Visa requirements you need to meet
To be able to apply for a Graduate visa you must:
- have valid Student visa permission, and
- make an in-time visa application from inside the UK before your Student visa expiry date
You will not be able to be granted as a Graduate under the Graduate route visa if have already been granted on this route, as a Graduate previously. Furthermore, if you have been granted previously under the old Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) visa route, you will also not be able to be granted on the Graduate route.
If you have previously been granted permission on the old Tier 1 (Post-study work) route, International Graduate Scheme (IGS) or the Future Talent Working in Scotland Scheme, this would have no implications.
We recommend that you check that your contact information and the details of your Tier 4/Student visa in your EUCLID student record are up to date.
If your current Tier 4/Student visa expires before your award is confirmed, you will need to extend your Student visa before you can apply for the Graduate route. You can only extend your Student visa in specific circumstances and if you have not yet completed your studies.
It is important that you contact us and seek advice about your options as soon as possible.
Qualification you need to have successfully completed
You must have been awarded one of the following:
- a UK bachelor’s degree (an honours or ordinary degree)
- a UK masters degree (including integrated masters degrees)
- a PhD or doctorate
- a diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)
- a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
- a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
- other professional courses requiring study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above in a profession with reserved activities regulated by UK law or UK public authorities. Professional roles that have reserved activities include medical practitioners, architects, lawyers, teachers, and nurses.
You need to have successfully completed the programme while you were in the UK on your most recent Tier 4/Student visa. You cannot use a qualification completed before starting your most recent degree programme.
If you finished your studies with a non-degree qualification (for example, a postgraduate diploma that is not a masters degree), you are not able to apply for a Graduate visa.
Visiting students:
If you have studied at the University as a visiting student and your qualification has been or will be awarded by an overseas institution, then you cannot apply for the Graduate route.
Study time you need to spend in the UK
To qualify for the Graduate route you must:
- spend a minimum amount of time physically present in the UK during your studies
- hold a valid Tier 4/Student visa for the duration of the qualifying period in the UK
Permitted study abroad as part of your course does not impact your eligibility.
The minimum time you must spend in the UK depends on the length of your programme:
- If your programme is longer than 12 months, you must spend at least 12 months studying in the UK.
- If your programme is 12 months or less, you must spend the full duration of the programme studying in the UK.
The University’s semester dates
Any period of distance learning between 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021, or remote study outside the UK up to 30 June 2022, will not prevent you from meeting the study in the UK requirement as long as:
- the distance learning or remote study was part of a programme of more than 12 months
- you held a valid Tier4/Student visa during that time
Documents you need to provide
You will need to provide evidence of:
- your current passport
- your Tier 4/Student visa permission (for example, an eVisa, a BRP or a vignette in your passport)
You do not need to meet financial requirements for a Graduate visa.
Consent letter only required for certain types of financial scholarships
You must provide a letter of consent from your financial scholarship provider - if all the following criteria apply:
- completed your programme of study in the 12 months before you apply for a Graduate visa
- your financial scholarship or sponsorship was provided by a 'Government' or 'International Scholarship Agency' only (for example, a Chevening or Marshall scholarship).
- your financial scholarship or sponsorship covered both, 'tuition fees and living costs'
Check if a Graduate visa meets your needs
If you are granted a Graduate visa, you are allowed to:
- live and work in the UK
- travel overseas (this means, you can leave and return to the UK during the duration of your Graduate visa)
- study short or recreational courses
Find out what kind of work you can accept
With Graduate visa permission, you cannot:
- study a programme that would meet the requirements of the Student visa route
- apply for an Innovator Founder visa if you start a business while you are on a Graduate visa
- access public funds
Read the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) guidance on public funds
Next step
Go to Step 2: Student Immigration Service reports your completed award