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QMUL Careers & Enterprise — How To Structure Your Cover Letter

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QMUL Careers & Enterprise

How to structure your cover letter.

A strong cover letter is vital when applying for jobs and internships. Not only does it allow you to evidence that you meet the requirements for the role, but demonstrate an understanding of both the job and the organisation to which you are applying.

What You Need to Communicate

Your cover letter needs to communicate three things to an employer. These three things are –

Why you want to work for their organisation

Why you want to work in this particular role

Why your skills and experiences make you the best candidate for the role

Although your cover letter and CV will often be considered together, this is not always the case! Make sure that your cover letter stands alone, and does not rely on information provided in your CV.

Clear Sections

Your cover letter is one of the ways in which an employer will be assessing your written communication skills. Therefore, it is important that your points are clear and succinct. The best way to do this is split your CV into clear sections that address the messages you need to communicate (highlighted above).

Introduction

Use the introduction to… you guessed it… introduce yourself! Detail who you are, the degree you have studied for (and at which university) and state that you are looking to apply for their current vacancy.

Why That Organisation?

Employers want to know that you are passionate about the work that you carry out. A great way to show this is to talk about why the organisation itself appeals to you. Research the organisation online, and talk about why you are applying to work their using specific example. If your examples can be used to describe a competitor organisation, they are not specific enough!

Why That Role?

Using the job description, highlight aspects of the role that interest you the most and talk about why. Using wording and phrases from the job description itself is a great way to evidence that you have researched the role. This is a great opportunity to begin mentioning any skills and experiences that you think are relevant.

Why Should They Choose You?

Use the person specification to identify the key skills and qualities the employer is looking for, and use your own experiences (both professional and personal) to evidence how you possess them. You won’t have space to talk about every point on the person specification, but you should choose three or four areas you feel are your strongest.

Sum up why you believe you are the best person for the role being advertised, and why you are excited by the prospect of working for that particular organisation. Close by saying you are excited to hear from them.

If you would like to have an advisor look over a cover letter, CV or job application, find out how to book and appointment here .

You can also find out more about putting together a cover letter by checking out our online resources on the subject.

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How to boost your employability during lockdown.

Although lockdown comes with many limitations, there are lots of ways in which you can develop your transferable skills (also known as soft skills) while staying indoors. These are skills that you can apply to many different jobs, and which are much sort after amongst graduate employers!  

Earlier this year, LinkedIn published the top five transferable skills employers look for in an applicant. In this blog post, we are going to break down what they are, any how you can continue developing them with nothing more than an internet connection!

It won’t come as much of a surprise to find out that employers look for creativity in their applicants, this being a skill that will allow you to come up with new ideas and solve existing problems.

You can develop and evidence creativity in lots of different ways. You could create a blog, website or app about a topic that interests you, get involved with one of the QMSU societies , or do something interesting to raise money for charity!

Employers want someone who can get other people on board with their ideas, which is why the ability to persuade is so important. Being persuasive requires strong communication skills, which you can build in many different ways. 

Our various Enterprise programmes are a great way in which to develop and prove your persuasion skills. Develop business ideas as part of a team, and convince them, and our business experts, why your idea will succeed. 

Collaboration

Being able to collaborate is vital if you are going to work well as part of a team. The virtual Student Consultancy Project is a great way to build your collaboration skills, allowing you to work with a team on a real life consultancy project. Not only will you be collaborating with your fellow team members, but with the organisation or charity that you are paired with, building valuable contacts along the way.

Adaptability 

Adaptability is key to employers, particularly at the moment, and what better opportunity to evidence your adaptability skills than navigating a lockdown!?

By getting involved with some of the above points, you are not only showing that you are adaptable, but that you are eager to learn new things and open yourself up to new experiences!

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, evaluate, and respond to your own emotions and the emotions of others. Getting involved with a student society, or attending online networking events is a great way to develop this kind of skill. 

If you are struggling, remember the QM Advice and Counselling team are there to help. You can also get in touch with Careers and Enterprise with any questions or concerns you have about jobs, work experience or what to do after graduation.

Entrepreneur of the month: Karthik Swaminathan

Karthik took part in our QIncubator programme , and has since gone on to develop his business, Nostalgiera , an online market place for buying and selling vintage items. We asked him about how he got to where he is today, and how Careers and Enterprise helped along the way!

Could you give us an elevator pitch of your business?

Nostalgiera is an online marketplace platform where users can discover, shop and sell collectible and vintage items, antiques and memorabilia. We curate the sellers to ensure that the products listed on the website are verified and as described. This also eases the search and discovery experience for the user.

What inspired you to start Nostalgiera?

Many great businesses today have come up by focusing on a small problem faced by many in a marketplace, and creating a better solution for it. Uber did it for transport, Etsy did it for handmade goods, StockX did it for sneakers and Airbnb did it for home rentals. Most of these were initially transacted on bigger marketplaces but eventually found a home here because it was a better, more focused solution to the problem.

I noticed similar issues transacting when trying to buy collectible type of goods on other marketplaces, because they cater to a wider category of goods and so the discovery process wasn’t great. Plus, there are issues with accuracy of the product listing and its authenticity. So I figured it would be interesting to start a dedicated marketplace for collectors, building that community and addressing their particular needs and issues. Since the focus was on goods from the past that invoke a feeling of nostalgia – I decided to call the business Nostalgiera.

What is your biggest achievement?

It’s still very early on and we’re pre-launch, but I would say I’m really proud of the small team I’ve built. The company was founded a few days before the first lockdown began and so the early hires and working with them initially had to be done remotely. It’s tough as it is to build a founding team, and even more so when you’re not in the same environment. But I’m extremely lucky and the few people we’ve brought on have been amazing and extremely passionate about what we’re doing.

It was crucial to creating an environment where people are motivated to work on their tasks – remotely – from the get go. Many conversations took place for over a month before we began meeting in person and there are still some I haven’t had the chance of meeting personally. It’s all down to luck, but I’ll put it in here as my biggest achievement.

You participated in the Careers and Enterprise QIncubator programme. What skills did you learn from your time on the programme?

QIncubator was a great learning experience. Each session covered an important area of starting or scaling a business, and there were important takeaways from each. The mentors and guest lecturers who came in during sessions and gave advice in smaller groups was also constructive and we got to ask them questions.

It was also interesting to see the different kinds of businesses and ideas that people were working on. Many sounded extremely unique and offered great value. It also encouraged you to explain your idea in simple and clear terms which is very important.

What tips would you give to any students/ graduates who are thinking of starting a business?

If you have an idea that you’re passionate about and have done your research on it, your best bet is to give it a shot, especially if its online. It’s becoming increasingly easier and cheaper to set up a website for a product or service and market it, even organically, on social media.

If you are confident in your idea, you can bootstrap it, create a first version of your product or service and give it to your users to get their feedback. It doesn’t cost much to start. You’ll then have a better idea if its worth working on further and the changes you might have to make. Starting with just the first steps is better than thinking long about all the reasons it might not work

Do you have a business idol? If you had the chance to ask them one question what would it be?

I’m really inspired by the story of Airbnb and its founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gabbia. They started the company around the time of the 2008 crisis and didn’t get much traction early on because everyone thought the idea of letting strangers into their homes was stupid. But they carried on and did some unusual but effective things to bring on their first users and listers. They were advised to focus on making the product for only a small set of core users and make them extremely happy with the service – this proved extremely effective. They also focused a lot on the product’s design and user experience.  

I would probably ask them how they would navigate starting and scaling Airbnb if they were launching it now as a new idea in the midst of a pandemic, where they couldn’t go and talk to their users (they would knock on doors and take free professional shoots of early listers’ homes, to incentivise them).

What are your top recommendations at the moment? (i.e. webinars, podcasts, books etc.)

If you plan on starting a business, it’s important to know about the past successes and failures in your line of business and business in general. The Everything Store about Jeff Bezos and Amazon and Steve Jobs (the book), for example, are great books to learn how ideas turn into business empires. Learning from their journey, you can pattern match or have a frame of reference when you potentially come across a similar situation. Fireside chats or interviews with founders of companies you admire are also great places to look.

More generally, I think all the information you’ll ever need is available for free on YouTube. It’s also presented in a really clear and practical manner so you can reference them as and when you need to. Y-Combinator has some great videos and resources on starting and scaling a business. The Lean Startup is a great book to learn how to bootstrap your idea.

What is next for you and for your business?

We plan to launch our website to a few users sometime in mid-December. In the meantime and for the near future, we’ll navigate the COVID-19 climate and grow our user base as well as start generating revenue. We’ll also focus on growing the team – especially on the product side. Our website today has all the core functionality that other major marketplace platforms offer but we want to build and provide a more personalised experience for our users and collectors, as well as an app.

Nostalgiera Website

Instagram: @nostalgiera

E-mail: [email protected]

How can I network online?

Networking can seem challenging at the best of times, but with events and workspaces now being almost entirely digital, it can be hard knowing where to start when looking to make new connections.

The good news is there are still plenty of ways to network, it’s just a case of changing your approach slightly. Here are some of the ways you can start building your network online!

Look for new platforms

As well as traditional social media platforms like Linkedin, there are plenty of other platforms that you can use to meet new people. Websites like  Meetup, that traditionally promoted in-person events, are now offering many more online opportunities. 

Make the most of online tools

You might not be able to talk to people in person as much at the moment, but recent events have made online platforms like Zoom and MS Teams more accessible than ever! Instead of asking someone questions over a coffee, why not ask them over a video call instead? 

Get involved

Getting involved in topical discussions on platforms like LinkedIn is another great way to meet new people. You can gain valuable insights, advice, and resources by interacting with others. You might also find like-minded people you can stay in touch with. 

It can be tempting to put off building your network until a time when you actually need a job or opportunity. Building connections becomes a lot harder when you are under pressure, though. Starting now means that when the times comes, you will have far more opportunities available to you.

Take a look at our networking resources to find out more about how you can meet new people online. 

Great alternatives to graduate schemes

In our last blog post , we explained what graduate schemes are and why you might like to apply for one. Although graduate schemes are great for some, they are only one possible route to take after you graduate from university. There are also plenty of opportunities to be had at small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are just as beneficial! 

What is an SME?

Small and medium sized enterprises are organisations with fewer than 250 employees. Their small scale means they often don’t run graduate schemes, but instead hire graduates in entry level roles throughout the year. 

Searching for these opportunities can sometimes be more time consuming, but they can also be less competitive than positions at larger organisations.

What are the benefits?

These kinds of positions become available throughout the year, and the application process is usually much shorter (around two months). There are also a larger number of roles and organisations to choose from, with traditional graduate schemes usually only being available within select industries. 

Finding opportunities 

The key to finding entry level roles such as these is to research. Research the sector you want to work in, and find out about the SMEs in that sector. Then use tools such as online jobs boards, LinkedIn and careers directories. You will also find many organisations advertising roles on their websites. 

Some organisations won’t formally advertise all roles, so it is also important to send out speculative applications (a tailored CV and covering letter asking if the company have any vacancies or might have in the future). Even if they don’t have any opportunities at that exact moment, they might keep you in mind when something becomes available.

Not sure what is right for you?

Don’t worry! Our expert careers advisers are on hand to guide you through the decision-making process. Visit our website to find out how you can book an appointment .

What are graduate schemes?

With autumn term fully underway, you are probably hearing more and more about ‘graduate schemes’. Although what graduate schemes are might seem pretty obvious (they are… schemes for graduates), there are factors to consider before deciding whether one is right for you.

Here is a little insight into what a graduate scheme is, and why you might want to apply to one. If you would like to discuss graduate schemes further, make sure to book an appointment with one of our expert careers consultants.

A graduate scheme is a structured programme that combines work and training. They allow graduates to experience many aspects of a role and wider organisation, and can last anywhere from 3 months to 3 years.

Graduate schemes are far more common in certain sectors (such as finance) than others (like the third sector), and are also usually run by large organisations. Due to these schemes being so competitive, the application process is usually quite long, and only around 12-15% of applicants are accepted. 

The application process

Employers will normally set minimum requirements to qualify for entry, a bit like when you apply to university. These requirements (although they vary) usually include a 2:1 (or higher) degree.

The process begins with an online application , where you will need to demonstrate your key skills and how you match what the employer is looking for. You can expect to complete multiple rounds of interviews ,  psychometric tests  and  assessment days .

Telephone  and  video interviews are now increasingly common due to the current Covid-19 situation, so preparing for these is key!

When do graduate schemes open?

Graduate schemes usually start opening in the previous summer, so you need to start thinking about applying a year in advance of when you would wish to start. Give yourself a lot of time to research different schemes and organisations so that you are ready to apply when applications begin to open. 

There are many benefits to taking part in a graduate scheme. They are usually well-paid from the beginning, and offer job security for the length of the scheme plus the opportunity for career progression afterwards. These schemes also give you the opportunity to try out a range of roles, and develop a wide range of skills. 

Not sure if graduate schemes are for you?

Don’t worry! There are plenty of alternatives to graduates schemes that can be just as rewarding. Make sure to check back next week for a blog post breaking down some of your other options!

Visit the Careers and Enterprise website to find out more about how we can support you.

Meet the mentees: Owais Siddiqi

Owais Siddiqi is a second year Queen Mary student studying BEng Biomedical Engineering. We asked about his QMentoring experience, and how having a professional mentor has benefited him. 

Why I applied for QMentoring

After attending a careers panel with the School of Engineering and Material Science about engineering and medicine, I was keen to gain further insight into future career paths, so I went online to the University’s website to find out if there were any services that I could use.

This was when I stumbled upon QMentoring, which sounded like a valuable opportunity to learn from an experienced individual in my field about how they progressed throughout their career.

How I found the experience

Working with my mentor has been insightful and enjoyable, especially learning about all of the career possibilities that there are in my respective field. In addition, my mentor helped strengthen my CV to better showcase my skills and experience.

A big part of my mentorship was being encouraged to develop my website ( https://owaissiddiqi.co.uk/ ) and to start posting blogs, in order to showcase my interest in Biomedical Engineering and its associated disciplines.

My mentor also introduced me to more specialist disciplines in the medical world that suited my interests and further enhanced my knowledge of medicine. Additionally, he helped me to be more productive during the lockdown by putting forward different virtual internship opportunities to apply for in the engineering and medical fields.

What a typical mentoring session involved

Due to COVID-19, my mentoring sessions were modified from face-to-face, in person meetings, to weekly phone calls. As part of these phone calls, we would address problems or topics that I had emailed my mentor about prior to the meeting, which ranged from CV guidance, to questions I had about his speciality.

Asking my mentor career related questions – about his own career journey and why he made the choices he did – was really informative and provided me with a valuable insight that would be hard to find elsewhere.

My advice for remote mentoring sessions

Having remote mentoring sessions can be challenging, but you can still develop a great relationship and gain mentorship through these steps:

• Prepare what points should be discussed in the meeting, prior to the meeting, to make effective use of your time;
• Make sure you act on the advice given by your mentor as they have a lot of experience in their field and their advice may be more valuable than you know.

Why I would recommend the QMentoring programme

I would especially recommend the QMentoring programme to anyone who is unsure of what career to pursue, or to those would like benefit from learning more about a particular industry or job role.

Visit the QMentoring page on our website to find out more!

Entrepreneur of the Month: Isaac Greenway-Tambini

At pola we handmake ice and gelato poles using whole, fresh fruit and clean, plant-based ingredients. We have reinvented the childhood treat the ‘ice pole’ or ‘ice pop’ through sourcing the highest quality ingredients, working with local farms and adding no nasty stuff to our products.

What inspired you to start Pola?

I saw a gap in the market for a frozen dessert that used actual fresh fruit with no concentrates, was free from artificial additives and 100% vegan. I have always been interested in starting my own business and coupling it with my love for food made complete sense.

Achieving 4 Stars in the 2020 Great Taste Awards (the Oscars of the food and drink industry). They are the UK’s largest and most trusted award scheme for speciality Food and Drink.

What is the toughest decision you have had to make?        

As all the events/festivals we had booked for Summer got cancelled this year due to Covid, we had to adapt as quickly as possible. That meant deciding to focus on deliveries throughout Nottingham and getting stocked in Cafes and Health Food Shops. As a result, I had to shift our whole business plan in a matter of days which was tough work.

What top 3 tips would for students/ graduates who are thinking of starting a business?

1) Go for it – don’t let your idea go to waste. There is a huge difference between writing a business plan and pursuing it. You don’t want to be sat at home feeling guilty you didn’t start it 5 years down the line.

2) Be yourself and start something you are interested in e.g. don’t start a greasy burger restaurant chain if you are a health food addict. Make sure you love the industry you will be operating in as this will not only make your journey more enjoyable, but also give you the drive to keep going when times are tough.

3) Don’t be surprised if your idea doesn’t take off straight away. Starting a business takes lot of patience and perseverance. If one strategy doesn’t work then try another. If you are confident you have a good idea then there will be a way to make it a successful one!

What do you think are the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs during Covid-19?

I think persevering and staying positive throughout this time is tough, with everyone stuck at home it can often be stressful, especially if you are trying to start/run a business. Being realistic and making yourself aware that the current period is a weird/uncertain time that may not yield the results you wanted for the year is important as survival is the most important thing at this current time.

Do you have a business idol? If so and you have the chance to ask them one question what would it be?

Not really, but I think having someone in your industry to look up to is great as you can see the mistakes they made and what they did to overcome them, which is valuable information.

I like How I Built this with Guy Raz, watching Dragons Den and the Retail Ready Podcast.

Making it a yearlong (not seasonal) business. I’m currently working on festive gelato flavours to release later this Month and sell throughout Autumn and Winter.

Follow Pola on social media – 

Linkedin Instagram Facebook  

Visit our website to find out more about how the Enterprise team can help you!

How to improve your time management!

Finding it difficult to balance your studies with searching and applying for opportunities? Here are some ways to manage your time this term, and get the most out of university!

Plan out your day!

Building a to-do list and scheduling in time during the day to complete it is a great way to stay on track when you have lots to do! It makes you less likely to procrastinate, and also ensures the number of tasks that you set yourself remains realistic (there are only so many hours in a day!).

Break down your tasks

Splitting tasks into smaller jobs is a great way to stay motivated. Let’s take a job application, for example. Instead of setting out to complete the application all in one go, you could plan to write an answer to the first question. Then, set yourself the task of writing an answer to the second. Before you know it, you will be ready to submit!

Stay organised!

It seems obvious, but planning in advance is a great way to ensure you aren’t left feeling overwhelmed. Make a note of when things are due, and prioritise what you need to do in order to meet your various deadlines. (Make sure you are giving yourself enough time! Aim to finish things way in advance of the deadline, so you are not cramming things in at the last minute.)

Stay focused

It can be easy to get distracted by things going on around you, so try to limit these distractions as much as possible. Prone to endlessly scrolling through Instagram? Stay off social media until you have finished the tasks you have set yourself. If you can, find a nice quiet room to go to (or use the campus library).

Remember to relax!

Taking regular breaks is actually great for your productivity. Make sure to schedule in time to do fun things, like hang out with friends or watch a movie. Taking a break will make it easier to concentrate when you have to.

Looking for help with anything careers related? Take a look at the Careers and Enterprise website to find out how we can help you!

How QHack prepared me for starting my own business

Veerna is one of the many Queen Mary students who has taken part in our QHack weekends. We asked her about what she gained from taking part, and what her advice would be for those thinking about applying.

How did you hear about the QHack programme?

I heard about the QHack programme through Miriam, who is in the Careers and Enterprise department. We met to discuss all the entrepreneurial opportunities inside and outside the university, and I was recommended to join QHack.

What convinced you to apply to the programme?

During my first year of university, I was constantly looking for all the opportunities that would help me start my business and understand whether my business idea was viable or not.

Since this was only a weekend, I knew that all the information was filtered to what we needed. Also, it meant that it wouldn’t interfere with any other commitments I had on weekdays. 

What skills did you learn from your time on the QHack programme?

QHack provided me with both business theory and practical skills all in one weekend. It taught me the importance of understanding the target customer base for your business, and I was given advice on how to change my idea according to the market research that we conducted, giving me the ability to keep an open mind and continue to change my business idea until it served a specific customer base.

QHack also helped me feel confident in sharing my idea, as before QHack I used to keep my idea to myself. I was taught that it is not the idea that makes the business, but the person behind it!

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about applying for the programme?

I would advise that people come into the programme with an open mind (a business idea is a bonus), and the ability to commit to the hours.

Follow Veerna on Instagram

Visit our website to find out more about QHack !

Meet the QMentors: Ramesh Bhudia

We asked one of our QMentors, Ramesh Bhudia, why he decided to become a professional mentor here at Queen Mary University of London.

Professional background

After graduating from Queen Mary, my first job was for an American telematics company as a Quality Assurance Engineer. A year and a half into the role, I was made redundant. This was the catalyst to starting my own company in 2015.

Over the past 5 years, I’ve had to manage sales, marketing, employees’ finances and projects. This has allowed me to develop an array of skills that I wouldn’t have otherwise able to learn in a short timeframe. This is one of the ‘benefits’ of having your own company – you can choose whatever role or roles you want!

With accelerated growth of the company over the past 2 years, I’ve had to bring others on-board to manage marketing and finances, with me predominantly looking after sales and projects – two areas of the company I most enjoy.

I was conscious of not telling my mentee what to do as this won’t necessarily help him after the programme has ended. Instead, I focused on helping my mentee make the best decisions for him based on my own experience. This will give mentees the skills needed for decision making going forward.

Overall, I had a lot of fun over the course of the programme. I used to conclude each session by asking my mentee for feedback, to which he replied that he found the sessions helpful and beneficial; this gave me confidence about my mentoring skills given it was the first time.

Mentoring remotely

Covid-19 has shown both my mentee and I that things happen unexpectedly and you have to quickly adapt and find other ways.

We moved to a combination of messaging and calls to replace meeting in person. It was a pretty straight forward transition without affecting the mentorship.

Why I became a QMentor

I was lucky enough to have friends who I was able to speak to about university and career options. This really did help in the decisions I made. I appreciate how important guidance is and, therefore, wanted to repay the debt of gratitude by volunteering to be a mentor to someone else.

I would without a doubt recommend the programme to others, both mentors and mentees!

The importance of mentoring

The QMentoring programme is a great initiative by Queen Mary. University can be incredibly stressful on its own, never mind the process of then looking for a job.

A mentor can help ease the stress by discussing the challenges the mentee is having, putting things into perspective, and being the extra cushion of support.

Visit our website to find out more about QMentoring and how you can apply to be a mentee yourself.

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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.

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Assignment 2.1 - Draft CV and Cover Letter

Deadline 5 January

You are required to submit both a CV and Cover Letter for assignment 2.1. As with assignment 1, this first submission will be worth 10% of the marks for the assignment, and you will receive feedback before you are required to make a final submission. 

Further information on CVs:

The content and format of the CV is entirely up to you. You will receive an email with feedback early in Semester B.

There are many sources of advice on writing a CV in the library and on-line. Do read the information sheets on writing CVs and cover letters which can be found through the QMUL Careers Service website  http://www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/  .  It is also suggested that you seek advice and feedback on your draft CV from family and friends and the Careers Service.

Further information on cover letters:

The cover letter should be no more than 1 page long. In your cover letter it is important to identify:

·          why you want the role, ie why you want to be an actuarial trainee working in a particular area;

·          why you want to work for the company, including evidence of having researched the company,

·          why you would be a strong candidate for the position, including some of the skills and experience that you bring to the role.

We will also be looking at the impact of your letter. It should encourage the reader to think you are a strong candidate who communicates well on paper and who they would like to meet in person.

There are many sources of advice on writing a cover letter in the library and on-line. Do read the information sheets on writing CVs and cover letters which can be found through the QMUL Careers Service website  http://www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/  .

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