Graduate Visa Route
Thinking about Working in the UK after Graduation?
From 1st July 2021, the new Graduate Route will allow successful undergraduate and postgraduate international students to remain in the UK for 2 years after completing their studies, and successful PhD students to remain for 3 years after.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications have opened from 1st July 2021
You can apply in the UK
You can apply online at www.gov.uk
No sponsorship is required by your university or by an employer.
Permission starts the day your Biometric Residence Permit is created and sent to you.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Current and Previous Visas
You must have valid Student Permission when you apply (somebody in the UK through the Student Immigration Route or the Tier 4 immigration route).
No other permission is accepted.
QUALIFICATION
Must have successfully completed a UK degree or other eligible qualification by a higher education provider.
The start date of the course is irrelevant but completion must be 2021 onwards.
No separate English Language Requirement.
The qualification must be obtained during your current Student permission (very limited exceptions).
No evidence of qualification required, Sponsor notifies UKVI. Check Sponsor's rules.
STUDY IN THE UK: EXCEPTION FOR DISTANCE LEARNERS
Basic rules:
a course of up to 12 months must have been fully studied in the UK
a longer course must have been studied in the UK for at least 12 months.
Exception for those who don't meet the rule due to Covid-19.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
No maintenance requirement for applicants or for dependants.
If you have a government scholarship, you need the scholarship agency/ sponsoring body's permission to apply.
The application fee is £700 (with a £55 discount for CESC nationals)
Immigration Health Surcharge is £1248 (£1872 for Ph.D. graduates)
WHAT WORK CAN YOU DO?
Any job with any employer
Full-time, part-time, temporary work is all fine
Internships, work experience, unpaid work
No work as a professional sportsperson or coach
While your Graduate route application is pending, you can work under your Student conditions until the outcome.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Self-employment, freelancing, consultancy, contracting
After Graduate permission is granted, you can start a business without needing endorsement for a Start-up visa, monitoring, or business succeeding, BUT...
If you plan to switch to the Start-up route to develop your business, you must do that before your business starts trading.
NEW OPTIONS
Teacher training: salaried route
Training/ working as a lawyer, architect, pharmacist, optometrist pre-reg training without needing employer sponsorship
Creative industries: employment and self-employment
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
DEPENDANTS
Can only apply in the UK, not in the home country
Must be in the UK with Student dependant permission
Spouse, civil partner, same-sex partner, unmarried partner
Child under 18 with both parents in UK
Baby born in UK
Leaves most undergraduates and all part-time post-graduates unable to bring dependants
STUDY RESTRICTIONS
New study restrictions
No study that could be sponsored for a Student visa
If you were planning to study and work, rethink or extend your Student permissions instead
Online, evening or recreational study is fine
Study at a college/ university that doesn't sponsor Student Visa is fine
If in doubt, ask course provider
WHAT DO EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW?
They have been briefed since April 2020 on the upcoming Graduate routes.
Employer guidance on checking someone's right to work may be updated to include the Graduate route.
For an employer, same as any other non-UK employee with limited permission, e.g. Dependant
Some employers may still prefer to sponsor you under the Skilled worker route (formerly Tier 2).
OPTIONS AFTER OR INSTEAD OF GRADUATE ROUTE
SKILLED WORK FOR AN EMPLOYER
Cannot extend under the Graduate route itself
Can switch from either Student route or Graduate route into Skilled worker route for sponsored work.
In both cases, you may also apply in your home country with no additional requirements.
In all cases, you are highly likely to be a 'new entrant' re: salary minimum (70% of going rate).
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
No extension of the Graduate route itself
Can switch from Student or from Graduate route to start-up route. for an endorsed business but for both cases business must not have started trading.
Innovator route for an endorsed business that is already trading.
Higher bar than Start-up route.
OTHER IMMIGRATION ROUTES THAT ALLOW WORK
Tier 5 schemes for internships, temporary work
Youth Mobility Scheme visa (nationality and age criteria)
UK Ancestry visa (nationality and UK ancestry criteria)
BNO visa for British National (Overseas)
UK family visa
Student route for high studies
FURTHER INFORMATION AND ADVICE
Check this link for more information provided by the University:
https://uniofleicester.sharepoint.com/sites/MyEmployment/SitePages/International-Students.aspx
The Home Office has produced a helpful Fact Sheet which includes key information and frequently asked questions
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has a helpful guide for exploring your visa options and the key information you need to be aware of when working after your degree.
If you have any specific queries about your circumstances you can contact the University of Leicester Student Immigration, Advice, and Compliance team.
The University also offers a webinar each semester which is hosted by Immigration Law specialists Paragon Law. The next webinar will take place during Term 1 2021/22.
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES
There are a number of recommended resources when searching for graduate opportunities in the UK:
Student Circus is a job search portal dedicated to international students who are currently on a Tier-4 visa and are looking for graduate roles or internship opportunities within the UK. You will need to register for an account using your university email address.
Recommended resources for finding graduate opportunities - Read the university's helpful guide which includes where to search for and apply for graduate opportunities, as well as how to connect with potential future employers.
APPLICATION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY
When applying for a graduate opportunity you will need to complete an application process, which may include a CV and Cover Letter.
For support with developing an application we would recommend that you:
Review the university's guidance on applications, which includes helpful templates and examples.
Book an Application Coaching appointment before you submit your application where you can discuss your application with one of our Advisors in a one-to-one appointment and gain feedback on your application
Attend the next ‘English for Employability’ Programme. This is run by the English Language Teaching Unit team over 4 weeks and aims to give you a better understanding of the UK job application process as well as practice in writing effective job application documents such as CVs and Cover Letters. (This programme will next be running in 2021/22)
Attend one of our careers workshops, including how to complete an effective application, as well as workshops dedicated to CVs and Cover Letters. Workshops take place regularly throughout term time, and you can also access recordings of these outside of term.