Graduate Route

The Graduate Visa is a post-study work visa for foreign students who wish to continue working in the UK or who are seeking employment after successfully completing a programme of study at or above UK undergraduate degree level with a Home Office approved higher education provider.
As a non-sponsored work route, they do not need to have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) showing an offer of employment with a UK-licensed sponsor that meets the Graduate Visa minimum skill and salary levels. This visa can be used to work in any type of job role or to spend time in the UK looking for work. If the visa holder obtains the Graduate Visa, they will be allowed  to earn income and gain work experience in a range of jobs in a wide range of UK businesses  over a period of 2 or 3 years, depending on the level of qualification.

The Graduate Route is a flexible study route for overseas students who are already in the UK and want to find work. Under this route, the applicant does not need to prove a job offer. Furthermore, as the requirement to prove financial capability and language skills has already been completed under the Student Visa, there is no requirement to prove these elements again under this visa type.

There are various other requirements that must be met to qualify for leave to remain under the Graduate Route. As this route is an immigration route under the points-based system of the UK Immigration Rules, an applicant must achieve at least 70 points to be eligible to apply. These points will be awarded for three different requirements: the successful completion requirement,   the qualification requirement and the requirement to study in the UK. In addition, the applicant  must be present in the UK when applying for a Graduate Visa.

Successful Completion Requirement
Under the successful completion requirement for a Graduate Visa, the applicant must have been last supported in the UK by a student sponsor and that sponsor must be a higher education provider with a good compliance record at the date of application. The applicant must have successfully completed the course undertaken at the time of their last leave to study and, by the date of application, their sponsor must have notified the Home Office that the applicant has completed their studies to the required standard. The Graduate Visa is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. If the applicant has a PhD or other doctoral qualification, the validity period will increase to 3 years. The visa will start from the day the application is approved. It is not possible   to extend the Graduate Visa.

Qualification Requirement

Under the qualification requirement for a Graduate Visa, the applicant must have completed a programme of study in the UK in which they have obtained or will obtain an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or one of a range of professional qualifications above degree level. These qualifications include an approved law conversion course, the Legal Practice Course for solicitors, the Bar Practice Course for barristers, a foundation programme in Medicine or Dentistry, a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Education and any other professional course that qualifies  a person for a job regulated by UK law or a UK public authority.

This requirement means that an applicant will potentially qualify for a Graduate Visa if they have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor's or Master's degree, a PhD or other doctoral qualification, or  any of the prescribed professional qualifications.

Study in the United Kingdom Requirement

Under the study in the UK requirement for the Graduate Visa, the applicant must have held the authorisation granted to study the relevant qualification in the UK for the  minimum duration. Except for permitted study abroad programmes, this means that where the course duration is 12 months or less, the applicant must have studied in the UK for the full duration of that course. If    the duration of the course is more than 12 months, the applicant must have studied on that   course in the UK for at least 12 months.