Working in the UK after your studies

 

Many students would like to secure employment in the UK after graduation. There are currently a number of immigration routes (and proposed routes) that may be applicable now or in the future, to some of our graduates who do not automatically have the right to work in the UK after the end of their studies.  The UK launched a new immigration system on 1 January 2021.

Existing/proposed options are:

Graduate Route – The Graduate Route is a new UK post-study work visa to be introduced at 09.00 on 1 July 2021 for international students graduating in summer 2021 or later. It will allow students to live and work in the UK for up to two years after a Masters, or three years after a PhD.  Applicants must apply in the UK.  When you apply, you must have already successfully completed a relevant course in the summer of 2021 or later, and the course must be either

  • an undergraduate degree
  • a Masters degree
  • a PhD degree or other doctoral qualification
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

A key requirement is that when you apply you have a UK degree or other relevant qualification that you received during your current period of Tier 4 or Student permission.  There are a number of concessions in place so that students who undertook some distance learning overseas due to Covid 19 are not prevented from being eligible for the route.  For details see page 15 of Covid-19: Guidance for Student sponsors, migrants and Short-term students

For further details of the Graduate route please visit the Graduate route section on the UKCISA website.

 

Any updates to the details of the above routes are given at: https://ukcisa.org.uk/Information–Advice/Working/Working-after-studies