By Eka Vankova, Career Consultant at EP Advisory
Hundreds of thousands of international students come to UK universities each year. A 2021 HEPI survey found that 71% plan to stay in the UK to work after graduating, at least for a while. Staying for the long term usually means finding a job that qualifies for a work visa.
The UK Home Office offers international students several routes for settling in the UK. But most require finding eligible employment within the UK. In this article, we cover the main visa options such as Graduate Route, Skilled Worker, Youth Mobility Scheme (including India Young Professionals Scheme), Global Talent and a few others, as well as the key steps to landing a job in the UK.👇🏻
So, how to stay in the UK after graduation? Getting a long-term work visa in the UK is a big challenge for graduating international students since the UK has a highly competitive job market and only relatively high-paying jobs in desirable industries qualify for most visas. Read on as we review the main visa options for international students graduating from UK universities. We will also provide advice on finding an eligible job offer in the United Kingdom when you have finished your course.
How many students come to the UK annually and stay in the country?
According to Home Office statistics, the UK granted 383,455 sponsored study visas (including dependants) in the year to June 2026. That is 11% fewer than a year earlier and 41% below the peak in the year to June 2023.
China and India send the most students. In the year to June 2026, Chinese nationals received 86,368 study visas as main applicants (24%) and Indian nationals 82,523 (23%). Nigeria was third with 26,060 (7%).
In the same year, the Home Office granted 157,356 Graduate visas to people finishing their studies, 39% fewer than a year earlier. The top nationalities were India (64,495), Pakistan (22,383) and Nigeria (20,604).
Do you want to study in the UK? Scholarships for students
Are you looking for options for studying in the UK? Watch this video from Absolutely Ashika on the 10 best UK graduate courses for international students considering settling in the UK.
If you are looking for financial aid to assist you during your studies in the UK, watch this video on new scholarships available for international students wishing to study in the UK. Also, watch this video on the UK universities with the lowest fees for international students.
When I worked in Frankfurt, I had the opportunity to attend numerous career and educational exhibitions. It was at one such event that I had a fateful encounter with a representative from Lancaster University in England. They expressed confidence in my experience and suggested I could be eligible for a scholarship. Although I had previously considered education in the UK to be unattainable due to financial constraints, I decided to apply anyway. To my surprise, I was accepted with full tuition fee coverage! It was an amazing combination of circumstances and connections.Katerina Shevljuga 🇬🇧Lecturer, PhD graduate and former employee of consulting companies
Visas to stay in the UK after studying. What options do you have?
If you are thinking about staying in the UK after studying, you may have a number of UK visa options open to you depending on your personal circumstances; for example, if you have family in this country or British ancestry. Below are the main visa options for international students graduating from UK universities. Only some of them lead to permanent residency: the Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Global Talent and Innovator Founder visas. The Graduate, Temporary Work, Youth Mobility and HPI visas do not, but you can switch from them to a route that does.
Graduate Visa – 18 months to 3 years
UK Graduate Route is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other relevant graduate programme in the UK and wish to extend their stay beyond the end of their Student Visa. It’s a great option if you are thinking about staying in the UK after studying.
The visa is granted for two years if you apply by 31 December 2026, or 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. After a PhD or other doctoral qualification it is three years. It is not renewable, but the expectation is that graduates use this opportunity to find work and qualify for a visa via employment.
To apply, you must be in the UK on a valid Student visa, and your education provider must have told the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course. You do not need to wait for your graduation ceremony.
Your application should be processed within eight weeks of submission to the Home Office. There is a £937 application fee, and a health surcharge of £1,035 per year, which you pay when you apply.
On this visa, you can look for work, work in most jobs, or start your own business. Your partner and children can stay with you only if they are already in the UK as your dependants on your Student visa (children born in the UK during your stay can also apply). A separate fee is paid for each applicant.
The UK immigration system is known for its complexity and bureaucratic procedures. However, the detailed requirements are what contribute to its fairness: unlike many countries around the world, the UK immigration system is impartial and not susceptible to corruption. If you are admitted to a UK university and comply with the regulations, you can obtain a study visa without any additional hidden requirements. If you plan to work in the UK legally, get a job offer and collect all documents for a UK long-term work visa, you will have no difficulties obtaining a permanent residency.Career coach @ EP Advisory | Legal career in the UK
Skilled Worker Visa – The Length of Contract
Anyone with an acceptable offer of employment from a licensed UK sponsor can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) visa on 1 December 2020. The Resident Labour Market Test, which employers used to go through before hiring international candidates, was abolished on the same date. The job must be at degree level (RQF 6) for new applications made from 22 July 2025.
Qualifying job offers must usually pay at least £41,700 per year, or the “going rate” for the job if that is higher. Recent graduates can qualify as new entrants at a lower rate of £33,400 (or 70% of the going rate), for up to 4 years including time on the Graduate visa. Your employer must also be approved to sponsor international workers and give you a certificate of sponsorship to submit with your application.
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You can apply within three months of the start date listed on your sponsorship letter. Applications submitted from overseas are processed within three weeks, and if submitted in the UK within eight weeks. The length of your visa depends on the length of the contract that you are being offered.
Unlike my experience with KPMG in Germany, where I got the job after just two interviews, I had to apply for 300 positions in England to find a job after my studies. The application process varied across different companies, ranging from psychometric tests to case studies. However, my selection process at Bloomberg was much simpler, with only five interviews, including two phone calls to test my German language skills. I eventually secured a job in the emerging markets team for Russian speakers and received an offer in advance in March 2017, although I only started working in October.Katerina Shevljuga 🇬🇧Lecturer, PhD graduate and former employee of consulting companies
The application fee varies depending on where you are applying from, for how long the visa is being granted, and whether the job is on the Immigration Salary List. In all cases, you must pay the application fee per person if you want to be accompanied by a spouse or dependent, and the £1,035 health surcharge usually applies per person per year. To qualify, you must also show that you have £1,270 of available funds in your bank account to support your first month in the UK.
| Application Type | Up to 3 years | More than 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the UK | £819 | £1,618 |
| Inside the UK | £943 | £1,865 |
| Immigration salary list (ex-Shortage Occupation List) | £628 | £1,235 |
Your visa is tied to your sponsor. If you leave your job, your permission can be cut short. If you wish to change jobs, you will need a new certificate of sponsorship from the new employer and a new visa application.
Scale-Up Worker Visa – 24+ months
The Scale-up Worker Visa lets fast-growing companies recruit talent from abroad. You need a job offer from an approved scale-up employer for at least six months, paying at least £39,100 a year or the going rate. The visa lasts two years and can be extended. There is a £937 application fee and you are required to pay the healthcare surcharge.
Temporary Work Visa – up to 12 or 24 months
If you do not qualify for the Graduate Visa or a Skilled Worker permit after studying, you may be able to apply for a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa (formerly Tier 5). You will need a certificate of sponsorship from an approved exchange scheme, such as an internship or work experience scheme.
You can expect a response within three weeks if you are applying from outside the UK and eight weeks if you are applying from within the country. There is a £340 application fee, plus the health surcharge. You can bring your spouse and dependent children with you.
When you are in the UK, as well as completing the job described in your sponsorship letter, you can work for up to 20 hours a week in the same sector as your main job, or in a job on the Immigration Salary List.
Innovator Founder Visa – 3 Years
If your dream is to start your own innovative business and you would like to do it in the UK after studying, then the Innovator Founder Visa is an excellent route because it allows you to pursue gainful employment as long as you are growing your business.
To qualify for the visa, your business idea must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body as new, innovative and scalable. The endorsement costs £1,000, plus £500 for each check-in later.
You can apply for the visa online, which is granted for three years. You can extend it by three years, and you may be able to settle after three years. You can bring your spouse and dependent children with you, but the application fee and health surcharge must be paid per person.
Another alternative is the Global Talent Visa, which is open to all international talent in the fields of arts and culture, digital technology, or academia and research. The UK is one of the best countries for talent visas worldwide.
| Application Type | Innovator Founder (3 years) | Global Talent Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the UK | £1,357 | £766 |
| Inside the UK | £1,693 | £766 |
Mobility schemes and other visas for young people – up to 2 Years
Citizens of the following countries can apply to live and work in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme even without a job offer if they have £2,530 in savings. The age limit is 18 to 35 for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea, and 18 to 30 for Andorra, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay.
Citizens of Hong Kong (with a SAR passport) and Taiwan, aged 18 to 30, must first win a place in a ballot.
There is a separate ballot for Indian citizens who now have the opportunity to work and live in the UK for up to two years under the Young Professionals Scheme. It is open to Indian citizens aged 18 to 30. You enter the ballot online, and it is free. Successful entries are picked at random. If you are successful, you will need to apply with your documents along with the application fee of £340 and a healthcare surcharge of £1,552 for the two years.
Under these visa schemes, you are allowed to study, work in most jobs, be self-employed or set up your own business (no employees allowed).
High Potential Individual (HPI) visa – 2 years (3 after a PhD)
This visa gives you opportunity to work in most jobs, look for work and be self-employed, and even do voluntary work. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years. The application fee is £880.
Don’t send a bunch of ballot applications 🙂 If you think you’ll increase your chances by applying again and again like buying a lottery ticket, there is a very high likelihood that they will have a system which removes all duplicate passport number entries. You might want to save yourself the trouble and simply apply once.Absolutely Ashika 🇬🇧Blogger and expat from India in the UK
How to stay in the UK after graduation: all you need to know about finding a job
If you want to stay in the UK after graduation, you need to find a job offer in the United Kingdom that will sponsor your continued presence until you are eligible to apply for permanent residence, called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This usually takes around five years. But how can you find a good job in the UK that meets the eligibility requirements?
Below are our top tips for finding a graduate job in the UK. You can find more detailed resources in our career blog.
Choose the right job role (job title)
The first step is to choose a career path that you find interesting, that you are qualified for, and is likely to qualify you for a Skilled Worker Visa. This will allow you to make informed choices about the best courses and opportunities to gain experience and skills.
Choose jobs that you will be uniquely qualified for and are in high demand. IT professionals received more Skilled Worker visas than any other occupation in the year to June 2026. Since 22 July 2025, most new Skilled Worker jobs must be at degree level (RQF 6), so check the occupation code and its going rate before you apply.
Start your job search early
The UK job market is highly competitive, so it is a mistake to wait until you graduate to start looking. One estimate by StandOut CV puts the average job search in the UK at about four months, and this can be longer when applying for competitive graduate jobs.
You should start looking earlier than you expect, in the second or third year of a three-year Bachelor’s degree or at the start of your Masters course. Even if you aren’t prepared to take on a job at this time, you will be very familiar with the job market and what employers are looking for when you need to close a job offer.
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Get work experience during your study
About half of young people in England (50.9%) go into higher education by the age of 25. This means that just having a degree is not enough to stand out from the crowd and get the best job offers. What employees value in addition to a graduate degree is experience. Gaining work experience while you study will help you stand out from the pack.
Pursue summer internships, take on seasonal and remote work, and look for part-time opportunities that relate to or complement your field. Remember that your Student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during term time if you study at degree level (bachelor’s or master’s), or 10 hours below degree level. You can work full time outside term time.
Build your network
Networking is essential for career development. People gravitate towards people they know and trust, and even an informal recommendation from a mutual acquaintance can be a powerful factor when it comes to securing a job.
Build Your Network In-Person
Meeting people face-to-face in casual working environments, such as at conferences, can be a great way to make first contact, especially with higher-ups. Keep your eyes open for conferences and events relevant to your field. Many conferences and universities offer bursaries to support your attendance.
Have your “elevator pitch” ready so that you can quickly communicate to people what you are about. But also remember that the best way to get to know someone is to be curious; ask questions. A follow up email that includes a question that obliges a response is a great way to build the relationship.
Build Your Network Online
Online networking has never been more important, and yes, employers research applicants online before interviewing. You don’t need an elaborate personal website to have a strong professional presence online. A LinkedIn page that is up-to-date and well-connected within the relevant professional feed can do the job.
Don’t forget to “clean up” your online presence elsewhere. We have all heard the stories of careless Tweets from years ago losing someone important opportunities. Delete old accounts that don’t reflect who you are professionally and ensure you have tight security settings on your social media accounts.
Avoid classic application errors
Your resume and application letter are what get you past the first gate when applying for a job. Avoid common errors to make it past this first round.
- Keep your application short! Your CV and cover letter should each be a maximum of two pages.
- Personalise your CV and cover letter. Tailor your application to cover the requirements listed in the job description. This works well for humans scanning applications, and AI is increasingly used for first-round assessments.
- Proofread carefully. When dealing with mountains of applications, recruiters are often looking for reasons to reject. Spelling and formatting errors can be that reason.
You don’t need an elaborately designed CV to stand out from the pack. Read the job description carefully, demonstrate why you are fit for the job succinctly, and avoid silly errors.
Prepare for interviews (a lot!)
If you are shortlisted for a job, the interview is your most important opportunity to demonstrate why you are the right person for the job.
- Dress, talk, and behave as you would in the office. Interviewers are also assessing how well you will fit into the company culture and team.
- Research the company and interviewers. Showing a genuine interest in the company will improve your chances.
- Practice answers to common questions such as “why do you want this job”, “what is your greatest weakness”, and “where do you see yourself in five years”.
- Prepare for tough questions, such as about any gaps in your application or experience.
- Frame answers in terms of your impact. Try the STAR method of addressing situations, task, action, and result.
- Prepare intelligent questions for the end of the interview to show your interest and thoughtfulness.
You can do well at an interview and still not get the job if someone more qualified is also interviewed. If you don’t get the job, ask for interview feedback. This can help you build a relationship with the company for future opportunities, and alert you to any mistakes you are making at the interview.
