UK Post Study Work Visa Options

If you’re an international student in the UK, there are a number of visa routes for you to consider that will allow you to remain in the country after you graduate. Your UK post study visa options will depend largely on your circumstances and your plans for after you finish your course. For example, do you want to find a job or start a business in the UK, or do you want to return home and come back to the UK later?

The main post study work visa, officially known as the Graduate Route, allows international students in the UK to remain and work after completing their studies. Introduced to attract global talent, the visa enables graduates to stay for up to two years (or three years for doctoral students) to gain valuable work experience or seek employment without requiring employer sponsorship.

For UK employers, the visa offers a significant opportunity to access a diverse pool of educated, motivated, and globally-minded graduates. Employers can hire these individuals without the administrative burden of sponsorship during the visa period. It provides flexibility in filling skill gaps and adapting to the demands of a rapidly changing workforce.

However, there are considerations to keep in mind. The visa’s time-limited nature means employers must plan for future transitions, as graduates will need to secure a work visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, to continue employment after it expires. This process requires sponsorship, which can be both costly and administratively intensive.

For international students, it will be important to consider all of the visa options available to you to work in the UK, and if you do make an application, ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria, have the correct documentation and follow the correct process, since refusal rates for points-based visas are high. You will also need to ensure you factor in all the costs of making a Home Office application, such as the Immigration Health Surcharge, which you have to pay for each year of your grant of leave. Some visas will also require you to go through an endorsement process before you can apply for the visa, which can add time and cost to the process. It is also your responsibility to avoid overstaying and ensure you do not let your visa expire before making an application to remain in the UK.

 

Graduate Route for post-study work in the UK

 

The UK Graduate Route is a post-study work visa designed to allow international students to remain in the UK and work after completing their studies. It provides graduates with an opportunity to extend their stay for up to two years if they have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or three years if they have earned a PhD. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the UK’s appeal as a destination for international students and giving them access to valuable work experience within the UK job market.

Eligibility for the Graduate Route requires students to have completed an undergraduate degree or higher at a recognised UK higher education institution. Applicants must also demonstrate a clear and compliant immigration history. The visa is available to graduates across all disciplines, and there is no limit on the number of visas issued under this scheme, making it an inclusive option for international students.

One of the key benefits of the Graduate Route is its flexibility. Graduates can work in any role or sector during their two or three-year visa period, without restrictions on job type or skill level. This allows them to explore diverse career opportunities and build their professional network within the UK.

However, the Graduate Route cannot be extended. Graduates wishing to remain in the UK beyond its duration must transition to a longer-term visa category, such as the Skilled Worker visa. This involves securing a job offer from an employer willing to sponsor the visa and meeting the relevant criteria.

Employers are encouraged to align their recruitment strategies with the Graduate Route to maximise the potential of international talent. By doing so, they can access a wide pool of highly skilled graduates ready to contribute to the workforce.

The Graduate Route represents a significant opportunity for international students to gain meaningful work experience in the UK while providing employers with a stream of talented candidates for entry-level and graduate roles.

 

Alternative post study work visas for the UK

 

Under the current rules, international students could consider the following post-study visa options:

 

Skilled worker visa

 

There continues to be no shortage of employers willing to sponsor graduates who bring specialist skills. The Skilled Worker Visa replaced the Tier 2 General visa in December 2020. It is open to individuals who attain the requisite number of points based on skill, language and salary requirements. You will also need to have a job offer from a licensed sponsor. You can find a list of those organisations with a sponsor licence on the government’s list of registered sponsors. Employers without a sponsor licence are able to apply for a licence to hire sponsored workers, provided they meet the eligibility and compliance criteria.

Note that you will only be able to apply to switch from the Student visa straight into this visa if you have either completed the course you were sponsored to study; or you have been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months; or if the course is full-time and degree-level or above at a provider with a track record of compliance, you can apply if the course has not yet completed and the job will start no earlier than the course completion date.

The Skilled Worker visa lasts five years – provided you continue to meet the conditions of your visa such as having sponsored employment – and it offers a direct route to UK indefinite leave to remain. You can also be accompanied in the UK by your dependants.

 

Innovator Founder visa

 

The Innovator Founder visa allows foreign nationals to set up and run their own business in the UK. It replaced the Innovator route and Start up visa, and is now the primary visa category for foreign entrepreneurs.

You will only be able to apply to switch into this visa if you have either completed the course you were sponsored to study or you have been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months.

The visa lasts up to three years, at which stage, provided you meet the relevant requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, otherwise known as settlement.

 

Global Talent route

 

The Global Talent route is aimed at those who can evidence status as a leader or potential leader in one of the fields covered by the visa. These include:

 

• academia or research
• arts and culture
• digital technology

 

Global Talent visa holders do not need to have secured employment, nor do they need to be sponsored. Global talent applicants must either have been awarded a ‘prestigious prize’ – as specified in Appendix Prestigious Prizes’ – or secure endorsement from an approved institution before making the Home Office visa application.

You will only be able to apply to switch into this visa as an international student if you have either completed the course you were sponsored to study or you have been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months.

 

Scale up visa

 

The Scale Up route is designed for high-growth employers to recruit international talent more easily. It is a new type of hybrid visa, which initially requires sponsorship for the first six months of employment, after which the employee can change employers or role without the need to be sponsored.

The Scale up visa lasts for two years and can lead to indefinite leave to remain.

Applications can be made from inside or outside the UK.

 

Global Business Mobility visas

 

Depending on your circumstances, such as being employed by an non-UK employer, you may need to look at the Global Business Mobility visas. These five visa categories are for specific types of workers coming to the UK to undertake specific, short-term work. These are:

 

• Graduate trainee visa
• Senior or specialist worker visa
• UK expansion worker visa
• Secondment worker visa
• Service supplier visa 

 

Each visa has its own rules and requirement, although one common requirement is that the worker has to be sponsored by a qualifying employer. In addition, you will only be able to apply to switch into this visa if you have either completed the course you were sponsored to study or you have been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months.

 

Long-term relationship or family basis

 

If you met your partner while studying in the UK, you may be eligible to remain on the basis of your relationship. A number of options may be available to you based on your relationship to a family member or under the long-term relationship rules such as civil partnership and spouse visas. The rules are strict however to deter fraudulent applications, and eligibility will depend on your personal circumstances including meeting strict financial requirements.

 

Temporary work visas

 

There are a number of UK temporary work visas to consider, including the Creative Worker visa, which provide short-term permission to carry out certain types of work in the UK. Each visa has its own requirements and rules. Again, you will only be able to apply to switch into temporary work visas if you have either completed the course you were sponsored to study or you have been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months.

 

Youth Mobility Scheme

 

Nationals of certain countries between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to come to the UK for up to two years. You must however apply from outside the UK.

 

 

Need assistance?

 

DavidsonMorris specialise in UK immigration. Contact us with any queries about your visa options to remain in the UK after study, or if you are an employer looking to hire international graduates.

 

UK post study work visa FAQs

 

What is the Post-Study Work Visa?

The Post-Study Work Visa, officially known as the Graduate Route, allows international students to stay in the UK for up to two years (or three years for doctoral graduates) after completing their studies to work or look for work.

 

Who is eligible for the Post-Study Work Visa?

International students who have successfully completed a degree or other eligible qualification from a UK Higher Education provider with a track record of compliance can apply for this visa.

 

Do employers need to sponsor graduates on the Post-Study Work Visa?

No, employers do not need to sponsor graduates on the Post-Study Work Visa during its validity period, making it easier to hire recent international graduates.

 

What happens after the Post-Study Work Visa expires?

Graduates must transition to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, to continue working in the UK. This will require employer sponsorship and meeting the relevant visa requirements.

 

Can graduates work in any job while on the visa?

Yes, there are no restrictions on the type of work graduates can undertake while on the Post-Study Work Visa, including part-time or freelance roles.

 

How can employers support graduates on this visa?

Employers can assist by offering guidance on long-term visa options, such as sponsorship for the Skilled Worker visa, to retain talent after the initial visa period ends.

 

Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Post-Study Work Visa	A UK visa route, officially called the Graduate Route, allowing international students to stay and work after graduation.
Graduate Route	The formal name for the Post-Study Work Visa, introduced to help international graduates remain in the UK for work or job-seeking.
Higher Education Provider	Universities or colleges in the UK that are officially recognised and comply with government regulations.
Skilled Worker Visa	A visa route for individuals sponsored by a UK employer to work in eligible skilled roles after their Post-Study Work Visa expires.
Sponsorship	The process by which a UK employer supports a visa application for an employee under routes like the Skilled Worker visa.
Right to Work Checks	Legal checks employers must perform to confirm that an individual has the legal right to work in the UK.
Transition Period	The period during which an individual on the Post-Study Work Visa must shift to another visa to remain in the UK for work.
Doctoral Extension	The allowance under the Graduate Route for doctoral graduates to stay for up to three years instead of the standard two years.
Immigration Rules	Legal guidelines set by the UK government governing who can enter, stay, or work in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria	The specific requirements individuals must meet to qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa, such as graduating from a compliant institution.
Visa Sponsorship Licence	A certification that allows UK employers to sponsor visas for international employees under various immigration routes.
Freelance Work	Self-employed work that is permitted under the Post-Study Work Visa without the need for sponsorship.
Labour Market	The pool of available workers and jobs in the UK, which the Post-Study Work Visa helps graduates access without restrictions.