Our International Work with Employers

Our Careers in China series highlights opportunities for students across mainland China and Hong Kong SAR, drawing on our broad in-country employer connections to deliver virtual presentations, panels, round tables and an annual virtual careers fair.

We run much of this activity alongside key institutional partners who share our passion to support our Chinese nationals in their employment search, so you'll benefit from attendance across a number of leading global institutions - King's, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, The London School of Economics & Political Science and UCL.

Our independent Focus on China Virtual Fair, held each March, is the opportunity to engage directly with King's students and promote live opportunities and your organisation. Attracting employers across the country, over 50% of our Chinese student population have registered to attend the event in the last few years.

You can explore further details on both the event series and fair on our detailed webpages.

Explore Careers in China Events / Focus on China Virtual Fair

King's is proud to welcome one of the largest contingents of US nationals to study in the UK, with over 1,000 students studying programmes across our faculties.

We know many of these individuals come to study specialist programmes, before returning to the USA to continue their career journey, so we work closely with key sectors to promote opportunities and avenues in industries including public policy, government, multilateral organisations, NGOs, finance and technology.

If you're interested in engaging our American nationals we run a series of webinars across the year, and an annual virtual Networking Night. You can also meet our team at the NACE Conference & Expo which we endeavour to attend annually to build our connections.

Get in touch with our North American Employer Lead

This video, provided by the British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA) provides some ideas on why you might consider hiring international students into your organisation.

King's is located at the heart of London - one of the world's global cities and  within easy reach of major airports and international rail services - we encourage you to visit us if you are flying through or on business. 

However, we know it's not always possible to be physically present so offer a range of opportunities to engage with us wherever you are located:

• Register on King's CareerConnect to host an organisation profile, advertise opportunities for free and send targeted emails or use our social media packages.

• Utilise your local UK network to inform them of your local hiring needs and we can work with colleagues to conduct recruitment activities in London or on campus.

• We offer a range of virtual services including the ability to host presentations and workshops over Microsoft Teams or using your own platforms.

• Participate in our panel events, host virtual workshops or recruit our students for virtual projects.

Our team are constantly exploring options to engage in key markets including through international careers fairs and visits, so get in touch if you have any ideas which may work within your region.

Organisations have a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees have the right to work in the UK.

Whilst you may think it's ok to state you will only accept applications from UK nationals, this is both illegal and risks unlawful racial discrimination. Even where you cannot provide sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, our graduates will have the ability to work via the Graduate Route if they pursue this independently.

A candidate's eligibility to work should only be sought and verified in the latter stages of the recruitment process (Section 16.67, Statutory Code of Practice).

All full-time international students studying on a Student visa are permitted to work in the UK alongside their studies.

*or EU/EEA citizens with right to remain in the UK

The sponsorship process can be relatively straight-forward and often much easier than imagined, however it's important to be aware of the latest legislation which may affect your organisation's ability to recruit.

• Students on a Student visa can switch to a Skilled Worker visa having completed their studies based on the course end date on their CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Study), and in such circumstances they can be issued with an unrestricted certificate of sponsorship (CoS).

• Students are usually granted a four month period which they are permitted to stay in the UK following completion of the programme. N.B. changes in July 2023 confirm that students cannot begin working full-time for an employer under the Skilled Worker Route until after the official end date of their programme. Updated guidance from UKCISA is available. We ask employers to consider flexibility around programme start dates in line with course end dates at universities to ensure you are accessing the breadth and depth of talent available to your organisation.

If you recruit an international student at the end of their course, while they are still in the UK with a valid Student visa:

• you can issue an unrestricted Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

• the candidate automatically meets the English language requirement

*or EU/EEA citizens with right to remain in the UK

The International Student Employment Group (ISEG), a collaboration between various professional and membership bodies has also put together a useful guide to recruiting international students (pdf) in the UK market which may be of use to your organisation.

The below video may also help dispell some myths around the complexities of recruiting international students:

Please also review the information from the UK Home Office for information on the latest legislation and advice on sponsorship licences and visa restrictions.