Graduate Visa

The Graduate Route visa allows international students who have successfully completed a UK degree to remain in the country for work purposes without requiring employer sponsorship.

3-year visa for PhD or other doctoral degree holders
2-year visa for those who have completed a Bachelor's or Master’s degree (including Masters by Research)
On 12 May 2025, the Home Office announced plans to reduce the 2-year route to 18 months; however, the change has not yet come into effect, as it remains a proposal and is not yet law. We will update this webpage if any changes are formally confirmed through a Statement of Changes.

Graduates can take up most forms of employment - paid, unpaid, self-employment, or running a business. However, working as a professional sportsperson and accessing most public funds (benefits) is not permitted.

Eligibility

You can apply if:

You’ve completed a UK undergraduate, Master’s, or doctoral degree (including top-up degrees).
You're currently in the UK on a valid Student visa.
You’ve studied in the UK for at least 12 months or the full duration of a course shorter than 12 months (i.e. Top-up degree).
The University has confirmed your course completion to the UKVI.
If your course was sponsored by a government or scholarship agency in the last 12 months, you must provide their written consent.

If you finish your course early, the University is required to report your new end date to the UKVI who will shorten your visa and give you 4 months to apply for the Graduate visa, extend your stay under another route, or leave the UK. Do not leave the UK if you complete your course early, or you risk losing your eligibility.

Cost of application

Visa application fee: £822
Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year

Total cost (per applicant):

2-year visa: £2,892
3-year visa (PhD): £3,927

Dependants pay the same fees. All applications must be submitted from within the UK.

For more detail, see the UKVI’s Gov.uk website.

Application process

Wait for confirmation email from the University that your course completion has been reported to UKVI.
Apply online via the UK Government website.
You do not need a new CAS but must provide the CAS number on which you completed your course. Your CAS number will be included in the course completion email from the University.
Biometric data will be reused; you won’t need to attend a new appointment.

Graduate Visa Information Sessions

Join a member of the Immigration team to learn about the Graduate visa, including eligibility requirements and advice on the best time to apply. Sessions are available both online and in person.

Register for an upcoming session

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Resits or delays to your course completion

Plan to finish your course within your original Student visa period, as resits or repeats may affect Graduate Route eligibility. PhD students should submit their thesis well before their course end date to allow time for viva and corrections.

In some cases, the University might issue another CAS to extend your student visa before you apply for the Graduate Route, but this will depend on your academic circumstances.

For questions or advice, join an online drop-in session with the Immigration team.

Completing your course earlier than expected

If you finish your course early, the University will notify the Home Office of your new end date. You’ll receive an email confirming this. The Home Office will then shorten your visa, giving you 4 months from the new end date to apply for the Graduate visa, extend your Student visa, or leave the UK.

If you plan to travel abroad, wait until your Graduate visa is granted. Leaving the UK before this may cause your Student visa to end immediately, preventing your return and losing your chance to apply for the Graduate visa, which must be done from within the UK while your Student visa is valid.

What happens if my student visa is expiring and I apply for a Fee Waiver?

Do not apply for a fee waiver. A fee waiver is used when you want to apply for a visa but cannot afford to pay the application fees. Fee waivers are only granted in exceptional human rights cases and not for staying in the UK to await results. Applying for a fee waiver without meeting the strict criteria may be considered deceptive and could affect future visa applications.

International students are expected to be self-funded. If you claim a fee waiver but later pay the fees for your Graduate Visa application, the UKVI may refuse your application for deception. If your fee waiver is refused and you have no valid visa, the University will suspend your studies until you leave the UK or provide proof of valid immigration status.

Can “Top Up” students apply?

Yes, if the course was less than 12 months and you studied the entire period in the UK.

Can I apply if I finished a course on another visa (e.g. Dependant)?

No, to be eligible you must have held a Student (or Tier 4) visa and studied in the UK for at least 12 months before completing your degree.

I previously held a Doctorate Extension Scheme visa – can I apply?

No. You cannot apply for the Graduate Route if you have previously held a DES visa.

What if I was on an older post-study work visa?

You can apply for the Graduate Route even if you previously held a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work), IGS, or Fresh Talent Working in Scotland visa.

Do dependants qualify?

Only existing dependants (e.g. spouse/partner or children already on your Student visa) can apply with you. New dependants cannot be added under this route, except new-borns born in the UK.

Can I study on a Graduate Visa?

Only short courses (e.g. English, recreational, or online courses) are permitted. Graduate visa holders cannot study full-time courses that require a Student visa.

What if I finish my course without a work placement?

If this was an optional placement, you’re still eligible if you completed your course without doing placement.

Can the Graduate Visa lead to settlement in the UK?

No, it does not count towards settlement. However, you may switch into other routes (e.g. Skilled Worker) which do lead to settlement.