What is the Graduate route?

The Graduate route allows international students who have studied in the UK to work or look for work after their studies. Depending on your degree, it will be valid for either two or three years. The work can be in any sector and at any level without meeting any minimum salary requirements or the need for sponsorship.

Requirements for the Graduate route

You can apply for the Graduate route if:

  • You’re in the UK
  • You are currently on the Student route or Tier 4 (General) student route
  • Your education provider has told the Home Office that you’ve successfully completed your course
  • You studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with the Student route or Tier 4 (General) student route

To apply, you usually need to have one of the following:

  • A UK bachelor’s degree
  • A UK master’s degree
  • A UK PhD or doctorate

You can also apply if you completed any of the following:

  • A law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
  • The Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland
  • The Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland
  • A foundation programme in medicine or dentistry
  • A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • A Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

You may also be able to apply if passing your course made you eligible for a job that’s regulated by UK law or a UK public authority. Your education provider can tell you if your course is eligible.

Ensure you meet all the requirements. Contact an expert adviser now.

Graduate visa

What are the benefits of the Graduate route?

With this route, there is:

1

No sponsorship required from UK businesses

2

Minimal limitations on the kind of work you can do

3

No financial requirements

4

No need to be employed while in the UK

Can your dependants join you on the Graduate route?

You may apply with your current dependants (dependants who accompanied you to the UK on the Student route) but you cannot apply with new dependants. Any children born in the UK to you while you held the Student route will be able to apply as dependants on the Graduate route.

Dependants who did not accompany you to the UK during your Student route will only be able to join you from outside the UK once you switch to a different immigration route.

Get expert guidance. You only pay on a successful application.

Graduate route application details

When to apply

You don’t have to wait until you have graduated before you apply for the Graduate route. Once you have successfully completed your course and received your results, the university will notify the Home Office of this. You will then be able to submit your application. Your university will let you know once they have done this.

You must apply before your Student route expires. This means that your window for applying for the Graduate route is after the university has reported your course completion to the Home Office, but before your current Student route expires.

How much does the Graduate route cost?

Costs associated with the Graduate route application
Application fee£715
Immigration health surcharge* for two years£1,248
Immigration health surcharge for three years£1,872

*The IHS needs to be paid in full for the entire duration of the route. The current IHS fee is £624.

Immigration advisers you can rely on

Exported from Streamline App (https://app.streamlineicons.com)

We have over 25 years of experience in providing immigration and nationality advice

Our consultants are trained professionals who understand the ins and outs of immigration

We treat each case on an individual basis to provide you with advice that caters to your circumstances