Post-Study Work Visa in the UK

The Graduate visa, commonly called the UK post-study work visa, allows eligible international students to stay in the UK after successfully completing an eligible course. It does not normally require a job offer or employer sponsorship when you apply.

• This gives graduates time to search for suitable employment, gain work experience, or explore career opportunities before deciding whether to switch to another immigration route.

• Bachelor's degree: 2 years for applications submitted by 31 December 2026; 18 months from 1 January 2027
• Master's degree: 2 years for applications submitted by 31 December 2026; 18 months from 1 January 2027
• PhD or other doctoral qualification: 3 years
• These durations are based on the application date and current published rules. Your qualification must meet the eligibility requirements for the route.

You generally need to:

• Be in the UK when you apply.
• Hold a valid Student visa or eligible Tier 4 student permission.
• Have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK.
• Have your university or education provider notify the Home Office that you have completed the course.
• Apply before your existing Student visa expires.
• You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony if your university has confirmed your successful completion to the Home Office and you meet the other requirements.
• Important: Completing a UK degree does not automatically grant a Graduate visa. You must submit an application and satisfy the immigration rules.

The Graduate visa provides flexibility while you establish your career after university.

• Eligible holders can generally:
• Work in most jobs, including roles that do not require employer sponsorship.
• Search for employment and attend interviews.
• Work for themselves, subject to the route's conditions.
• Change jobs without applying for a new sponsored visa each time.
• Explore opportunities across different industries while building professional experience.
• There are restrictions, including limits on certain professional sporting activities. You should check the official conditions before accepting work or making a change to your circumstances.

The rules for dependants are restricted. In general, a partner or child who was already your dependant on your Student visa may be able to continue as your dependant on the Graduate route if the requirements are met. New dependants cannot usually join you under this route, although specific exceptions may apply.

• Check the current rules for your family circumstances before making plans.

The cost of applying for a Graduate visa includes the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

• Graduate visa application fee: £937
• Immigration Health Surcharge: Usually £1,035 per year
• IHS for an 18-month Graduate visa: £1,152.50
• IHS for a 2-year Graduate visa: £2,070
• IHS for a 3-year Graduate visa: £3,105
• These figures reflect the currently published GOV.UK charges and may change. The total payable depends on the visa duration and your circumstances. Check the official fee page immediately before applying.
• Remember to budget separately for accommodation, everyday expenses, travel, and the costs associated with finding work.

A Graduate visa gives you permission to work, but it does not guarantee employment. Your chances depend on your field, skills, experience, location, and the roles available in the market. Start preparing for employment before your final semester rather than waiting until your visa begins.

• Build relevant experience: Internships, eligible placements, projects, research, and part-time experience can help demonstrate your capabilities.
• Develop a UK-ready CV: Highlight relevant achievements, practical skills, and measurable outcomes instead of listing responsibilities alone.
• Use university career services: Seek help with CV reviews, interview practice, employer events, and graduate recruitment opportunities.
• Research employers early: Identify organisations recruiting in your field and understand their application timelines.
• Prepare for sponsorship requirements: If you hope to remain in the UK beyond the Graduate route, research which employers hold the appropriate sponsor licence and which roles may qualify.
• A placement year or internship can provide useful professional experience and employer connections, but neither guarantees a sponsored job.

For graduates who want to continue working in the UK beyond their Graduate visa, the Skilled Worker route is one possible option.

• Unlike the Graduate visa, this route generally requires an eligible job offer from an employer approved to sponsor workers. The role must meet the applicable occupation and salary requirements, and you must satisfy the other visa conditions.

• Job offer required to apply: Graduate visa: No; Skilled Worker visa: Yes
• Employer sponsorship required: Graduate visa: No; Skilled Worker visa: Yes
• Salary threshold: Graduate visa: No general sponsored-job salary threshold; Skilled Worker visa: Applicable salary and occupation rules must be met
• Flexibility to change jobs: Graduate visa: Generally broad work flexibility; Skilled Worker visa: Changes may require a visa update
• Long-term pathway: Graduate visa: Not itself a settlement route; Skilled Worker visa: May lead to settlement if all requirements are met

The standard Skilled Worker salary requirement is generally £41,700 per year or the relevant occupation's going rate, whichever is higher, subject to the applicable rules and exceptions.

• Some eligible applicants, including certain recent graduates and people under 26, may qualify for a lower salary threshold. These concessions have specific conditions, minimum salary requirements, and limits.
• Do not assume that every graduate qualifies for a discount or that meeting the general salary threshold is sufficient for every occupation. Check the current occupation code, going rate, and applicable salary options before accepting a job offer.

Eligible students may be able to switch directly to the Skilled Worker route if they meet its requirements. Depending on the circumstances, this may be preferable to first applying for a Graduate visa.

• However, the right choice depends on whether you have a qualifying job offer, your course completion status, your employer, and the rules applicable to your case.

A Graduate visa does not, by itself, lead directly to permanent residency. Graduates seeking to settle in the UK typically need to qualify under a separate immigration route.

• The Skilled Worker route may provide a pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after the relevant qualifying period, subject to the rules in force when the application is made.
• Under the current published Skilled Worker route, eligible applicants may generally apply for settlement after five years on a qualifying route, provided they satisfy the applicable residence, salary, sponsorship, English-language, and other requirements. Time spent on a Graduate visa does not normally count towards the five-year Skilled Worker settlement period.

• Keep your immigration documents and employment records organised.
• Track visa expiry dates and submit applications within the permitted period.
• Understand the requirements before switching between visa routes.
• Monitor official changes to settlement and immigration rules.
• Avoid making long-term financial or career decisions based on proposed reforms as if they were already law.
• The UK government has consulted on changes to settlement rules. Because immigration policy can change, verify the current position before relying on a particular settlement timeline.

The Graduate and Skilled Worker routes are not the only possibilities. Depending on your qualifications, achievements, and circumstances, other routes may be relevant.

• Global Talent visa: May be an option for eligible people with recognised or promising talent in specified fields. It has particular endorsement or eligibility requirements and is not a general graduate work visa.
• Innovator Founder visa: May be relevant to eligible applicants developing a qualifying business venture that meets the route's requirements.
• Further study: Graduates continuing to another eligible course may be able to apply for a new Student visa, subject to the rules.
• Other work routes: Some occupations or circumstances may qualify under separate visa categories.
• Each route has different requirements. Eligibility should be assessed individually rather than assumed from having a UK degree.

Planning your UK education should involve more than choosing a university and securing admission. It is also useful to understand how your intended course connects with potential career paths and the immigration options that may be available after completion.

• University Yatra can help you:
• Compare courses and universities in relation to your academic background and career objectives.
• Understand programme structures, placement opportunities, and course requirements.
• Organise admissions documentation and application timelines.
• Plan your education budget with course duration and likely living expenses in mind.
• Identify questions to research about post-study employment and immigration routes before committing to a programme.
• Visa eligibility, employment outcomes, and settlement are determined by the relevant authorities and employers. No course or university can guarantee a job, sponsorship, or permanent residency.