Working in the UK after your studies
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Many students choose to stay in the UK after their studies to work, sometimes to gain experience and sometimes with a view to staying here for a longer period. If you are a national of an EU country (excluding Bulgaria and Romania) you are able to work freely in the UK (though A8 Nationals are required to register – see Working During Your Studies for further information.) If you are an overseas student there are various ways you may be able to stay in the UK to work, but this depends on many factors including what sort of leave you have (eg whether you have been in the UK with a student visa), what qualifications you have, and what you want to do next in the UK and for how long.
There are many special categories which allow migrants to come to the UK to work, but these are usually restricted to certain types of work or are for very short periods of time. If you think you would like to stay in the UK under a category that does not fall under Tiers 1 or 2 of the Points Based System, contact a Student Adviser for further assistance.
Before you make an application to extend or change your leave to remain from within the UK, you should check that you are eligible to switch your visa status. Sometimes, the rules may mean that you need to go home in order to make an application to return to the UK in order to work. If you submit an application from within the UK but you are not eligible to switch status, your application will be automatically refused.
There are many special categories which allow migrants to come to the UK to work, but these are usually restricted to certain types of work or are for very short periods of time. If you think you would like to stay in the UK under a category that does not fall under Tiers 1 or 2 of the Points Based System, contact a Student Adviser for further assistance.
Before you make an application to extend or change your leave to remain from within the UK, you should check that you are eligible to switch your visa status. Sometimes, the rules may mean that you need to go home in order to make an application to return to the UK in order to work. If you submit an application from within the UK but you are not eligible to switch status, your application will be automatically refused.
Tier 1: Post Study Work
The most popular route for staying in the UK after studies is the Post Study Work scheme (under of Tier 1 of the Points Based System), which allows recent graduates to stay in the UK for two years to work.
Some students find they also qualify under Tier 1: General which was formerly known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and allows well-qualified migrants to seek and take work in the UK. For further information on these routes, see the document at the bottom of this page.
Some students find they also qualify under Tier 1: General which was formerly known as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme and allows well-qualified migrants to seek and take work in the UK. For further information on these routes, see the document at the bottom of this page.
Post study work update
Students hoping to apply for a visa under the Post Study Work scheme from within the UK are reminded that they must have maintained a minimum balance of £800 for three months before they are able to apply. This means your balance cannot have dropped below £800 at any point, even for 1 day, during this period, or your application will be refused. Funds should be in your own account. For further details on the scheme and the documents required please refer to the UK Border Agency.
You can apply for Post Study Work from your home country, but if you do this you will need to show you have a minimum of £2,800 in your account for a period of 3 months.
We will be running presentations on Post Study Work, including details of eligibility and how to apply, in early November. These will be on:
No need to book, just turn up!
You can apply for Post Study Work from your home country, but if you do this you will need to show you have a minimum of £2,800 in your account for a period of 3 months.
We will be running presentations on Post Study Work, including details of eligibility and how to apply, in early November. These will be on:
- Tuesday 3 November – Room 1.62, Franklin Wilkins Building, 17.30
- Wednesday 4 November – K2.31, Strand, 14.30
No need to book, just turn up!
Tier 2: Skilled workers
Students wishing to stay in the UK after their studies often ask about obtaining a “Work Permit”. Recently, what used to be known as a Work Permit was replaced by Tier 2: Skilled Workers, part of the new Points Based System.
Tier 2 visas allow you to stay in the UK in order to undertake a particular job. If you wish to change jobs once you are here, lose your job, significantly change the hours you work or the work that you do, then your Tier 2 visa will no longer be valid.
Tier 2 visas can be difficult to obtain as both the applicant and the employer need to meet strict criteria in order for the visa to be granted. For example, the job has to be paid above a certain level and needs to have been advertised for a certain period of time.
Employers also need to hold a special licence from the UK Border Agency allowing them to sponsor overseas migrants and usually need to show that they have met the resident labour market test (certain shortage occupations are exempt from this). Consequently, employers are sometimes unable or reluctant to apply under this Tier.
Tier 2 visas allow you to stay in the UK in order to undertake a particular job. If you wish to change jobs once you are here, lose your job, significantly change the hours you work or the work that you do, then your Tier 2 visa will no longer be valid.
Tier 2 visas can be difficult to obtain as both the applicant and the employer need to meet strict criteria in order for the visa to be granted. For example, the job has to be paid above a certain level and needs to have been advertised for a certain period of time.
Employers also need to hold a special licence from the UK Border Agency allowing them to sponsor overseas migrants and usually need to show that they have met the resident labour market test (certain shortage occupations are exempt from this). Consequently, employers are sometimes unable or reluctant to apply under this Tier.
Attached files
›
Working in the UK After your Studies
(pdf,
113 KB)
› UKCISA Guidance - Tier 1 (Post Study Work) Applications (doc, 116 KB)
› UKCISA Guidance - Tier 1 (Post Study Work) Applications (doc, 116 KB)