and work in the UK online .

Visa nationals (i.e. nationalities who require entry clearance prior to travel to the UK as a visitor) will also be issued a new Biometric Resident Permit (BRP). It is likely this will need to be shown in order to travel to the UK whilst your Graduate visa is valid. Visa nationals are therefore advised to wait to receive the new BRP once the visa has been granted before travelling overseas.

If you cannot use the app as part of the application, and need to enrol your biometrics at an in-person appointment, you will also be issued a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

When you set up your UKVI account to apply for this visa you will use your BRP to verify your identity, unless you are an EEA or Swiss national. UKVI advises that once you have received your eVisa, you should sign back into your UKVI account using the information on your BRP but then change the main ‘sign-in’ document to your current passport. This is to ensure you can continue to access your UKVI account easily and should also ensure that you avoid unnecessary delays when travelling in and out of the UK. If you renew your passport, you should sign in and update these details in your UKVI account.

Dependant family members in the UK who already have immigration permission as a Tier 4 or Student dependant can apply for further permission to stay as a dependant under the Graduate route.

Children born in the UK do not need to have been granted a dependant visa under Tier 4 or the Student route but they must have been born in the UK during the student’s most recent Tier 4 or student visa.

Further information about dependant eligibility is outlined on the  UKVI website .

Read the information on the  UKVI webpages  and their  Graduate immigration route guide .

If you have any questions about the Graduate route contact the  International Student Office.

Immigration rules and policy are subject to change. These webpages are updated as soon as possible following any changes but relevant pages of the Home Office website should be checked for the latest information. The International Student Office can only provide information and advise on current policy; it is not possible to speculate on future immigration changes or developments in relation to post-study visa options.

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Guide: the UK Post-Study Work Visa for graduates

Author: Patrick Atack

Patrick is an expert on international education. He studied American Studies and Journalism in the UK and the USA. His work has been published in, among others, the London Evening Standard, Euronews, and the PIE News.

You might be interested in this:

Stay in the UK after you graduate

Many options are available for international graduates looking to stay in the UK after graduation. Below, we detail the UK government's Graduate Route visa and the Skilled Worker route specifically.

However, we recommend you do your research on the GOV.UK website to work out which visa best suits your current situation. There are lots of other options available, including short-term and long-term visas, and visas for specific types of employment, such as for healthcare workers.

What is the Graduate Route?

The UK’s Graduate Route welcomes international students to apply to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, upon graduation. International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree can apply to stay in the UK for up to two years after their studies. PhD graduates can apply to stay for up to three years.

This is a fantastic opportunity for international students who want to take their next steps into employment in the UK.

What are the benefits of the Graduate Route?

The Graduate Route is unsponsored, meaning you can use the time after you graduate to work, or look for work, at any skill level. You will have the flexibility to gain work experience, undertake an internship or work as a freelancer in the UK.

There is no minimum salary requirement, and there is no limit on how many international students can have the opportunity to stay in the UK through the Graduate Route. Additionally, you are not tied to a specific job or employer and you can have multiple jobs at any skill level and can switch jobs during the course of the visa.

Once you have found suitable employment in the UK, you’ll have the chance to switch to a skilled work route and remain in the UK after your two or three years have come to an end.

'I decided to apply for the Graduate Route because I didn't need to have an employer sponsor my visa. This meant that although I was offered a job, which was part-time, I was still able to stay and work in the UK without any issues. The Graduate Route enabled me to build up experience in the UK and has acted as a stepping stone for my future success in the actuarial field.'

Lan, from China, studied Applied Actuarial Science at the University of Kent and graduated in 2022. Thanks to the Graduate Route, she lives and works in the UK.

How much does the Graduate Route cost?

Before applying for the Graduate Route visa, you should know the costs up-front. There is a one-off application fee of £822 , and you must also pay the full amount for the Immigration Health Surcharge . As of 6 February 2024, this will cost you £1035 annually.

Learn more about the Graduate Route

Learn more about the Graduate Route on GOV.UK and visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website for additional guidance on the Graduate Route, including where, when and how to apply, requirements and conditions, FAQs and more. Additionally, you can view the UK government's Graduate Route guide for further information.

It is worth being aware that if you impress your employer while working on the Graduate Route visa, your employer can switch you onto the Skilled Worker route if the requirements are met. But note: you cannot switch from a Skilled Worker visa to a Graduate Route visa.

What is the Skilled Worker route?

A Skilled Worker visa allows you to stay in the UK with an approved employer and eligible job. You must fulfil specific requirements to apply for this type of visa - including having a job offer with a minimum salary of at least £20,960, at least £10.75 per hour, or the 'going rate' for the type of work you'll be doing, whatever is higher. Additionally, your job needs to meet the minimum levels of skill requirements. The UK government provides a list of eligible jobs* on their website that meets this requirement.

Visit the UKCISA website for additional guidance on the Skilled Worker route, including where, when and how to apply, requirements and conditions, FAQs and more.

*The list of eligible jobs is in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations. Table 1 includes most eligible jobs, with separate tables for some jobs in health and education.

How much does the Skilled Worker route cost?

In short, it depends, but employers will always incur costs when hiring a graduate on the Skilled Worker route. The standard fee ranges from £719 to £1,500, depending on your circumstances, for example, where the graduate is applying, the type of visa they are switching from, the employer's size, and whether the employer already has a sponsor license.

It is common for employers, especially larger organisations, to pay the cost of the fee. However, it is not a given, so if you are offered a job and want to go down this route, make sure to discuss this up-front with your employer.

Get more advice on working in the UK after you complete your studies

For advice on working in the UK after you complete your studies, read our 'international students guide to working in the UK after you graduate' and visit the UKCISA website .

Stay and work in the UK on a Graduate Route visa

The Graduate Route means that you can stay in the UK and explore your employment options without needing an employer to sponsor your visa.

Explore other UK visa options

Many options are available for international graduates looking to stay in the UK after they finish their studies. Do your research and work out which visa best suits your current situation.

Hear individual Graduate Route stories

'the graduate route was a fast and simple way for me to stay in the uk after my studies'.

Guy shares how the Graduate Route helped him stay in the UK after completing his postgraduate studies without being sure about what he was going to do next.

'Working in the UK has enabled me to grow my network and skills and gain international work experience'

The Graduate Route allowed Progress to apply what she learned during her studies, grow her network and gain relevant international work experience in the UK.

'The Graduate Route gave me time to explore my employment options without time pressure'

The Graduate Route made it possible for Rodney to explore his employment options and make the decision that was right for him without needing a sponsored visa.

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Your Guide to UK Post-Graduate Work VISAs

Posted: 25.10.2023

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Working in the UK After University

As an international student, you may well have plans to stay on in the UK to pursue your chosen career after you finish your studies. If that’s the case, you’ll need to find out about post-graduate work visas – what they are, who’s eligible and how to apply for one – so we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help you.

Post-Graduate Work Visas

These visas are designed purely to allow international students to stay in Britain to work beyond their study period, and there are two different types:

Graduate Visa: This allows you to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the country, and is available for both Undergraduate and Master’s Degree graduates.

Graduate Route: Introduced in 2021, the Graduate Route offers international students the opportunity to work or look for work in the UK for 2 years after their degree completion.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for either visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have successfully completed either an Undergraduate or Master’s Degree from a recognized UK institution
• You must have a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your sponsoring institution
• You must meet the English language proficiency requirements
• You’ll need to show evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the UK

Going Through The Application Process

Applying for a post-graduate work visa in the UK is simple and straightforward:

• Gather the documents you’ll require, including your CAS, passport, academic transcripts, proof of English language proficiency and financial documents
• Complete the online application form on the official government website or, if you prefer, apply in person
• Pay the application fee and submit your application
• Wait for the decision from the UK immigration authorities

The processing time for applications can vary, so it’s important to make sure you apply well in advance.

Restrictions To Bear in Mind

A post-graduate work visa carries certain restrictions that you’ll need to remember.

• If you’re on the Graduate Visa, you cannot switch to another visa category 
• The visa is non-extendable, which means you can’t prolong your stay under this visa category
• You can work full-time or part-time during your stay, and there are no restrictions on the type of employment
• After the 2-year visa duration has run out, you may be eligible for other work visas or routes if you meet the requirements

Tips and Advice

Here are a few guidelines to help make getting a post-graduate work visa and starting your career as simple and stress-free as possible.

Start researching and preparing your application well in advance to ensure a smooth process.

Seek professional assistance

You might consider consulting an immigration lawyer or advisor who can guide you through the application process and provide expert advice.

Build your network

Networking plays a crucial role in finding employment opportunities, so attend career fairs, join professional organizations and connect with industry experts.

Polish your skills

Enhance your skills and knowledge through additional certifications, internships or volunteer work, to help make you more attractive to potential employers

Stay updated

Keep up-to-date on any changes regarding post-graduate work visas, and regularly check official government websites for the latest information

What To Do Next

Securing a post-graduate work visa in the UK opens up exciting opportunities for any international student to get their career underway. If you want to know more or are thinking of applying, the team at NCUK are always on hand to help – and you can speak to them directly here . 

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Post-study work visas

Working in the UK after your studies

Find out more about UK work visas after graduation

If you want to work in the UK after you graduate, it's important you research your options and check the regulations of the different types of visa.

Your main options are:

Graduate Immigration Route 'Post-Study Work visa'

Skilled worker route, youth mobility scheme visa, temporary worker – government authorised exchange visa.

• Start-Up visa

This visa is for 2 years for Undergraduate and Masters students. If you are studying a PhD level course this visa is for 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am i eligible.

• In order to apply you must have already successfully completed your course
• You can only apply in the UK
• You will need to hold a valid, unexpired, Tier 4 or Student Route visa and study for the full period of your course in the UK if you have studied on a course of 12 months or less
• If you are on a course of 12 months or more you would need to spend a minimum of 12 months in the UK studying on a valid Student Route visa
• The University will need to notify the Home Office (UKVI) that you have been awarded your qualification before you apply for the Graduate Immigration Route (GIR) visa
• Your qualification will be awarded after the Board of Examiners has met and confirmed that you have passed all the required elements of your course. The Board of Examiners may take place a few weeks or months after you have completed the course

When and how can I apply?

• The University will confirm successful course completions to UKVI
• After UKVI have been informed you will receive an email confirming your most recent CAS number and that UKVI have been informed of your successful course completion
• You can find the application form on the  UKVI website .

How much will it cost?

• The cost is £822 for the standard visa application for both students and dependants
• You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the visa application, this will cost £1,035 per year – 2 years will cost £2,070 and 3 years will cost £3,105 for each applicant and each dependant
• From mid-January 2024 the IHS fee will increase to £1,035 per year (£2,070 for 2 years and £ 3,105 for 3 years)

Will I need to show living costs?

• You will not be required to show proof of living costs as part of the application

What type of work can I do?

• You can be employed or self-employed under this visa. If you wish to be self-employed you cannot start this until your GIR visa has been successfully granted 

Can I apply if I have an Official Financial Sponsor?

• If your tuition fees and living costs have been paid by a government or an international scholarship agency within the 12 month period before you apply, you must provide a letter showing the Official Financial Sponsor's consent to apply for a Graduate Immigration Route visa

Can I apply if I switched my visa to Tier 4 or Student Route?

If you have switched into the Tier 4 or Student Route from another visa route and have not held a Tier 4 or Student Route visa for the required period you will not be able apply for this route.

Can I study on this visa?

Supplementary study is allowed but only study that could not be sponsored under the Student Route visa. This means that you could, for example, study on recreational courses, online courses or some professional courses.

Is it possible to have dependents on this visa?

Only dependants who are already in the UK as your Tier 4/Student Route dependant can apply as your Graduate Immigration Route dependant. New dependants will not be able to apply apart from a dependant child born in the UK during Tier 4/Student permission.

Children born in the UK during your Graduate Immigration Route permission can also apply as your dependant.

How do my dependents apply?

Each dependant will need to complete a separate application form when you apply for the Graduate Immigration Route.

There is a separate form for your  partner  and  dependant children .

They will need your GIR visa application reference number. This number is called a Unique Application Number (UAN). You can find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your GIR application.

I have failed part of my course?

If you do not successfully complete your course within the original course dates you may not be able to apply for GIR.

The International Student Advice team does not provide an application checking service for GIR applications.

You can find further information about the Graduate Immigration Route on the  UKVI website  and the  UKCISA website .

If you have any questions or queries please contact the  International Student Advice team . 

The Careers and Employability Service can help you with your career plans, jobsearch and applications.

• Get  information  on career planning, including resources on CVs, interviews, psychometric tests and information to support global jobsearch
• Use our  MyCareer  portal to access graduate jobs, volunteering, see our events and book appointments
• Attend events throughout the year, including employer events and 30 minute guides to all aspects of career planning, including CVs, interviews and using LinkedIn
• Book a one-to-one appointment for advice on your options, jobsearch techniques, CVs, interviews or any other careers query by emailing  [email protected] , or booking a short appointment at  MyCareer . 
• Get help with your entrepreneurial ideas from our Student StartUp Team. Get useful  information  or book to attend an Enterprise Clinic by emailing  [email protected] .

If you are looking for ideas to gain experience over the summer then you may want to explore Bright Network’s Internship Experience UK programme that provides virtual internships this summer with big employers across a range of sectors.

The Careers and Employability Service is open throughout the summer and can help you for five years after you finish your course.

The eligibility rules for those on a Student Route or Tier 4 visa who wish to apply for the Skilled Worker Route were updated on 17 July 2023. Further information about when you can apply for this route can be found on the UKCISA website .

You must be sponsored by an employer on the Skilled Worker register of licensed sponsors.

The job and vacancy must be genuine.

The job must have a particular skill level.

Most people who apply in the UK to switch from a Tier 4 or Student Route visa to the Skilled Worker route will be considered a ‘new entrant’ and need to meet the lower minimum salary ‘70% of going rate’.

The 70% salary figure will vary depending on the specific job. You need to meet the relevant minimum salary or £20,960, whichever is higher.

Holders of Student permission will qualify for the lower 'new entrant' wage for up to two years after their Student visa expires.

Holders of the Graduate Immigration Route will also qualify for the ‘new entrant’ wage for up to 2 years after this visa expires.

Further information can be found on the  UKCISA website .

You can apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa if you're a citizen of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, San Marino or Taiwan. This visa is also open to British citizens overseas, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British National (overseas).

India Young Professionals Scheme

The India Young Professionals Scheme requires applicants to be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot. You cannot apply without being successful in the ballot.

You need to be aged 18–30 and have £2,530 in savings. You also need to meet  other eligibility requirements . 

If you want to undertake a period of professional training or work experience, you can apply for  this scheme . Your initial leave is granted for 12 months, but you can extend this to 24 months. However, you're not allowed to take a permanent job.

You must show that you have £1,270 or more in your bank account for 28 days at the time of the application and you need a certificate of sponsorship reference number from a  UK sponsor .

Innovator Founder Visa

The new Innovator Founder visa is a single immigration route that replaces both the Innovator visa and Start-up visa from 13 April 2023. 

If you are an international student on a Tier 4 or Student Route Visa, you are not eligible to start a business whilst studying. However, you can still develop the business idea alongside your studies.

Upon graduation different options are available to you whether you are looking to start a business in the UK or elsewhere.

The requirements for applicants to have a minimum of £50K will be removed and their permission will count towards settlement.

The aim is for simplification and greater clarity and ease of use for you as a business founder, going through the application process. 

The new scheme is still aimed at overseas candidates who wish to establish an innovative business in the UK. 

When applying with your idea, you will still need to demonstrate you meet the following criteria

• Innovation: Is there a genuine business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creatives a competitive advantage? 
• Viability: Does the applicant have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to successfully run the business? 
• Scalability: Is there evidence of structures planning and of potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets? 

There will only be government approved endorsing bodies going forward. 

Once the latest information appears on the government website shortly, we will update this page accordingly.

The Student StartUp team are here to signpost and guide you. You are also welcome to attend any of our RoutetoStartup workshops, to help you with your applications.

If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected]

The University of Portsmouth is one of the endorsing institutions for this visa, and requires applicants to meet the following criteria in full:

• Demonstrate a level of knowledge for the business sector for your product or service, to provide some evidence that you might be able to achieve what you set out in your business plan
• Connect with experts (academics at the University of Portsmouth or others based in industry) in the relevant business sector to receive early stage feedback 
• Be either a current international student at the University of Portsmouth or have graduated within the last 5 years
• Complete the initial application form (available from the Student StartUp team)
• Be fully engaged with the Student StartUp team at the University and must participate fully on the RoutetoStartup programme
• Meet all  eligibility requirements  as set out by the  UK Government UK Visas and Immigration website – start-up visa

The Process

Contact the Student StartUp team either by visiting one of the Enterprise Clinics (held every Wednesday 2.00pm–4.00pm and every Friday 9.30am–11.30am) or by emailing  [email protected]  for an appointment. Please note that until further notice, these are taking place virtually.

• Complete the initial application form; this can be requested from  [email protected]
• Submit evidence to  [email protected]  that you have received feedback from an expert in a relevant business sector

At this stage you must  submit a draft business plan  and show proof of: 

• An academic reference
• Degree certificate (if already received)

Business plan templates can be found on the  Student StartUp website  in the resources section under 'business planning'.

After reviewing the business plan the Student StartUp team will notify you whether you are eligible to progress to the next stage. This will depend on the criteria as laid out by the Government above.

In order to proceed and present your business idea to the endorsement panel you must submit a robust and comprehensive business plan to the Student StartUp team by the set deadline. All relevant deadlines can be found  here .

In order to qualify, your business plan must make good use of graduate-level skills and demonstrate how the business will contribute to the UK economy. Business proposals which seek to establish a routine business which will merely compete with other local traders are very unlikely to be successful. The final business plan will be sent for external review.

The Student StartUp team reserves the right to refuse a formal application if the business plan does not reach a quality threshold deemed worthy of external scrutiny.

If successful at step 5 you will be invited to present your business plan to the endorsement panel.

The panel meets twice per year: Nov/Dec and May/June. 

You will deliver a 15-minute presentation to the panel which will be followed by a question and answer session. 

The Evaluation Panel will comprise of the following: 

• one staff member from the Student StartUp team 
• one staff member from Academic Registry 
• one senior academic member of University staff 
• one subject/industry expert 
• one visiting entrepreneur 

NB: all panel members will be asked to declare any personal or professional interests or connections prior to the panel meeting.

The decision of the panel will be final. There is no appeal. In rare circumstances, you may be asked to supply further information to the panel in a given timeframe before a decision is confirmed in writing. 

If your application is successful, the University of Portsmouth will issue an endorsement letter for you to submit to the UKVI.

Notes of the meeting (and supporting documentation) will be made available to the UKVI on request.

Supervision post-application

The University is responsible for supervising successful applicants for 24 months following Start-up visa confirmation from the UKVI. The applicant must notify the Student StartUp team in writing as soon as formal notice of Start-up visa status is received from UKVI.

A supervisor will be appointed to undertake the 24 months supervisory process. 

The supervisor will arrange an initial meeting with the Start-up visa holder and must make contact at six-monthly intervals when the visa-holder must present their progress and the current status of their business. Company accounts and business records will be fully reviewed and the supervisor will complete the attached Appendix 1 at the end of each supervision. 

Some of these meetings may be via Skype, but at least two, usually the initial meeting and again at month 12, should be face-to-face. All meetings will be recorded by the Supervisor, who will notify the Student StartUp team that the meetings have taken place and will pass on any relevant meetings notes and company records.

In order to comply with UKVI’s requirements, Start-up visa-holders must show evidence of satisfactory progress and that they are dedicating sufficient time to the development of the business. If Start-up visa-holders fail to satisfy any of these requirements or fail to attend monitoring meetings, the University of Portsmouth is obliged to report non-compliance to UKVI. 

All reasonable expenses related to supervisory visits and reports will be covered by the Start-up visa holder – covering travel and accommodation costs and must be paid directly to the University (not staff).

Further information and advice

Speak with our  Careers and Employability Service  for further information and advice about these visas.

Immigration Rules may be subject to change at short notice. We will update information as soon as possible when it has been confirmed.

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Graduate route (post-study work)

The Graduate Route allows students who have completed a b achelor's or m aster ' s degree to stay for up to two years to work at any skill level, or to look for work. Those who have completed a PhD will be granted permission for three years. 

Please read our detailed guidance in the sections below to help you understand the eligibility criteria and how and when to apply.

The Immigration Compliance Team at Queen Mary deal with the administrative side of reporting successful completion to UKVI. If you have any questions about how this works, you can contact them on:  [email protected]    

Eligibility

International students who successfully complete an undergraduate degree or postgraduate degree at Queen Mary with Student immigration permission at the time of application would be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route.

If you complete a course with a lower award than the one stated on your CAS, such as a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma, you would not be eligible for the Graduate visa (exception for those leaving an integrated Masters course with a Bachelors award). These awards are not eligible qualifications for the visa route. 

We understand that certain programmes (normally leading to postgraduate taught awards) allow for the award of credit where a module is failed, subject to certain conditions. This is known as ‘condoned failure’. If despite the condoned failure, it is confirmed that you will be awarded the qualification you were studying for, you may still be eligible for the Graduate Route.

Normally if your total course length is 12 months or shorter, you should spend the full duration of your course in the UK with Student immigration permission, if your course is longer than 12 months you should spend at least 12 months in the UK with Student immigration permission ( but note the concession in 2021 ' Study in the UK (including Covid-19 concessions) ' ).

Absences from the UK

The Graduate Route information on the   Gov website   states the following about absences and provides an example relating to leaving the UK after you have arrived. It says:

"Studying your course in the UK means that you were in the UK when your education provider needed you to be there – for example, to go to lectures or meet with a tutor."

And provides the following example:

"If you were taking a 1 year master’s degree, but left the UK during term breaks or on weekends, that would still count as studying in the UK for 1 year."

Students who are on official vacation (no study required) eg: in summer

If you are in a period where you have no study activity scheduled (eg: over the summer if you are an undergraduate student who has successfully completed one academic year and will start the next academic year in September), then you are considered to be out of term time and you are officially in a vacation period. Absence from the UK during that official vacation period should not affect your eligibility for the Graduate Route.

Students who are not on official vacation (eg: dissertation / other study periods)

We understand from verbal discussions with UKVI that short periods of absence from the UK (other than during official vacations and weekends) should not impact on your eligibility for the Graduate Route as long as you remain engaged in your studies and QMUL continues sponsorship (your CAS). 

However, unless the Home Office provide clarity and certainty in written form (ideally in the immigration rules, in the guidance or in published concessions to the rules), there will be an element of risk in terms of eligibility for the Graduate Route if you choose to undertake a period of study activity/ do your dissertation / project while outside the UK or if you take a period of authorised absence in a required study period – even if you are permitted to do so by your school and QMUL continue to sponsor you for your student visa.

QMUL along with other organisations continues to lobby for clarity and certainty on this issue and we will update these webpages if and when there is any update.

One time only eligibility

You will only be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route visa once, even if you undertake more than one eligible course in the UK. Therefore, if you are planning to do an undergraduate and postgraduate course in the UK, think about when the best time would be to apply depending on your career plans. 

When & where to apply

You will only meet the eligibility criteria for the qualification , after the exam board for your programme has taken place , and your results have been officially confirmed. You must have  successfully completed  your course and your successful completion reported to UKVI to be eligible.  

Successful completion of your studies is when you have completed your programme and the Queen Mary programme boards have confirmed your award of qualification. Programme boards normally take place at Queen Mary one to two months after the end date of your course, however this may vary between Schools and Institutes  

The Immigration Compliance Team at Queen Mary will report your successful completion to UKVI and inform you by email when this has been done. You can only apply after this.  

Do not apply before you have received confirmation from the Immigration Compliance Team at Queen Mary that they have reported your successful completion of studies to UKVI.     

You must apply before your current Student immigration permission expires, or on the day it expires at the very latest.  

For further information about when to apply for the Graduate Route you can listen to our podcast  'When to apply for the Graduate Route' .  

Please note you can only in the UK . There is no provision to apply in any other country other than the UK.

How to apply

You will need to apply using an  online application form  which you can complete on your phone, laptop, PC or other device.  

The Graduate Route visa is  not  automatic and requires you to make an application.  

To make an application, you need to first check that you meet all of the eligibility requirements.  

Read the  Graduate Route guidance  

Once you have checked you meet all the eligibility requirements, you should follow all the steps to make a successful application. The Graduate Route Application Process is outlined on the  UK Government website: Graduate Route .  

The application process has a number of steps that include:  

• Proving your identity and nationality (in most cases by using the UK Immigration: ID Check app)  
• Completing the online application form (you will need to reference your studies and the conf o i rmation of acceptance for studies ( CAS ) issued for your studies in this section)  
• Paying the Immigration Health Surcharge, Visa Application Fee and submitting the application online  
• Submitting any documents in support of your application (if relevant)  
• Awaiting the decision of your application (this can take up to eight weeks)  
• Carefully read the  instructions about using the app  before starting your application.   

How much does it cost?

The application fee is £822 , and the Immigration Health Surcharge is £1,035 per year of permission granted. Your eligible dependants will also have to pay an application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge.   

Previously sponsored by government or international scholarship agency 

If you were sponsored by a government or international organisation for your studies or were sponsored during the 12 months before you make your application for the Graduate Route, then you will need to provide a letter of consent from your sponsor. The letter of consent should say that your sponsor agrees to you remaining in the UK. This is required if the scholarship covered both tuition fees and living expenses.   

As Queen Mary is not a government or international scholarship agency, you will not require a letter of consent if you have been sponsored by Queen Mary.   

We are aware that the visa application form currently asks you to provide a letter of consent if you have previously been sponsored by any official financial sponsor . , however ,  this is not in accordance with the Immigration Rules which only requires the letter of consent if you were sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency. If you previously received a scholarship from Queen Mary, you can write a cover letter to submit with your supporting documents to explain that a letter of consent is not required because you were not sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency.  

If you were sponsored by a government or international organisation for either your tuition fees or living expenses, or both, then please check if the terms and conditions of your sponsorship permit you to stay in the UK on completion of your course.   

If you made your Student visa application before 6 April 2022 y ou will be able to work in line with the Graduate Route conditions once your Graduate Route visa has been issued.   Until then, you should work in line with your Student conditions . This means that you should not work in a permanent job until your Graduate Route visa has been issued. This is different to full-time work, which you are permitted to undertake under your Student conditions after the end date of your course.     

If you are a part-time student, you are not permitted to work until your Graduate Route permission is issued.  

Once your Graduate Route visa has been issued, you can undertake most work, including employment and self-employment and you can also be looking for work. It is also permitted to start your own business. You are not permitted to work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

If you make your Student application on or after 6 April 2022, you will be able to start employment which is not usually allowed, including in a permanent job (with no end date) between making your Graduate route application and receiving a decision on it. However, you will not be allowed to start self-employment or work as an entertainer until you are granted Graduate permission.  

You are not permitted to work as a professional sportsperson even after you have been granted Graduate permission. The date on which you applied for Student or Graduate permission makes no difference.   

Existing dependants can extend, but you cannot bring new dependants under the Graduate Route.

Deadline to enter the UK – Covid concessions 

UKVI have confirmed that students will normally be expected to undertake their studies in the UK to be eligible for the Graduate route. However, there is a concession at this time, to allow students to remain eligible for the Route even if they have spent some time studying outside the UK as a result of the pandemic.   

Students who started a 12 month course in 2020 or Spring 2021  

Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or Spring 2021 via distance learning, and who had not previously entered the UK to study that course would be able to make a Graduate application if they made a successful Student visa application and arrived in the UK by 27 September 2021, or before their visa expired if this were sooner.   

If you already came to the UK under your current Student route permission but then you switched to distance learning from home, you just need to return to the UK before the end date of your Student permission in order to be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route.   

Students who start a 12 month course in Autumn 2021 or Spring 2022  

Students who begin a course of 12 months or less in Autumn 2021 or Spring 2022 via distance learning from overseas must enter the UK no later than 30 June 2022, and complete that course of study with permission as a Student to be eligible for the Graduate Route  

Students who started a course at any time that is longer than 12 months:   

Students sponsored for a course lasting longer than 12 months will not be prevented from being eligible for the Graduate route as a result of any distance learning that took place either in the UK or overseas between the period of 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021, or overseas between 27 September 2021 and 30 June 2022. Remember that you must be in the UK with Student immigration permission at the time of application. If your Student visa expires before 30 June 2022, you must enter the UK before your visa expires rather than 30 June 2022.   

In all cases, you must meet all other eligibility criteria of the route in order to be able to apply.  

PhD students

PhD students will be eligible to apply after they have been awarded their PhD, and received the confirmation from the Immigration Compliance Team that they have successfully completed. They will be granted three years to stay and work in the UK.   

Support in looking for, and applying for, jobs

The Careers and Enterprise Service at Queen Mary can provide a range of support in helping you to find work or apply for a job or further study, including feedback on your job application, practice interviews, advice on making career choices and support with looking for work. See the  Careers and Enterprise website  for further details and follow their  blog  for useful information and case studies.   

You can watch recorded webinars on the  Careers and Enterprise Service web pages .   

You can access Queen Mary's Careers and Enterprise Service for two years after you graduate.   

Whilst your application is pending

Your previous Student conditions continue whilst you are waiting for a decision on your Graduate Route application, if you submit (pay for) your Graduate Route application by the date that your Student visa expires  at the very latest . Even if your application is still pending after the date that your Student visa expires, you are still in the UK legally as long as you have submitted your Graduate Route application before that date.  

If you travel outside the UK before you receive a decision on your application, your application will be automatically withdrawn.  

Resits and eligibility

As long as it is confirmed that you have successfully completed your course while you still hold valid Student immigration permission, you will be in time to apply for the Graduate Route (subject to meeting all of the other qualifying criteria).  

  If you are an Undergraduate student who has resits during the late summer resit period, we understand that your results should be released in September following the August resit and this should be before your student visa expires.   

If you are a Postgraduate Taught student who has to resit exams, or you need to resubmit your dissertation, you may only be eligible for the Graduate Route if the resit/resubmission takes place AND official results are released before your Student immigration permission expires.

Resits / reassessments in a defined assessment period

If you are undertaking an exam or submitting work in the relevant re-sit period, the university will consider sponsorship of your Student Visa (issuing a CAS) for the applicable re-sit period only. Your visa should cover the re-sit period. The Home Office should permit you to stay in the UK for up to another four months (depending), allowing your work to be marked and the following applicable board to consider your eligibility for an award.

When applying for a new student visa, you should be issued with additional time based on the overall length of your course (and not just for the new sponsorship period). Please see our website pages entitled Student Visa "Check your Visa"

Can I undertake a re-sit outside of the re-sit period?

If your School or Institute schedules a different submission or assessment date (e.g., an earlier date), QMUL will not be able to sponsor your Student Visa as it is not within the formal re-sit period. This usually means that you will not be eligible for the Graduate Visa. Your School or Institute may be trying to help you by allowing you to submit earlier, but if it is not possible for your work to be marked and your degree to be awarded before your current immigration permission expires, you would not be eligible for the Graduate Visa.

Can I apply for an extension?

Where there are relevant extenuating circumstances, your School or Institute may agree to grant you a short extension, provided it would still be possible for your work to be marked in time to be considered at the degree board and before your current student visa expires. However, your School or Institute should carefully consider whether they have the resources to support such a request.

If it will not be possible to mark your work in time and the extenuating circumstances are sufficient, you may be able to apply for a first-sit instead. You should then submit your work during the next applicable re-sit period and you may request a CAS for that period.

Please see the Immigration Compliance pages of the QMUL website for information on requesting a CAS to extend your student visa.

For further information about the exceptional circumstances in which you request a CAS for a dissertation resubmission after your visa expiry date, see our guidance   on r esitting a project or dissertation .

Interruption of study and eligibility for the Graduate Route visa

The university can only sponsor Student Visas for those undertaking exams or re-submitting work during these formal re-sit periods. In some cases this may mean that it will be possible for you to extend your student visa in the UK, but in other cases you may need to apply for a new student visa in your home country in order to return to the UK for the resit period.

For example, if you will be re-sitting out of attendance in order to complete your studies and there is a substantial gap between the expiry date of your current student visa and the assessment period, you may need to apply for a new student visa from outside the UK.  You should seek advice on this.

Even if there is a break in your studies and time in the UK as a result of this, you may still meet the Graduate Route requirement for study in the UK (minimum time required to be in the UK) because all the periods of student visa that you have held should count toward this requirement.

The Graduate Route caseworker guidance states " For the purposes of assessing the Study in the UK requirement, the caseworker must consider all periods of Student permission which were granted to study the eligible qualification that the applicant subsequently successfully completed. This means that an applicant who was unable to complete their studies in one period of Student permission, for reasons such as maternity leave or sickness, and who consequently deferred their studies and completed the course of studies at a later date with Student permission, will have all those periods counted."

When your visa is issued

If your application is successful, you will get either:  

• a biometric residence permit  - if you gave your biometric information at a visa application centre or you are a visa national.   
• a digital immigration status which you can view and prove online  - if you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app and are a non-visa national. If you get a digital immigration status, you will not receive a BRP card.  

You will be able to generate a share code to prove your right to work in the UK.   

Part-time Students and eligibility

Students on part-time courses with Student permission at the time of application will be eligible for the Graduate Route, provided they meet all of the  other eligibility criteria.  

Please note, the  UKCISA information confirms  that you cannot start work until your Graduate Route permission is granted.  

If you need individual advice

Contact the UKCISA Student advice line

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

For detailed information including money and fees, travelling in and outside the UK and starting work

Further advice

Find out how to look for a regulated immigration adviser.

• 02074940118
• [email protected]

PSW Visa: Post Study for Graduates

Anne morris.

• 13 March 2024

IN THIS SECTION

PSW visa stands for ‘Post-Study Work’ visa. The UK’s PSW visa is officially known as the Graduate Route.

Under the graduate route, international graduates are able to apply for a PSW visa to stay on in the UK for a fixed period of either two or three years after the completion of their degree studies, depending on their level of study.

For graduates, the PSW visa provides a more straightforward way – compared to other visa routes – to stay in the UK lawfully after graduating. For employers, the visa offers opportunities to recruit recent graduates  without the investment and compliance demands of the employment sponsorship process .

In this guide to the UK’s PSW visa, we explain what this route allows and how to make an application.

What is the UK PSW visa?

The PSW visa, or ‘Graduate Immigration Route’, allows:

• International students completing an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree at a qualifying institution to stay on in the UK to work or look for work for a fixed period of two years after they have completed their studies.
• International students completing a PhD at a qualifying institution to stay on in the UK to work or look for work for a fixed period of three years after they have completed their studies.

Graduates staying on in the UK under a PSW visa do not need to be sponsored, either by an education institution or an employer, nor will they need a Certificate of Sponsorship . Once a graduate switches onto a PSW visa, they are no longer sponsored as a student by their education institution.

Graduates on the PSW visa will not be able to work as a professional sportsperson, and while they are allowed to undertake supplementary study while in the UK on a PSW visa, the supplementary study cannot be at any institution that sponsors students for the purposes of their Tier 4 General student visa.

Family members already living in the UK lawfully as dependants of a student visa holder will be allowed to stay on as dependants when the main visa holder switches to the PSW visa. However, apart from children born in the UK, new dependants will not be able to join the PSW visa holder in the UK from overseas.

The visa is non-extendable and the time spent in the UK under the Graduate Immigration Route will not count towards settlement in the UK . We explore options to remain in the UK after the PSW visa later in this article.

The Doctorate Extension Scheme that allows students who have completed their PhD to stay on in the UK for 12 months has closed following the introduction of the Graduate Route.

Rapid Review into PSW visa

In March 2024, the UK Government commissioned a ‘rapid review’ of the Graduate route to be conducted by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The MAC has been directed to consider five key areas:

• Whether there is any proof of abuse of the route
• Insight into who is using the route and which universities they attended
• Insight into the demographics and trends of students switching from the student to graduate route
• Insight into the activities of student visa holders who switch into the Graduate route, and whether they are contributing to the economy
• Consideration whether the Graduate route is undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system.

We will update this article when the MAC publishes its findings.

PSW visa eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for a PSW visa, the student will have to attain 70 points under the points-based immigration system. Points are awarded in respect of successful completion of a qualifying course of study in the UK.

This means applicants must:

• Hold a valid student visa at the time of their application for a PSW visa from a UK higher education provider on the list of registered sponsors “with a track record of compliance”.
• Have successfully completed their degree at undergraduate level or above.
• Have stayed in the UK for the duration of their study. The only exemptions to this are if the student studied abroad as part of a ‘study abroad’ programme, or was forced to study from home for reasons relating to Covid-19.
• Not have previously been granted the PSW visa.
• Pass security, identity and criminality checks.
• Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge .

Those studying in the UK on a scholarship from the government of their home country have to meet an additional requirement, namely, that their government must have given its permission for them to remain in the UK under a PSW visa.

There is no English language or financial requirement for the PSW visa applicant to meet.

EU nationals

EEA or Swiss students in the UK with valid EU settled or pre settled status will not need to apply for the PSW visa to remain in the UK. Those without permission under the EU settlement scheme may apply for the PSW visa to retain lawful status in the UK.

Which course are eligible under the PSW visa?

To be eligible, applicants must have completed a course awarding either:

• A UK bachelor’s degree.
• UK postgraduate degree, including PhD and Masters’ degree.
• A Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) conversion course, as validated by the Joint Academic Stage Board in England and Wales.
• The Legal Practice Course (LPC) in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland.
• The Bar Practice Course (BPTC) in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland.
• A foundation programme in Medicine or Dentistry.
• A postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
• A professional course required to study at the UK bachelor’s degree level or above in a profession with reserved activities that is regulated by UK law or UK public authority.

The degree course has to be the same as that on the applicant’s Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). In addition, their sponsoring higher education provider must confirm that they meet this requirement.

Applying for the post study work visa

The PSW visa application should be made online from within the UK.

Students can apply for a Graduate visa as soon as their sponsoring institution or college notifies the Home Office that they have finished and passed their programme. Students do not have to wait until they have graduated or received a certificate of completion to apply; they should apply while their student visa is still valid.

How much is the graduate visa?

The PSW visa application costs £715. Applicants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is currently £624 per year of leave in the UK.

Visa options after PSW visa?

To stay in the UK with lawful status after your period of leave under the Graduate route, you will need to make an application for a new type of visa or leave to remain.

Visa options to remain in the UK could, for example, include a work visa or family-based visa, and will depend on the specific circumstances.

If the graduate visa holder is employed in a skilled role, they may be eligible to apply to remain by switching to the Skilled Worker visa route , provided all of the requirements are met to switch into this category.

To qualify as a Skilled Worker, they must be in an eligible job, working for an employer that is licensed by the UK Home Office to sponsor skilled migrant workers. The Home Office publishes a list of registered sponsors on the .gov website.

In addition, they must meet the minimum salary requirements . They must be paid at least £26,200, or the ‘ going-rate ’ for the job if it is higher. In some situations, such as if the job is in a shortage occupation , the graduate may still qualify if paid less than £26,200.

The Skilled Worker route also provides a path to settlement in the UK, i.e. indefinite leave to remain . Applicants must have five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK under a Skilled Worker visa to be eligible to apply for settlement.

If your ambitions are to start a business in the UK, you could look at the Innovator Founder route .

Another option could be to make an application based on a relationship with a UK settled person, such as a partner visa.

Taking advice is the best way to determine options to remain in the UK based on specific circumstances.

Need assistance?

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists , and can advise both employers and graduates on Home Office applications such as the new post study work visa. For advice, please contact us .

PSW visa for graduates FAQs

What is psw visa.

A PSW visa is a ‘Post-Study Work’ visa, that is officially called the Graduate Route. It allows overseas graduates completing their studies in the UK to stay on for two or three years after completion of their studies. The two year period is granted if you have completed an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree, and the three year period if you have completed a PhD.

How much does PSW visa cost in UK?

The PSW visa application fee is £715. You will also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of your leave.

Who is eligible for PSW in UK?

You are eligible to apply for a PSW visa in the UK if you are completing an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree or a PhD from summer 2021 onwards. The degree must have been awarded by a qualifying institution, that is a higher education provider approved by the UK Home Office.

How long does the PSW visa last?

If you have complete an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree and you are successful in obtaining the PSW visa then it will last for two years. If you have completed a PhD and are successful in obtaining a PSW visa then it will last for three years. In both cases the PSW visa is non-extendable, meaning to retain lawful status beyond your period of leave under the Graduate Route, you will need to make an application for leave to remain under a different visa category.

Last updated: 14 March 22024

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Visa Supporting Documents Checklist 2024
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Overcoming a UK Visa Refusal: Tips & Steps
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ MAC Publishes Report into UK Graduate Route
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Visa Guide: Requirements & Process 2024

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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Post Study Work (PSW) Visa UK: The Graduate Route

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Cruise into the graduate route

Students from all over the world migrate to the UK for the chance to study at some of the best universities in the world. Over 600,000 international students flock to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland every year to pursue their undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhDs. After completing their education, students often want the chance to work in the UK for a couple of years. The UK post study work visa offers you that chance and has a point-based immigration system to streamline the visa process for international students. Applying can seem daunting at first, but we’ve broken down every step of the process so you can start your journey with ease. 

What is the UK graduate route?

Before the UK’s new immigration system was introduced, it was incredibly difficult for international students to find work in the country after their courses. However, with the new visa, students can apply for a post study work permit that allows them to stay in the country for up to 2 or 3 years after completing their studies. 

This is an unsponsored visa, meaning that you do not need to have a job offer in hand to be eligible to apply. This visa cannot be extended and does not lead to permanent settlement in the UK. You do not need to show any English language proficiency, nor must you provide any proof of funds. 

What is the difference between a graduate and PSW Visa?

The United Kingdom has established the “Graduate Visa” (PSW Visa) or the “UK Graduate Visa” (Graduate Route). This visa  allows international students who have successfully completed their graduation at a UK higher education institution to stay and work in the UK for a set amount of time after theyv have completed their studies. The following  are the key differences between a graduate and a PSW visa:

1. Name and purpose

Graduate Visa : This is a catch-all name for visas issued by several nations that allow international graduates to stay and work after finishing their education.

UK Graduate Visa : This is a special visa category created by the UK government to keep talented international graduates and allow them to obtain work experience in the UK once they complete their education.

2. Eligibility Criteria

Graduate Visa : The requirements for a graduate visa may differ from one country to the next. In general, a degree or higher qualification from an accredited educational institution in the host nation is required.

UK Graduate Visa : Student smust have an approved or finished degree at a higher education institution with a track record of complying with UK immigration regulations may be one of the specified requirements.

3. Duration of Stay and Work Rights

Graduate Visa : The duration of stay and employment rights connected with a graduate visa are determined by the host country's immigration regulations.

UK Graduate Visa : As of my latest update, the UK Graduate Route enabled international students to stay and work in the UK for a maximum of two years (for undergraduate and master's degree holders) or three years (for Ph.D. graduates). During this time, visa holders were permitted to work or seek employment without the need for a sponsor.

UK Graduate Route Eligibility Requirements

Most international students will be eligible to apply. Some of the basic eligibility requirements are: 

• Qualification: You must have completed a UK bachelor's degree, master's degree, or a Ph.D. from a recognised university or higher education institution.
• Study location: Your degree must have been awarded by a UK higher education institution with a track record of compliance with immigration requirements.
• Visa type: You must have a valid Tier 4 or Student visa at the time of application or have completed your course within the last two years.
• Course completion: You must have successfully completed your degree course and obtained your degree from a recognised UK university or higher education institution.
• Validity: You must apply for the UK post study work visa within two years of the date you completed your degree, or within two years of the date you were granted your Tier 4 or Student visa.
• English language proficiency : You must meet the English language requirements. You can do this by either passing an approved English language test or by having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher.
• Financial requirements: You must demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds. The amount of money you need will depend on your circumstances.
• Good character: You must not have a criminal record and must not have breached UK immigration laws.

Required degrees for applying for a PSW Visa

To apply for a PSW Visa you must have finished the following courses or degrees:

• A Bachelor’s Degree.
• A Master’s Degree.
• PhD or higher doctoral degree in any field.
• A law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland.
• Legal Practice Course in England or Wales.
• Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or Bar Course in Northern Ireland.
• A professional legal practice diploma in Scotland.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
• Foundation program in medicine or dentistry.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
• Any course regulated by UK law or a UK public body.

Documents required to apply for the graduate route visa

The most important documents needed for your application are:

• A valid passport
• Your most recent CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) 
• A biometric residence permit or BRP
• Documents from your education loan provider (if any)

If you want to travel in London like a localite, you can check out our ultimate guide to UK transportation blog.

What is a BRP?

BRP is a Biometrics Residence Permit used to confirm the identity of someone residing in the UK. It is also used to authenticate your right to study and ability to use any public services or benefits. Your BRP will include the following details:

• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Fingerprints
• Photo of your face
• Immigration status
• Any additional benefits you have access to

Who can apply?

You’ll be eligible to apply for the PSW visa if you meet the following requirements:

• If you have been staying in the UK with a student visa.
• If you’ve studied a UK course(bachelor degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible courses) for a minimum of 12 months with your student visa.
• If your college or university can offer proof to the Home Office that you’ve successfully graduated.

How can you apply for the graduate route visa

The process has been made entirely digital and can be completed online. If your application goes smoothly and is approved, you will be issued an eVisa. 

Steps to apply:

• Visit GOV.UK  and click on “Start Now”
• Go through the guidelines carefully and create your account
• Verify your identity with your BRP or biometric passport
• Fill out the application form
• Upload your documents 
• Pay an application fee
• Pay a healthcare surcharge

When to apply?

Before your student visa expires, you must apply for the PSW Visa. You can apply once your university or college has informed the Home Office that you have completed the course you were enrolled in with your student visa. You must prove your identity and give your documentation as part of your application. 

Associated Costs

When you apply for the Post study work visa, you have to pay the following fee:

Check to see if you’re qualified for the Health and Care Worker Visa instead if you’re a doctor or nurse, or if you work in health or adult social care. It is less expensive to apply for, and there is no annual immigration health surcharge.

Processing Time

After you’ve successfully submitted your application, it will be assessed by the UKVI and they’ll get back to you within 4-8 weeks of biometrics processing. Many students are being contacted a week early during the lean processing times, so you can surely expect to get an answer soon. If you’re

Switching to a Different Visa

If you find a job, you’ll have to meet the eligibility criteria of the specific work visa if you’re planning to switch visas. Then you simply need to apply for another visa through the UK Government Website and UKVACS.

Terms and conditions for the PSW Visa

Once you’ve graduated and received your UK graduate work visa, you’re bound to follow these listed conditions:

• You are permitted to pursue additional education, but you’re not allowed to study with a student sponsor on a degree that would meet the requirements of the UK student visa, nor are you permitted to attend a public school
• You cannot bring new dependents 
• You’re not allowed to apply for the state pension or public funds
• Permission under the graduate route can only be granted once
• You’re not allowed to work as a sportsperson

How does Post Study Work Visa UK work?

The UK post study work visa is a type of visa that allows international students to stay in the UK for up to 2 years after completing their degree. It was introduced in 2020, and it is aimed at attracting the brightest and the best international students to study and work in the UK. 

• Duration: The UK post study Work Visa is valid for up to 2 years or up to 3 years for Ph.D. graduates.
• Work: During the validity of the UK post study work visa, you can work in any job or profession, including self-employment. You do not need a job offer to apply for a visa.
• Switching: If you are in the UK on a different visa, such as a Tier 2 Visa or a Student Visa, you can switch to the UK post study work visa if you meet the eligibility criteria.
• Settlement: The PSW visa UK does not lead to a settlement or permanent residency in the UK. However, it can provide you with valuable work experience and enhance your career prospects.
• Dependents: You can bring your dependents, such as your spouse or children, to the UK on a UK post study work visa.

What are the benefits of the UK post study work visa?

• Opportunity to gain work experience: The PSW  visa UK allows international students to work in the UK after they have completed their studies. This provides them with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study, which can be beneficial for their future career prospects.
• Time to find a suitable job: The PSW visa allows international students to stay in the UK for two years after completing their studies, giving them ample time to find a suitable job. This is particularly beneficial for students who may not have secured a job offer before completing their studies.
• Chance to earn money : The PSW visa UK allows international students to work in the UK, which gives them an opportunity to earn money to support themselves financially. This can be especially beneficial for students who may have taken out loans to finance their studies.
• Opportunity to explore other career options: The PSW visa UK allows international students to explore other career options in the UK. They may discover new fields of interest or find a job that allows them to use their existing skills in a different way.
• Pathway to settlement: The PSW visa UK is a pathway to settlement in the UK. If international students are able to find a suitable job and meet the requirements for a work visa, they may be able to apply for permanent residency in the UK.

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 What to do after the UK Post Study Work Visa Ends?

• Switch to a different visa category: You could switch to a different visa category if you are eligible. For example, if you have a job offer from a UK employer, you could apply for a Tier 2 visa. Alternatively, if you are married to a UK citizen or have a partner who is settled in the UK, you could apply for a Spouse or Partner visa.
• Extend your current visa: If you are eligible, you may be able to extend your current visa. For example, if you are on a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you may be able to extend it if you have an offer from a licensed Tier 2 sponsor or a start-up endorsed by an authorized endorsing body.
• Apply for a graduate job: If you are interested in staying in the UK, you could apply for a graduate job. If you find a job with a licensed Tier 2 sponsor, you could apply for a Tier 2 visa.

There’s everything you need to know about the graduate visa UK! We hope you’ve found this helpful and can now confidently begin your application. This visa offers up a world of possibilities for any international student currently in the UK. You can check out our blog to know more about student discounts in the UK . Grab this opportunity while you can! 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you work on a post study visa uk, is uk removing psw in 2024, who is eligible for 2 year post study work visa uk, what happens after 2 years post study work visa in uk, what is the new rule for psw in uk.

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Information about the new Graduate Route

Route overview and basics.

Important :  If you are hoping to apply for the Graduate Route post study, it is your responsibility to ensure that you pass your course on time. If you have a suspension, resits or resubmissions you may not be able to meet the UKVI eligibility requirements. You should also note that the University cannot support applications for students who are carrying University debt or who have unresolved academic, or other, misconduct allegations.    

The UK government launched a 2-year (or 3-year for PhD) Graduate visa on 1st July 2021.

To qualify for the visa, students must:

• Have successfully completed an eligible qualification
• Have received formal email notification from the University Compliance Team confirming that it has reported the course completion to the UKVI
• Have spent a minimum period of time studying in the UK using a Tier 4 or Student visa
• Be in the UK with a valid Tier 4 visa or a valid Student visa at the time of application to the Graduate visa
• If in the last 12 months the student has received a scholarship or financial sponsorship from a Government or international scholarship agency covering tuition fees and living costs, consent must get be given by that sponsor for that student to remain in the UK under the Graduate visa.
• Must not have ever previously held either a Graduate Route or Doctoral Extension Scheme visa 

Except for babies born in the UK, eligibility for dependants is restricted to those already in the UK as dependants of a Student. See ‘Dependants’ section below.

Note: You are still under the immigration regulations relating to your Student/Tier 4 visa until your have received a decision on a Graduate Route application. This means there are restrictions on the type of work your can do. Please carefully read the section at the bottom of this page called 'Working while waiting for a Graduate Route decision (or pre application)'

Basics of the Graduate visa application:

• Can only be made from within the UK
• Can only be made by someone who currently has a valid Tier 4 or Student Route visa and has had that visa for at least 12 months (for courses of 12 months of more) or for the whole of their course (for courses of 12 months or less), unless Covid-19 concessions on distance learning apply
• Can only be made after an eligible course has been successfully and formally completed, formal results produced,  and the University Compliance Team has reported the completion to the UKVI
• Must not have previously held a visa under either the Graduate visa or the Doctoral Extension Scheme
• The University Compliance Team will automatically send an email , including the individual CAS number needed for the Graduate visa application, to all eligible students once degree results have been reported to the UKVI
• You cannot apply to the Graduate visa until you get that email/number from the Compliance Team. If you do, your visa application may be refused. Reporting will take place after degree results are confirmed by the relevant award board
• The course completed must be the same one as the one on the student's initial course CAS unless exempt. Please see the section ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies CAS’ below
• Will be made online using the UKVI IDV app or online and by attendance at a visa center
• Will cost £822 for the application (plus £822 each for any dependants)
• There is no additional maintenance requirement
• Consent from a Government or international scholarship body will be needed if the student has received financial support for tuition fees and living costs in the last 12 months.
• Will be subject to the Immigration Health Surcharge , which will be a total of £1,248 for graduates of a Bachelor or Master's degree, and £1,872 for PhD and doctorate graduates. This must be paid at point of application and if applying with dependants, this charge also applies to all dependant applicants. PLEASE NOTE: The IHS is due to increase to £2,070 for UG/PG and £3,105 for PhD/doctorate graduates.  This change will come into force on 6th February 2024.
• Bachelor and Masters graduates will automatically be granted a Graduate visa for 2 years
• PhD and Doctorate graduates will automatically be granted a Graduate visa for 3 years
• Only dependants who already have permission to be in the UK as the dependants on the main applicant's Tier 4 or Student Route visa may apply. You cannot switch the main applicant or add new dependants under the Graduate visa route
• Cannot be renewed or applied for again even after another period of study
• Does not count towards settlement
• Further study is restricted
• Permits switching into other work categories from within the UK

Eligibility requirements

Valid Tier 4 or Student permission   

You will need to be in the UK with valid Tier 4 or Student permission in order to apply for the Graduate visa.

You can also apply if you have held valid Tier 4 or Student permission, but this expired and you have been granted a period of Exceptional Assurance - provided you have not overstayed this period.

Successful completion requirement

You must have successfully completed the course of study which took place during your last grant of Tier 4 or Student Route permission. In the case of Student Sabbatical Officers, the course must have been completed during the last grant of leave prior to taking up the role of Sabbatical Officer.

The course completed must be the same course that was listed on your CAS used to obtain your current Tier 4 or Student permission. If you have changed course, it must have been a permitted change that didn’t require a new Student Route application.

If you changed course and are not sure if you are now eligible for the Graduate visa, please contact [email protected] for more advice.

Sponsor notification requirement

Swansea University must have informed the UKVI of your successful course completion before you apply for the Graduate visa.

The Compliance Team will automatically make a report to the UKVI confirming that you have successfully completed your course and then email you to confirm this has taken place.

It is important that you wait until you have received the notification email from the Compliance Team confirming that they have completed the reporting process before applying for the visa.

Making an application before receiving notification from the Compliance team may result in your visa application being refused.

Eligible qualification requirement

The course students must have successfully completed would usually be:

• A UK Bachelor degree
• UK Master's degree
• UK PhD or Doctorate degree

The full degree award (Bachelor, Master's, PhD) must be awarded in order to be eligible for the Graduate Route. Lower exit qualifications such as Diplomas and Certificates will not be eligible for Graduate Route. 

You can also apply if you have successfully completed:

• A law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
• A Legal Practice Course
• A Bar Practice Course
• Foundation Programme in Medicine or Dentistry
• A Postgraduate Certificate in Education ( PGCE  and NOT a general PGCert in any other subject)
• A course that makes you eligible for a job that is regulated by UK law or public authority

Previous time spent on the Graduate Route visa

The Graduate Route visa is a one-time only visa.  This means you can only ever apply for and be granted the Graduate visa once in your lifetime.

For example if you are granted a Graduate Route visa following the successful completion a Bachelor degree level course, but at some later date you also complete a Master's and/or PhD course, you won't be able to re-apply for the Graduate Route after completing those later postgraduate courses. 

The same limit would apply if you had ever held immigration permission under the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES).

Study in the UK requirement

Please see the section below.

UK study requirement

The Graduate Route includes a requirement for students to have studied in the UK for a certain amount of time. This time is: at least 12 months or the full length of your course, whichever is shorter. Students who start their course in Autumn 2022 or later will need to meet this requirement.

NB: This 12 month UK requirement does not count for dependants, who can wait at home and join you during the last month or two of your course and still apply for Graduate Route as your dependants (see Dependants section below). However, due to the COVID pandemic, and students having been permitted to undertake periods of study from overseas, there are currently a series of concessions around this. These concessions state that rather than being in the UK for a certain amount of time, student must arrive in the UK by a certain date/have a student visa to be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route. Once they have arrived in the UK, students then need to stay in the UK to complete their course. These concessions are outlined in the  UKVI COVID-19 Guidance for Student Sponsors. These concessions are covered on paragraphs 3.23- 3.27 and are reproduced/explained below for you: 3.23 Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or Spring 2021 via distance learning, and who have not previously entered the UK to study that course will be able to make a Graduate application if they make a successful Student visa application and arrive in the UK either before their visa ends or by 27 September 2021, whichever is sooner. 3.24 Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or 2021 who have existing permission as a Student to study that course, and who have already travelled to the UK during that period of permission, will be able to make a Graduate application as long as they are present in the UK before the end date of their permission.

3.25 Students who commence a course of 12 months or less in Autumn 2021 or Spring 2022 via distance learning from overseas must enter the UK no later than 30 June 2022 and complete that course of study in the UK with permission as a Student to be eligible for the Graduate Route. Students should travel once they are able to do so. 3.26 Students who would normally only be sponsored to study in the UK on the Student route for the last year of a longer course, such as those on articulated degree programmes, will be considered as being on a course of 12 months or less for the purpose of this requirement. 3.27 Students sponsored for a course lasting longer than 12 months will not be prevented from being eligible for the Graduate route as a result of any distance learning that took place either in the UK or overseas between the period of 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021 or any distance learning which took place overseas between 27 September 2021 and 30 June 2022. If a Student’s current permission expires prior to 30 June 2022, they must enter the UK prior to the expiry of their Student permission rather than 30 June 2022.

If you have not yet applied for your visa and need information about what the end date granted is likely to be, see the ‘Visa Lengths’ section in the Student Route information here .

Application Timing, Process and Costs

Timings and format of applications The Graduate Route application will be made online and is usually a quick and easy application to submit. The UKVI intend you to be able to verify your identify and make the application using an ID Check App which you download to your phone as part of the application process. You should not usually need to submit any documents (unless you were a sponsored student - see the Consent to Remain section below) but you will need your most recent CAS number to include in your application - see below.

Timings and application  You will not be able to make a Graduate Route application until formal results have been released and verified to the Home Office. This process will happen automatically at the earliest point possible according to UKVI Sponsor requirements. Once this process has taken place, all students who are eligible to apply for Graduate Route will be sent a notification email by the Student Compliance team telling them that they are now eligible to apply for the Graduate Route. This email will also contain the relevant CAS number you will need to include in your application.

I f your  graduation certificate  is being posted to you it will go to the  address registered as your 'Home Address' on the University system. If this is not right, you should either update your UK address as soon as possible, or contact the Graduation Team to let them know you want it to go elsewhere.

IMPORTANT : Students will not need to request this email/CAS number or tell the University they wish to apply for the Graduate Route. All eligible students will be sent the information and then it is your personal choice whether you wish to apply. You cannot make the process go any quicker, so expect to receive the Graduate Route notification email within 2-3 weeks of your results. All students within an examination cohort will receive the information at the same time via a bulk communication. You do not have to make your Graduate Route application straightaway but you will have to make the application before your student visa expires.

All applications are made online and information on the process, as well as the link to start the application process can be found on the  Gov.UK website here.

There is also a very informative and useful  Home Office Graduate Route information sheet

The process will be slightly different depending on whether you have a valid biometric passport or biometric residence card (BRP).

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland who hold a biometric passport and non-EU citizens holding a valid BRP will complete an online application form and will then be invited to verify their ID document and submit supporting documents via the UK Immigration: ID Check App.  You will need a UKVI account or to create a new one. You won’t have to attend any visa centre appointments, everything will be done online via the ID Check App.

Students who cannot use the App, either because they don’t have the correct biometric document (e.g. the BRP has been lost, the biometric chip is damaged or who cannot download the App to their device) will be able to complete the online application form and then attend a visa application center to submit documents and provide biometric information (digital photo and signature, fingerprints).

Finance information

Applicants will not need to evidence up front living costs but they will need to pay for both the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and the visa application fee at the point of submitting the application.  You will need a valid debit or credit card and you may need to contact your bank to check any payment limits or your card and to let them know you will be making these payments (or they could be refused).

Current fees are outlined in the table below:

Further information Once you have submitted your Graduate Route visa application, you and any dependants should not travel outside the UK while the visa application is being decided. Doing so will automatically withdraw your application.

Students who are granted their Graduate visa after having applied using the ID Check App will receive an email with a PDF of their decision letter and a digital status which can be accessed via the UKVI portal ‘View and prove your immigration status’. 

Visa nationals will also receive a new biometric residence permit (BRP).

Only dependants who are already in the UK with valid permission as your Tier 4 / Student Route dependant can apply for Graduate Route with you.

When your dependants apply to come to the UK depends on your personal, financial and practical situation and you should pay particular attention to the information about finances, accommodation and responsibilities listed on our pages. Some students believe that if they want to apply for the Graduate Route after they have studied, then  their families must be here in the UK with them for the duration of their course in order to be eligible.   This is not true -  only the  student  must have been in the UK for the whole length of the course, a dependant just has to be a  Student Dependant  (and have arrived in the UK)  by the time you make the Graduate Route application . Therefore, it is possible for dependants to  apply for their visas at the same time as you and then stay at home and join you later  (by obtaining a Dependant's visa via your Tier 4/Student Route visa) in the last month or so of your course (e.g. perhaps July/August 2024 for courses that start in September 2023). We know that lots of students are not aware of this and so are bringing it to your attention.

Why would I want to bring my family to the UK towards the end of my studies instead of the beginning? There are several reasons why you may want to do this: •  Cost of living and rental prices  are very high in the UK, especially for family accommodation, you may want to save this additional expense until both parents can legally be working full time in the UK to help cover these costs • You may want to live close to family and friends,  who are not in the Swansea area  to help with accommodation or childcare costs (the University does not hold any responsibilities relating to these). While you are studying, you and your family are restricted to living a  maximum of 50 miles from the Campus . Under the Graduate Route, you can live and work where you like. • Family accommodation is  very scarce in Swansea and can be very expensive , your family coming later allows more time to look for suitable/affordable accommodation in the Swansea area or, after your course is finished, to look elsewhere in the UK if you so wish! • Single person accommodation is plentiful and reasonable in Swansea and so this could save both money and stress! • Coming as a student and bringing your family later allows you to truly focus on your studies, to get great grades and to complete within time Of course, it will be a  personal choice  on what you decide to do in relation to bringing your dependants. However, we just wanted to ensure that you were fully informed about your options in relation to Graduate Route and the timings of this.

The only exception to the need for a dependant to already have a Student Route Dependant visa in order to switch to Graduate Route dependant is for babies born in the UK during your last grant of Tier 4 / Student Route permission .

How will my dependants apply under the Graduate Route

How your dependants will apply will depend on whether they have their own BRPs. If your dependant does have a BRP of their own, they will be able to make their own individual applications using the ID Check App. Please use the UKVI  Graduate Route partner and children application links. 

Unfortunately it isn't possible to add the dependant applications if you used the ID Check App to submit your Graduate Route visa application.

If you didn't use the ID Check App yourself but will attend an appointment at a visa centre instead, your application form will allow you to add your dependants to your own application form and you would then book and attend an appointment at the visa centre together as a family at the same time.  

Family relationships should be subsisting and you should intend to live together in the UK throughout time spent the Graduate visa holder is living in the UK.

There are some additional requirements for child dependants who are aged 16 and above at the time of application. Please contact International@CampusLife for more information if any of your child dependants are 16 years or over. 

A child born in UK during your last grant of Tier 4 / Student and who does not have their own student dependant visa can apply but you will need to submit the child’s full UK birth certificate with the Graduate visa application.  

Changes to your study (inc. extensions, resits and repeats)

You must have been awarded the qualification for the course listed on the Tier 4 / Student Route CAS unless you made a permitted course change that did not require you to re-apply for new permission.  

A permitted change of course includes:

• undertaking a different course at degree level or above, where the University confirmed to the UKVI at the time of change that the previous and new courses are related or support the student’s career aspirations
• adding or removing a work placement to the course
• adding or removing a study abroad programme
• leaving an integrated PhD or master’s programme with the lower-level qualification e.g. leaving an integrated master’s programme with a bachelor’s qualification
• intercalating students on medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine and science courses
• completing a course where the University changed the title of your course title or the course contents after issuing the CAS, but without the need to make a new visa application

If you changed your course at any time and you are unsure how this might affect your eligibility to apply for the Graduate visa, please contact [email protected]

 It is also important to note that if you have an extension to a module, resits or repeats, this may affect your ability to apply for the Graduate Route . In order to apply, you need to have completed your course and received your formal results before your Student visa expires. Always ask your College about when your results will available if you have, or are thinking about, a change to your course end date. Do not assume that you can get an extension to your Student visa in order to 'wait' for results in the UK.

Consent to remain in the UK

If in the last 12 months you have received a scholarship or financial sponsorship from a Government or an international scholarship agency covering tuition fees and living costs for your study in the UK you will need to get your sponsors written consent giving you permission to stay on in the UK. You will need to submit this to the UKVI as part of your Graduate visa application.

Graduate Route Visa Conditions

Once your Graduate Route visa has been granted you can do any type of work you like, for any employer.  The employer does not have to have a UKVI licence to employ you if you hold a Graduate Route visa.  You can take a permanent full-time job and you can be self-employed.   

The only job you cannot do is work as a professional sports person or coach. The UKVI defines what it means by a professional sportsperson or coach within the immigration rules .

If you have submitted an application for the Graduate Route visa but you have not yet received an outcome to that application, your working rights while you wait for the visa to be granted will differ depending on when you applied for your most recent Student visa.  Please see the section below ' Working while waiting for a Graduate Route decision (or pre-application)' . 

Study is restricted under the Graduate visa. You cannot study a course for which in theory a Student Route visa could be obtained.

Study that is permitted include: evening classes or recreational courses, study at a college/provider that doesn’t hold a Student sponsor licence, some professional courses. Please check with the course provider.

If the course required ATAS clearance you would need to obtain this before commencing study.

Working while waiting for a Graduate Route decision (or pre application)

Working before you have applied for the Graduate Route visa

As long as you have completed your course (this would be either the end date of the course as stated on your orignal CAS OR a later end date if you have had a course extension/resit - whichever is the later ) you are able to work full time whilst waiting to apply for the Graduate Route or while waiting for a decision. However, until you have formal notification from UKVI stating your Graduate visa has been granted, you are still bound under the working regulations of your previous Student or Tier 4 visa.

Under the Student/Tier 4 visa regulations, there are certain types of work that you cannot do. These include:

• self-employment and business activity
• professional sportsperson including as a sports coach, though there is an exception from 1 October 2019 for students at higher education providers doing  work placements  on a degree-level course
• entertainer, which includes actors, musicians, dancers and other performers, though there is an exception for students doing  work placements  on degree-level dance, drama and music courses 
• permanent full-time job

You should not be undertaking any of this type of work while still on your Student visa, before having applied for the Graduate Route visa. 

We have been seeing students signing ongoing contracts of future employment on the basis that they are going to apply for the Graduate Route - this should not be happening. You should not sign (nor should an employer be giving you) a contract of employment based on a potential and future visa status and this is putting both you and them at risk.

You need to make it clear to your employer that you cannot start a permanent  job (or sign a contract to that effect) until after you have submitted your Graduate Route application (and in some cases have your Graduate Route visa in hand - see below). To do so means you are in breach of your immigration status and they are at risk of breaking employment law.

Working after having applied for the Graduate Route visa but while still waiting for a decision

If you made your most recent Student visa application before 6th April 2022 you must wait for the Graduate Route visa to be granted before you commence any of the following:

• full-time permanent job role
• self employment
• work as an entertainer

If you made your most recent Student visa application on or after 6th April 2022 you can start a full-time permanent job while you wait for the Graduate Route visa to be processed but you must wait until the visa has been granted before you start any self-employment or work as an entertainer. 

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Graduate visa

If you want to stay in the UK after finishing your studies then you could be eligible for the Graduate Visa, find out more about your post-study visa options.

Do you need help applying for your Graduate Visa? Our lawyers are here for you, get in touch today on  0330 828 4126  to find out more about the services that we offer.

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What is the Graduate Visa?

The Graduate Visa, also known as the ‘Graduate Route’ is a new post-study immigration route that opened on 1 July 2021 to international students who have finished their studies in the UK.

The Graduate visa allows student visa holders to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after they have successfully completed their course of study. The Graduate route has replaced the Doctorate Extension Scheme and international students who have a PhD or other doctoral qualification will be able to stay for at least 3 years.

This visa is a post-study work visa that gives you the right to both live and work in the UK. The Graduate Visa cannot be extended but if you wish to remain in the UK after your visa expires you could be eligible to switch to the  Skilled Worker Visa  instead.

Eligibility requirements for the Graduate Route

To be eligible for the Graduate Visa you must be able to meet a number of certain requirements, you could be eligible if you:

• Are currently in the UK
• Hold a valid  Student Visa  (Including the old Tier 4 Student Visa)
• Have studied on an eligible course
• Have successfully completed your course of study in the UK

You will need to have studied at an educational institution that is a licensed sponsor and you will need to have studied for 12 months or the full length of your course, whichever is shorter.

Eligible courses include:

• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• PhD or doctorates
• Law conversion courses that have been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
• The Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland
• The Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland
• Foundation programmes in medicine or dentistry
• Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCE)
• Postgraduate Diplomas in Education (PGDE)

How to apply for a post-study work visa

You must apply for the Graduate Visa before your student visa expires. You can apply as soon as your course provider has informed you that you have successfully completed your course of study, you do not need to wait until you have officially graduated.

You must apply online whilst you are in the UK, you can do this by using the online application form available on the  gov.uk website . As well as filling in the application form, you will also need to prove your identity as part of your Graduate Visa application. If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you can usually do this by scanning your passport or national identity card on the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app. If you are from a country outside the EU or EEA you can prove your identity by scanning your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) in the app. If you cannot scan your BRP then you will need to attend an appointment to have your biometric information taken (your photograph and fingerprints).

Once you have completed the application form and proven your identity you can expect to receive a decision about your visa application within 8 weeks.

Required documents

When making your Graduate Visa application, there are a number of documents that you will need to provide, these include:

• A valid passport or another travel document that shows your identity and nationality
• Your biometric residence permit (BRP), if you were given one when you applied for your Student or Tier 4 student visa
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from when you applied for your Student visa

If in the last 12 months a Government, international scholarship agency or other sponsor has paid for your course fees or living costs then you will also be required to submit a letter from your scholarship or sponsorship provider alongside your application.

What can you do on a Graduate Visa?

The Graduate route allows you to stay in the UK for 2 years (3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualifications). Whilst in the UK, graduate visa holders can work in most jobs, be self-employed, look for work, travel freely in and out of the UK, volunteer and can continue to live with eligible family members.

The Graduate route does however come with some limitations. Graduate Visa holders will not be able to apply for most benefits or the state pension and cannot work as a professional sportsperson.

Switching from a Graduate Visa

The Graduate Visa cannot be extended, however, if you would like to continue living in the UK after your Graduate Visa expires, you could be eligible to switch to other types of UK visas such as the Skilled Worker Visa.

To be eligible for the Skilled Worker route you must have a job offer from a registered UK sponsor company, you will also need to meet other eligibility criteria like the minimum salary requirements. As a Skilled Worker, you will be able to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, after which your visa can be extended or you could be eligible to apply for  Indefinite Leave to Remain .

Other visas that you could be eligible for include:

• The  Health and Care Visa  – if you’re a medical professional who has been offered a job with the NHS
• The  Start-up Visa  – If you plan to start an innovative business in the UK
• A  partner visa  – if you are married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a long-term relationship with a British citizen or settled person

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to receive assistance with your Graduate Visa application.

Graduate Visa refusal

As one of the newer UK visas, the process for dealing with a Graduate Visa refusal is similar to the other routes. Some of the most common reasons for a Graduate Visa refusal include the following:

• Applying from outside the UK (you must apply for this visa inside the UK)
• Failing to provide proof of your identity
• Not holding the correct immigration status
• Failing to submit the correct supporting documents
• The applicant doesn’t respond to Home Office requests for further information
• You do not have a job offer from an eligible Home Office-approved sponsor at the required skill level
• You cannot provide evidence that your job will meet the minimum salary threshold (typically at least £29,000 or the going rate for the job)
• You do not have the required level of English language skills (B1 on the CEFR Scale)

If your visa is refused, you may be eligible to apply for an administrative review. You must submit your request for administrative review within the given timelines in your refusal letter (usually 14 days).

The potential outcomes of an administrative review include:

• The review is successful and the Home Office withdraws their decision
• The decision is maintained for the original reasons given
• The decision is maintained but for different reasons

The best course of action could be to work with an experienced immigration lawyer to discuss your case and develop a course of action based on your circumstances. If you need support or advice with your case, contact our expert immigration lawyers today for further advice and support.

How can IAS help?

The graduate route is very new to the UK immigration system which means it can be difficult to work out exactly how to make a successful application. Here at IAS, our lawyers are trained in all the latest changes to the UK’s immigration system, including the new graduate route.

We can assist you with every step of the graduate route application process, from assessing whether you are eligible to apply, to helping you complete the application form accurately and gather all of your supporting documents. Our lawyers have a track record of success when it comes to UK visa applications, they will ensure that your application is completed to the highest standard.

For more information about the immigration services that our lawyers provide, get in touch with our team today on  0330 828 4126  .

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the graduate immigration route.

To be eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa you must have successfully completed an eligible course of study in the UK. As well as the successful completion of a course you must also currently be in the UK on a valid student route visa, which can include both the new Student Visa and the old Tier 4 Student visa.

How much is the graduate visa?

The application fee for the Graduate Visa is £715. As well as the application fee you will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which usually costs £624 per year. The Health Surcharge is a mandatory fee that will allow you to access the UK’s health service, the NHS.

Can you work while waiting for a graduate visa?

You should apply for your graduate visa before your student visa expires, whilst waiting for a decision on your graduate visa application you will remain subject to the immigration rules of your student visa, this means that you can work but are limited to the hours you can work and jobs you can do. Your graduate visa will be valid from the day that it is approved, from then you can work in most jobs and switch between jobs.

How long does the graduate visa take?

Once you apply for the Graduate Visa you can expect to receive a decision about your application within 8 weeks. Once your visa application has been approved your Graduate Visa will be valid for 2 years, or 3 years for PhD students or those with other doctoral qualifications.

Can my family members join me in the UK?

Yes, family members in the UK who already have immigration status as a student dependent can apply to stay as dependents on your Graduate Visa. Family members that can qualify as dependents include partners and children.

Each family member will need to complete a separate online application and will also need to pay the application fee and health surcharge.

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Graduate Route visa

We have a long history of welcoming international students into the #LboroFamily and look forward to growing our vibrant and diverse community of students.

The Graduate Route provides an opportunity for eligible international students with Tier 4 or Student visas, who have been awarded their degree, to stay in the UK and work, or look for work for 2 years, or 3 years for doctoral students.

The visa is open to international students commencing their studies in any recognised programme at an approved UK university. This applies to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Graduates will then be able to transfer to a skilled work visa if their employment matches the skill requirement of this route. Loughborough University (including Loughborough University London) is one of the recognised institutions for the international Graduate Route visa. Ranked as number one in the UK for student-employer connections*, we see this as an exciting opportunity for those who wish to build their career here in the UK.

On 14 May 2024 the Migration Advisory Committee responded to the Government’s request to  review the Graduate Route .  The Committee’s review report recommends retaining the Graduate Route in its current form.  If the Government announces or makes any changes to the route the information here will be updated.

If you would like further information about eligibility for the Graduate Route visa, please visit our International Student Advice and Support pages .

*QS 2022 Graduate Employability Rankings

Why study in the UK?

Find out about why studying in the UK is a great option for international students

Graduate Route information

For more information on the Graduate Route visa

Visa information

For more information about international student visas and application advice

10 countries with post-study work visas for int’l students

Post-study work visa options are a major allure for international students. It’s an opportunity to work in a new culture, gain new skills and see the world from a new perspective.

From Canada to Ireland and Germany, we take a look at 10 countries that offer international students a post-study work visa:

Australia has some of the best universities in the world and is home to vibrant cities, stunning beaches and an array of beautiful wildlife and nature. It’s no wonder why students worldwide flock to pursue degrees in the Land Down Under. 

If you’re considering Australia as a study destination, the good news is you can also apply for the Temporary Graduate Visa which will  allow you to stay for two to four years  (depending on your degree) once you graduate. 

The UK’s Graduate Route is valid for up to two years. Source: Tolga Akmen/AFP

Another prime study destination would be the UK. The UK Home Office opened its new post-study work visa —  the Graduate Route  — for international students on July 1, which would allow international graduates to apply for the right to stay for a job experience at the end of their university programmes.

It is  valid for up to two years . You cannot extend your Graduate visa, but you can switch to a different visa, for example, a Skilled Worker visa, which allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job  with an approved employer . This visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa.

New Zealand

There’s more to New Zealand than being the filming location of The Lord of the Rings.

Beyond its impressive landscape and sceneries, it is home to eight universities that are among the top 500 in the world.

Depending on your qualification and where you studied, their post-study work visa would allow you to work for any employer for  between one and three years  and do almost any work.

There are many reasons to study in Ireland: its quality education aside, the country is also the European hub to over 1,000 leading multinational companies, notes Education In Ireland.

Over 1,000 FDI giants in ICT, Social Media, Pharmaceuticals and Finance have made Ireland the hub of their European operations, with names such as Google, HP, Apple, IBM, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pfizer, GSK and Genzyme. They need talent to drive their success.

It’s possible for international students to  stay in the country after graduating  under the Revised Third Level Graduate Scheme Permission. “This allows non-EU/EEA students who have graduated from Irish higher education institutions to remain in Ireland for 24 months to seek employment,” notes Education In Ireland.

The US has always been known as the land of opportunity, which makes it unsurprising why many flock to the country to chase the American Dream. If you want to work in the US after completing your degree, your F-1 visa will make it possible.

International students on an F-1 visa are  eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) , provided that they’re studying in the US for a minimum one year period. Under this, international students are permitted to stay and work in the US for 12 months without being sponsored by an employer.

The STEM OPT is an extension of the standard OPT, allowing students 24 months instead of 12 to work in the US after graduation. 

The H-1B visa is commonly referred to as the US’s staple work visa. It’s a temporary work visa that allows non-US residents to work in the country for up to six years. They need to have graduated with a minimum bachelor’s degree in the same or related field of the job scope. 

You can’t apply for this visa yourself — your employer has to file it for you. This is why it’s important to network and build connections while you’re still on OPT status. 

A quality education and high living standards are among the allure of studying in Canada. 

You may be  eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)  if you have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. The PGWP allows you to temporarily stay in Canada to work, but to apply for a Canadian work permit, you will first need to meet certain criteria to work in Canada.

The PGWP may be issued based on the length of the study programme for a minimum of eight months up to a maximum of three years.

Studying in Germany notes that graduates from non-EU/EEA countries can work in Germany after they finish their studies by extending their residence permit for up to 18 months after graduation. 

“These 18 months begin as soon as you finish your final exams, so it would be best if you start looking for employment while you are still at university, or during your final semester,” notes the website. 

“Keep in mind that during these 18 months, you can work whatever job you can in order to support yourself until you find full-time employment, and it does not necessarily have to be related to your field of study.”

Upon securing a job in Germany, you can apply for the EU Blue Card programme, a work- and residence permit for  non-EU/EEA nationals . All EU member states — except the UK, Denmark and Ireland — issue the EU Blue Card.

You could be eligible if you are a non-EU citizen and you have completed tertiary education and/or you have three years or more professional experience in the profession related to your profile.

Students in South Korea can apply for the D-10 visa, or the job-seekers visa, to find employment in the country. Source: Jung Yeon-je/AFP

South Korea

South Korea has a strong economy and its universities are  among the best in the world  for the pursuit of academic excellence. Actress Angelina Jolie’s eldest son, Maddox, is said to be studying biochemistry studies at Yonsei University.

There are opportunities to work in the country after graduation. Students can apply for the D-10 visa, or the job-seekers visa, to find employment in the country. The D-10 Visa is available for students who have earned an associate or bachelor’s degree. 

You can switch to an E-1 Visa after finding employment. There are seven categories: Professor (E-1), Foreign Language Instructor (E-2), Researcher (E-3), Technical Instructor/Technician (E-4), Professional (E-5), Artist/Athlete (E-6) or Foreign National of Special Ability (E-7). Get more details  here .

Separately, the South Korean government is introducing a new type of travel visa specifically designed to draw in global talents. Named the  “Hallyu” visa , which literally translates to “Korean wave”, it refers to the sharp rise in popularity of Korea’s entertainment, music, TV dramas and movies.  

Located in Southeast Asia, the small but mighty country of Singapore is  renowned for its quality of higher education and research . Examples of world-class institutions include the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.

For international students, you’ll be granted a Short-Term Visit Pass after your student pass has expired, which will give you 90 days to look for employment. If you are graduating from  one of the following  Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) in Singapore, you can apply for a one-year Long-term Social Visit Pass, which is non-renewable.

International students could be eligible for three types of post-study work visas: 

• The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals, managers and executives  
• The S Pass is for mid-level skilled staff — candidates need to earn at least SG$2,500 a month and meet the assessment criteria
• The EntrePass is for eligible foreign entrepreneurs who are keen to start and operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies

Find out what other employment visa options are available  here .

A world-class education, high-quality of life and free student healthcare services. Who wouldn’t want to live and study in the happiest country — Finland — in the world?

After your studies, non-EU students can apply for an  extended residence permit   for up to a year after graduation. This is intended to help graduates in their search for work.

Once you secure a job as a graduate, you can then apply for a new residence permit based on your new work placement.

Study in Finland notes that finding a job in Finland can be challenging as not all fields of study offer opportunities for employment before graduation. They add that job applicants may also be required to have Finnish or Swedish language skills. 

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UK's Graduate Route visa, dominated by Indians, should continue: Report

A report issued by the British government reveals that a post-study visa programme, which is dominated by Indian graduates, is helping UK universities recover from financial losses and expand research opportunities. The Graduate Route visa, introduced in July 2021, allows international students to remain in the UK for up to two years (three years for PhD graduates) after completing their studies.

The UK government was reviewing the Graduate Route visa and that caused consternation among the international student community. In fact, applications to UK universities were dropped because of the visa programme uncertainty.   

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly assigned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the new Graduate Route visa quickly . This visa permits international students to remain in the UK for up to two years after finishing their degree to seek employment and gain work experience.

The report suggested the government should continue the visa programme to attract "the brightest and best" international students to study in the UK. 

INDIA TOPS THE UK GRADUATE VISA ROUTE

According to the report, the top five nationalities account for nearly 75% of all Graduate Route visas with India accounting for over 40% of them. Indian nationals made up a higher proportion of Graduate Route visas (42%) compared to their proportion of student visas (26%).

While the opposite is true for Chinese nationals, who accounted for 10% of Graduate visas but 25% of student visas. Nigerian nationals were the most likely to bring a dependant of the top 5 nationalities and of these dependants, half were children.

There has been a large increase in the number of Graduate visas granted since the route's introduction. 

In 2023, 114,000 Graduate visas were granted for main applicants with a further 30,000 being granted for dependants. The take up of these visas is largely concentrated among 4 nationalities. The top 4 nationalities -- India, Nigeria, China and Pakistan -- accounted for 70% of all Graduate visas, with India accounting for over 40%.

In the student visa category,  Indian nationals represent the largest group of students  granted leave to remain on this route, making up 43% of grants last year.

However, applications from India fell to 8,770, a drop of 4%, compared to the previous year.

CURRENT VISA POLICY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The UK's visa policy for international students comprises the student route for studying in the UK, followed by the Graduate Route for degree holders. 

The Student route visa costs £490, while the Graduate route is £822, with a Health Surcharge of £776, rising to £1,035 yearly on the Graduate Route. 

The Graduate Route application must be made before the student visa expires, typically four months post-course end. Starting January 2024, international students can not bring dependants on their UK student visa, except for those in designated research programmes. 

Additionally, students can't switch to a work visa before completing their studies.

Since the introduction of the Graduate visa in July 2021, there has been a rapid increase in the number of visas granted.

In the first full year of the Graduate route (year to Q2 2022), there were 66,000 Graduate visas granted for main applicants and dependants.

This more than doubled to 144,000 visas in 2023. Of the 114,000 main applicant visa holders in 2023, 99% held a 2-year visa as they had completed an undergraduate or Master's degree (or equivalent), whilst 1% (1,500 visas) held a 3-year visa having completed a PhD/other doctoral qualification or equivalent.

There were 30,000 dependant visas issued in 2023.

Among the other findings of the 'Rapid Review of the Graduate Route' report, the majority of those on the visa route completed postgraduate taught courses, and the growth in numbers comes largely from the second-tier institutions, or UK universities outside the Russell Group, which account for 66% of all Graduate Route visas.

The age profile of those on the Graduate Route involved those aged over 25 increasing by approximately 15 percentage points to 54% now. 

However, this is likely to be affected by the Home Office's recent crackdown on international students being able to sponsor family dependents on their visas.

AFTER THE GRADUATE ROUTE 

During the two-year (three for PhD graduates) timespan of the Graduate route, individuals can switch out of the route into other visas they are eligible for, leave the UK, or remain on the route and in the UK.

However, at the end of the 2- or 3-year period individuals still on the Graduate route must leave the UK, or switch onto another eligible visa route. Those on the Graduate route cannot switch to another route and then switch back onto the Graduate route.

Individuals who wish to remain in the UK have the following visa options:

Find an employer to sponsor them on a working visa.

Apply for another student visa - e.g., Masters' or doctoral courses.

Other options, if eligible e.g., stay as a dependant of another individual on a visa, or on the Family Route.

The MAC report found that Graduate Route visa holders often start with lower-paid jobs but see their wages improve over time when they switch to Skilled Worker visas. 

The review, aimed at assessing any misuse of the route, looked at the backgrounds of students using study visas and later entering the UK job market, as well as their activities during and after the Graduate Route. 

With immigration a hot topic ahead of an upcoming election, the government wants to ensure that those using this visa route contribute to the UK economy. 

An organisation representing  Indian students in the UK has also launched a campaign  advocating for the continuation of the graduate route visa that allows people to work there after their education.

Indian student groups in the UK, worried about potential restrictions, provided input to the MAC review, fearing that changes could affect students from India choosing UK universities over other countries like Australia, Canada, or New Zealand.

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UK's Graduate Route Visa to continue: Key benefits for Indian students

The uk migration advisory committee has recommended keeping the graduate route work visa, also known as the post-study work (psw) visa, in its current form.

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V-cs: now give ‘categorical reassurance’ graduate visa will stay

Universities call for end to ‘toxic’ uncertainty over future of post-study work route following publication of mac report.

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Ministers must listen to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and give “categorical reassurance that the graduate visa is here to stay”, Universities UK said.

Vivienne Stern, the representative body’s chief executive, described the independent review’s conclusion that the two-year post-study work visa was not undermining the integrity of the UK higher education system and was instead helping to make up for financial losses on teaching domestic students and research as “extremely important and welcome”.

“The uncertainty caused by the decision to review the visa has been toxic. We hope and expect that government now listens to the advice they have been given and provides categorical reassurance that the graduate visa is here to stay,” Ms Stern said.

Institutions already battling to overcome  steep decreases in enrolments , after the right to bring dependants was  removed for international master’s students in January , have repeatedly warned that any further changes could wreak further financial havoc.

“As the MAC report makes clear, international students who remain to work in the UK on the graduate route are net contributors to the UK, important to our ability to compete as a study destination, and crucial to university finances. We understand the political pressure to reduce migration but, as the report makes clear, changes introduced earlier this year to prevent postgraduate taught students bringing dependants have already had a very significant effect. Recruitment ahead of September is already looking incredibly challenging, and the government should recognise this and that going further would be a serious mistake,” Ms Stern added.

“We agree there is room to improve, building on what universities themselves have done, to tighten agent management and increase resilience in the system.

“What is needed now is stability – we need the government to provide much needed reassurance to both universities and international students that the graduate route is here to stay.”

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, said that the MAC report’s findings were “crystal clear”.

“International students bring huge value to our university communities, offering global perspectives and important skills, and creating diverse learning environments. As the MAC recognises, they are also critical to the financial sustainability of our world-leading universities. Moreover, the graduate route plays a crucial role in ensuring the UK is an attractive destination for global talent,” Dr Bradshaw said.

“We recognise concerns around the behaviour of some agents and we would support targeted measures to address this. However, the overall message from the MAC is that the graduate route is achieving its objectives as set out by the government. We would therefore urge ministers to end the uncertainty and confirm as soon as possible that the route will continue in its entirety.”

Rachel Hewitt, chief executive of the MillionPlus group of modern universities, said that the report had underlined the importance of the graduate visa to university finances , meaning that any further restrictions on it would have to be accompanied by reforms to higher education funding.

“The report reaffirms the net positive contribution that international graduates bring to the UK, as the majority enter graduate-level jobs in similar proportions to home students and with little to no evidence of abuse in the system. Therefore, any further restrictions to the graduate route, beyond those recently introduced, and whose impact we are still waiting to assess, risks causing the UK significant economic self-harm, which would be felt in regions across the country,” Ms Hewitt said.

“The report also rightly highlights the significant impact of the government’s decision to freeze domestic fees since their introduction; and that the continued under-funding of higher education means balancing the books for universities has become ever more challenging.

“If the government does take the decision to impose further restrictions, they must also address how the current funding model for higher education will be reformed, lest they put this highly successful sector in serious financial peril.”

Jane Harrington, vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich and chair of the University Alliance mission group, said that any changes to the graduate route “would be an inexplicable own goal”.

“Unfortunately, the government’s ban on international master’s students bringing dependents with them is already putting international students off studying at our universities. The MAC is right to highlight the damage this, and the freeze on home student tuition fees, is doing to UK higher education. The impact of a shrinking UK higher education sector would be a shrinking skills pipeline, a shrinking NHS workforce and shrinking local economies,” Professor Harrington said.

“I hope the government listens to the very clear message from this report.”

Jo Grady, the general secretary of the University and College Union, welcomed the recommendation to maintain the graduate visa.

“It is shameful the government has wasted so much effort attacking migrants and undermining our universities. It now needs to listen to the experts it asked to conduct the review and confirm the graduate visa will be kept,” Dr Grady said.

“The review has also highlighted once again how broken our university funding system is – we urgently need wholescale reform which ensures universities are not relying on international fee income to cross-subsidise inadequate funding arrangements for domestic students. Employers should be shouldering more of the cost for the supply of skills on which this country relies, not international students.”

A government spokesman said that ministers were “committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system”.

“We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration and our plans are working, with a 24 per cent drop in visa applications across key routes in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year,” the spokesman said.

“We are considering the review’s findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course.”

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Last-ditch bid to save UK graduate visa as critics circle

Even a favourable MAC report may not relieve political pressure on government to act further on international student numbers, risking ‘enormous damage right across the sector’

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No evidence foreign students are abusing UK graduate visas, review finds

Migration Advisory Committee says the risks are low, despite Tory claims the route is being exploited

There is no evidence of widespread abuse of the UK’s graduate visa route, the government’s immigration advisers have concluded, despite repeated claims from senior Conservatives that it is being exploited to enter the jobs market.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said the graduate visa entitlement – allowing international students to work for two or three years after graduating – should remain in place. Members said the risks of abuse were relatively low and were “not undermining” the integrity and quality of the higher education system.

The report’s release has stoked an internal Conservative party row over net migration, with senior rightwing MPs describing it as a “whitewash”.

Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, wrote that the committee’s inquiries were tightly controlled by the commission from James Cleverly , the home secretary.

“The MAC’s conclusions have clearly been constrained by the narrow terms of reference deliberately set by the government. If you order white paint, you get a whitewash,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Neil O’Brien, a Tory MP who is an ally of Jenrick, described the report as a “whitewash” on Substack: “We are pursuing an arbitrary target, and the expansion of universities for their own sake.”

Another Conservative MP said backbenchers were “piling pressure” on Rishi Sunak to ignore the committee’s conclusions.

The government has so far declined to say whether it will accept the MAC recommendations. A source close to the home secretary said he would read the review thoroughly and listen to Prof Brian Bell, the committee’s chair, carefully before he makes any decision. They were due to meet on Tuesday afternoon.

The committee’s decision was greeted with relief by university vice-chancellors, who have warned that abolishing the graduate visa would spell financial turmoil for the sector. But higher education leaders said they still feared No 10 could cherrypick elements of the report to justify a further crackdown.

University leaders had been told to expect the government’s response in the middle of next week, alongside the publication of the ONS’s net migration figures. But the MAC report in favour of retaining graduate visas may have scuppered plans by ministers to use it as the centrepiece of a fresh crackdown.

Cleverly commissioned the review amid a growing clamour in Tory circles that graduate visas were being abused to gain access to employment.

Last week, Jenrick published a report with the Centre for Policy Studies thinktank that called for the graduate visa to be abolished, claiming it “allowed people to come and work in the gig economy and on very low wages”.

In a forthright response, Bell said: “Our review recommends the graduate route should remain as it is, and is not undermining the quality and integrity of the UK’s higher education system.

“The graduate route is a key part of the offer that we make to international students to come and study in the UK. The fees that these students pay helps universities to cover the losses they make in teaching British students and doing research. Without those students, many universities would need to shrink and less research would be done.”

The committee said:

There is no evidence of widespread abuse specifically for the graduate route. The risks of abuse are relatively low due to the limited number of conditions the route imposes.

There is concern about potential exploitation of both student and graduate visa holders due to poor practices by certain agents who recruit students on to courses and may be mis-selling UK higher education, but this is a separate issue from abuse of the rules of the graduate route.

114,000 graduate route visas were granted for main applicants in 2023 with a further 30,000 granted for dependants.

The use of the graduate route is concentrated among four nationalities: the top four – India, Nigeria, China and Pakistan – account for 70% of all graduate visas with India accounting for more than 40%.

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Most of those on the graduate route completed postgraduate taught courses.

Graduate visa holders are initially “overrepresented in lower-paid work” but their outcomes improve over time, the report said.

The MAC review was unable to assess the risk of overstaying due to a lack of Home Office data.

Alex Proudfoot, the chief executive of the representative body Independent Higher Education , said: “We urge the government to swiftly confirm they will follow their experts’ recommendation that the graduate visa be retained in its current form, and commit afresh to working with the education sector to maximise the benefits that international students bring.”

Tim Bradshaw, the chief executive of the Russell Group of leading research universities, said: “The overall message from the MAC is that the graduate route is achieving its objectives as set out by the government. We would therefore urge ministers to end the uncertainty and confirm as soon as possible that the route will continue in its entirety.”

In February, Universities UK (UUK) said it would review international student admissions processes after the allegations of “bad practice” by agents recruiting overseas students.

The MAC has recommended the government should establish a mandatory registration system for international recruitment agents, and universities should be required to publish data on their use of agents to “help protect the integrity” of the UK higher education system.

The review was launched in March after Cleverly instructed the committee, which gives independent advice to the government, to investigate “any evidence of abuse” of the graduate route, “including the route not being fit for purpose”, and to look at which universities were producing graduates who used the route.

Vivienne Stern, the chief executive of UUK, said: “The MAC’s recommendation that the graduate route should remain on its current terms is extremely important and welcome.

“The uncertainty caused by the decision to review the visa has been toxic,” she said. “We hope and expect that government now listens to the advice they have been given and provides categorical reassurance that the graduate visa is here to stay.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system, which is why the home secretary commissioned an independent review of the graduate route.

“We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration and our plans are working, with a 24% drop in visa applications across key routes in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

“We are considering the review’s findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course.”

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Graduate route to open to international students on 1 July 2021

Route is for international students who want to work following the successful completion of a course of study at UK bachelor’s degree-level or above.  

The new Graduate route will open for applications on 1 July 2021, allowing the UK to retain the brightest and the best international students to continue to contribute to society and the economy post-study.

International students must have completed an eligible course at a UK higher education provider, with a track record of compliance with the government’s immigration requirements to apply to the Graduate route. Students on the Graduate route will be able to work or look for work after their studies for a maximum period of 2 years, or 3 years for Doctoral students.

The launch of the new Graduate route shows that the government is continuing to deliver on its key manifesto promise to implement a points-based immigration system, which will attract talent and ensure that businesses can recruit the most highly qualified from across the globe to drive the economy forwards.

The Graduate route will work for all corners of the UK, ensuring that communities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can benefit from talented individuals who want to stay after their studies.

Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:

As we rebuild from the global pandemic we want the world’s brightest talent, who aspire to a career at the highest levels of business, science, the arts and technology to see our United Kingdom as the natural place to fulfil their aspirations. The changes announced today will ensure once they have received a gold standard qualification from one of our world leading education institutions they can easily secure the status they need to continue living, working and fulfilling their dreams in the UK.

As detailed in the Immigration Rules laid in Parliament today (4 March), the new route will open for applications on 1 July 2021, to international students who successfully complete a degree at undergraduate level or above in the UK.

The Graduate route will be unsponsored, meaning applicants will not need a job offer to apply for the route. There will be no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers. Graduates on the route will be able to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career as required.  

The new route will help the government to achieve the ambition set out in the International Education Strategy to increase the number of international students in higher education in the UK to 600,000 by 2030.

Coronavirus concessions for students unable to travel to the UK due to the pandemic have also been extended, recognising the continuing disruption many face due to international travel restrictions.

Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 will now have until 21 June 2021 to enter the UK (updated from 6 April 2021) in order to be eligible for the Graduate route. Students who began their studies in January or February 2021 will need to be in the UK by 27 September 2021. 

The Graduate route comes as the government also unveiled plans to launch another new immigration route that will help start-ups and fast-growing firms recruit the talent they need to innovate and grow at yesterday’s Budget as part of a range of measures for highly skilled migrants. As part of the route, highly skilled migrants with a job offer from a recognised high-growth firm will qualify for a visa without the need for sponsorship or third-party endorsement. 

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No widespread abuse of UK graduate visa scheme, Home Office report finds

Home secretary james cleverly commissioned experts to examine whether rising demand for study visas was being driven by a desire to migrate to the uk, article bookmarked.

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The UK’s graduate visa scheme is not being widely abused and should remain in place, a Home Office commissioned report has found.

An independent committee was asked to look into the visa route after home secretary James Cleverly questioned whether it was “undermining the integrity and quality” of the UK’s higher education system.

He wanted to ensure the route was “not being abused” and that demand for study visas was “not being driven more by a desire for immigration rather than education”.

The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has now found no evidence of “significant abuse” of the route, which allows international students to stay in the UK for two or three years after graduation.

The MAC review concluded that the graduate route is “not undermining the integrity of and quality of the UK higher education system” and is helping universities to make up for financial losses on domestic students and research through income from international tuition fees.

University leaders have called on ministers to end the “toxic” uncertainty over the future of the graduate route by announcing there will be no changes.

The migration advisors warned that universities would have to cut courses if the government decided to scrap the post-study visa, which allows graduates to stay in the UK for a few years after completing their studies.

Mr Cleverly has come under pressure from some Tories to curb the graduate visa route. Last week former immigration minister Robert Jenrick published a report that called for the visa to be abolished.

The report published with the Centre for Policy Studies said that graduate visas “have allowed people to come and work in the gig economy and on very low wages”, and claimed there had been “widespread abuse” of this route.

Data published alongside the MAC review showed that the median annual earnings of the 73 percent of graduates, who were in employment for at least one month in the year 2022/23, was £17,815. For the 27 per cent who were in employment across the entire year, this was £26,460.

Responding to the report, Mr Jenrick said the “huge increases” in people on graduate visas “are concentrated in lower ranked unis”, adding: “This route isn’t attracting top talent.” He slammed the report as a “whitewash”, saying that the “conclusions have clearly been constrained by the narrow terms of reference deliberately set by the government.”

The MAC review said it was concerned about “potential exploitation” of international students due to poor practices by some agents recruiting people overseas who may be “mis-selling UK higher education”, but it stressed this is a separate issue from abuse of the graduate route.

There has been a “large increase” in the number of graduate visas granted since the route’s introduction in July 2021, the report found.

In 2023, 114,000 visas were granted for main applicants, with a further 30,000 for dependants, according to the MAC.

Take-up of the visas is largely concentrated among four nationalities - India, Nigeria, China and Pakistan - which account for 70 per cent of graduate visas, with India accounting for over 40 per cent.

Graduate visa holders are initially “overrepresented in lower-paid work”, but their outcomes improve over time, the report said.

The MAC review was unable to assess the risk of overstaying due to a lack of Home Office data.

The report warned: “The potential poor practice by some agents recruiting international students does risk undermining the integrity of higher education in the UK.”

In February, Universities UK said it would review international student admissions processes following the allegations of “bad practice” by agents recruiting overseas students.

The MAC has recommended that the government should establish a mandatory registration system for international recruitment agents, and universities should be required to publish data on their use of agents to “help protect the integrity” of the UK higher education system.

Professor Brian Bell, chairman of the MAC, said: “Our review recommends the graduate route should remain as it is, and is not undermining the quality and integrity of the UK’s higher education system.”

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: “The MAC’s recommendation that the graduate route should remain on its current terms is extremely important and welcome.

“The uncertainty caused by the decision to review the visa has been toxic.”

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents some of the most selective institutions in the UK, said: “We recognise concerns around the behaviour of some agents and we would support targeted measures to address this.

“However, the overall message from the MAC is that the graduate route is achieving its objectives as set out by the government.

“We would therefore urge ministers to end the uncertainty and confirm as soon as possible that the route will continue in its entirety.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system, which is why the Home Secretary commissioned an independent review of the graduate route.

“We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration and our plans are working, with a 24 per cent drop in visa applications across key routes in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

“We are considering the review’s findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course.”

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Graduate visa route should remain, report finds, after home secretary raised immigration concerns

James Cleverly commissioned an emergency report into the graduate visa route over concerns it was being abused for immigration purposes.

Political reporter @alixculbertson

Tuesday 14 May 2024 14:31, UK

The graduate visa route should remain as it is key to funding British universities and is "not undermining the quality and integrity" of higher education, a new report has said.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) looked at whether the visa was being abused and if it was not being "driven more by a desire for immigration" after Home Secretary James Cleverly requested an emergency review in March.

A graduate visa permits overseas students to stay in the UK for up to three years after completing a university course in the UK. Partners and children can also apply as dependents.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick published a report last week calling for the graduate visa to be abolished, claiming it "allowed people to come and work in the gig economy and on very low wages".

University and industry leaders had voiced fears that the route, introduced in 2021, could be axed or curtailed if the report had been negative, with universities reporting a steep drop in international students applying over fears of restrictions being introduced.

But the committee, made up of five university professors and a Home Office representative, said they found "no evidence of widespread abuse" of the graduate route.

"The risks of abuse are relatively low due to the limited number of conditions the route imposes," the report said.

It also found the visa route is helping universities to expand the range of courses offered while making up for financial losses from domestic students and research, and is "supporting the government's international educational strategy".

The report said 114,000 graduate route visas were granted for applicants in 2023, with a further 30,000 for dependents.

It said students from India, Nigeria, China and Pakistan account for 70% of all graduate visas, with India accounting for more than 40%.

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MAC chair and leading labour economist Professor Brian Bell, the head of economics at King's College London, said: "Our review recommends the graduate route should remain as it is, and is not undermining the quality and integrity of the UK's higher education system.

"The graduate route is a key part of the offer that we make to international students to come and study in the UK.

"The fees that these students pay help universities to cover the losses they make in teaching British students and doing research.

"Without those students, many universities would need to shrink and less research would be done.

"This highlights the complex interaction between immigration policy and higher education policy."

A government spokesman said: "We are committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities, whilst preventing abuse of our immigration system, which is why the home secretary commissioned an independent review of the graduate route.

"We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration and our plans are working, with a 24% drop in visa applications across key routes in the first three months of this year, compared with the same period last year.

"We are considering the review's findings very closely and we will respond fully in due course."

Reacting to the report, Mr Jenrick said the graduate route "should be scrapped" and the UK needs to "urgently unwind the sector's growing dependency on foreign students" as he called the route a "backdoor for foreign students to do low-wage work...that isn't attracting top talent".

He said the review's conclusions were "constrained by the narrow terms of reference deliberately set by the government" to back up their International Education Strategy that includes the "arbitrary target" of attracting 600,000 foreign students a year.

"If you order white paint, you get a whitewash," he said.

The British Chambers of Commerce welcomed the report and said businesses have told them finding people with the right skills to plug the gaps "remains a serious issue".

The MAC recommended the government establishes a mandatory registration system for international recruitment agents and that universities should be required to publish data on their spend on recruitment agents and the number of students recruited through such means to ensure the route is not exploited.

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The report found most people on the graduate route had completed postgraduate courses, with the highest growth in the visa from non-Russell Group universities' postgraduate courses - accounting for 66% of all graduate visas.

Since 2021, the proportion of main applicants aged over 25 has increased by 15 percentage points to 54% in 2023.

It also found graduate visa holders are initially overrepresented in lower-paid work but their job prospects and wages improve over time.

Among the first cohort of graduate visa holders, about half moved to skilled worker visas, primarily into skilled roles.

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