How long is the Graduate Route visa for?

The Graduate Route visa will allow you to stay in the UK for 3 years if you have a PhD (or other Doctoral qualification), or 2 years for all other relevant qualifications. 

How long do I need to have studied to be eligible?

• If your course is 12 months or less: you must have been in the UK with your Tier 4 or Student route permission for the full duration of the course.

• If your course is longer than 12 months: you must have been studying in the UK for at least 12 months with your Tier 4 or Student route permission.

How much does it cost?

Refer to Graduate visa: Overview on the UK Goverment website (www.gov.uk) for the current visa application fee.

You will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge when you submit your visa application.

Do I need to evidence that I have funds for the financial requirement (living costs)?

You do not need to prove you have money to support yourself, but it is sensible to ensure that you have enough funds to live on especially if you are seeking work as you cannot access public funds.

Please note that if in the 12 months before you apply for the Graduate route you were awarded a scholarship or sponsorship by a government, or international scholarship agency, to cover your course fees and financial requirement (living costs) then you must provide written consent with your visa application from the financial sponsor to stay in the UK.

Where and when to apply?

You can only apply from within the UK, and you must have current valid Tier 4 or Student route immigration permission.

You apply online through Graduate visa: Apply on the UK Goverment website (www.gov.uk)

You can only apply for a Graduate visa before your current Tier 4/Student route visa expires and only if the University has reported to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you have successfully completed your course. 

• Undergraduate/Postgraduate taught students: a report to UKVI will be made after you have received official confirmation of your award.  For undergraduate students, and some postgraduate taught students, you will be notified of your eligible award by email from the middle of July.  For those who have resits over the summer, or for postgraduate students who are completing their dissertations over the summer, you will be notified of your eligible award from the middle of September  

• Postgraduate research students: a report to UKVI will only be sent once you have successfully completed your qualification.  In this context, ‘completed’ is the date that the graduate school enters your award onto the student records system, and this will only take place after the conditions of the award have been met – see the Code of Practice, section 11 ‘Conditions of award’.   

The university’s report to UKVI will confirm that: (a) you have successfully completed your course; (b) you have met the qualification requirement; and (c) met the requirement for studying within the UK.  You will need your previous CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) statement reference number to make a Graduate route application. 

The University will confirm to you by email when we have sent a report to UKVI to confirm that you have successfully completed your course.  If you submit a Graduate route visa application before you receive this email, then your visa application could be refused. 

You can apply to the Graduate route scheme even if you do not attend your graduation ceremony. 

Please note that you cannot travel outside the UK when you have made your Graduate route application and can only do this once you obtain your decision.

Do I need a sponsor to apply?

Your application to the Graduate route does not require any sponsorship, or support of an employer or institution.

Can I study when on the Graduate route?

You cannot study a course when on the Graduate route if this could be done with a Student route visa.

Can I extend my Graduate visa?

You cannot extend your Graduate visa and would need to seek another type of immigration permission to remain in the UK.

Can I bring dependants?

You can only have dependants if they are already in the UK with you as a Tier 4/Student route dependant.  You cannot bring dependants to join you once you have been granted a Graduate Route visa.

Where can I find more information on the Graduate route?

More information on the scheme can be found in Graduate visa: Overview on the UK Government website (www.gov.uk) and Graduate caseworker guidance (www.gov.uk).

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website provides a useful overview and also includes an online seminar on the topic: UKCISA International student advice and guidance: Graduate route