Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Working after your studies

On current student visa

Graduate Route visa

Skilled Worker visa

Start-up route

If your visa was for a full-time programme of study and your visa type permitted work during term-time, after you have successfully completed your course you can work full-time until your visa expires. Please note the following:

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students - you can find the end date of your programme of study on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you were issued with to apply for your current Student visa. You cannot work full-time until after the end date of your programme as stated on your CAS or if you have any outstanding study activities e.g. a referral or repeat. You can find more information about the term dates and vacation dates for your programme level on our attendance webpage .
Postgraduate research students - the end of your course is your award date. Your Faculty Graduate School Office will confirm your award date after you have submitted your final corrected thesis and this has been approved by the examiners. If you need to extend your Student visa to complete your studies, you are still subject to the limit on the amount of hours you can work during term dates until you have been awarded.

Please note that during the period after you have successfully completed your programme of study, the same restrictions on the type of work that is permitted still applies. Types of work that are not permitted include: self-employment/business activity; work as a professional sportsperson including as a sports coach; work as an entertainer; and taking work as a doctor or dentist in training.

If we remove sponsorship on your visa because you have withdrawn or suspended from your course or because you have exited with a lower award then you are not permitted to undertake any work after the date that we remove sponsorship of your visa, unless you successfully complete the lower level degree at either Bachelor’s level or postgraduate level as part of an integrated programme for which your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on working after studies

The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

The Graduate (Post Study Work) route provides an opportunity for students who have a Tier 4 or Student visa and have been awarded their degree to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, at any skill level for a period following their studies.

Further information for students looking to apply to the Graduate Route, including eligibility, how to apply, accessing your immigration status (eVisa) and conditions of the route can be found in the Home Office guidance: The Graduate route: information for international students

There is also the UKVI webpage Graduate visa

Please note the following main points you should be aware of:

Students who have successfully completed their current course and been awarded (received their final result) are eligible to apply
Students must apply before their current Tier 4 or Student visa expires. If you will not be awarded before your current Tier 4 or Student visa expires, you may not be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route - please contact us to seek further advice about this
The Graduate Route will be a new visa application and students will have to pay the visa application fee and the full Immigration Health Surcharge for the whole period (for each year of the visa)
The Graduate Route visa cannot be extended and can only be applied for once
The Graduate Route visa is not a route to settlement though those who meet eligibility requirements may be able to apply to remain in the UK on other work routes
Subject to Police Registration (if applicable)
No access to public funds

The Visa & Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS Team) are required to notify the Home Office (UKVI) of students who have successfully completed their course before they can apply for the Graduate Route visa. The VISAS Team aim to email students who have been awarded an eligible qualification (to their University email address) following notification to UKVI within 10 working days. Please wait for that notification before you apply for the Graduate Route visa.

Students who have not received an email regarding notification, 10 working days after the award date and were expecting to, should contact the VISAS team for further advice.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route:

Students must be in the UK on a Tier 4 or Student visa with valid permission to remain in the UK and
Have completed an eligible course: UK Bachelor's degree or UK postgraduate degree (Master's degree or Doctorate level) or other relevant qualification (includes PGCE)
Courses of 12 months or less (typically 1 year Master's degrees) - all study must have been completed in the UK
Courses longer than 12 months in duration (undergraduate and doctorate level programmes) - at least 12 months of study must have been completed in the UK

Concessions due to COVID-19:

Where distance learning took place overseas between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022, this will not prevent the applicant meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK if either:
(a) you began a course of 12 months or less prior to 21 June 2021 and entered the UK on or before 27 September 2021 with permission as a Student; or
(b) you began a course of 12 months or less between 21 June 2021 and 30 June 2022 and entered the UK on or before 30 June 2022 with permission as a Student.

Any period of distance learning between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 as part of a course of study lasting longer than 12 months whilst you held permission as a Student, will not prevent you from meeting the study in the UK requirement.

How long can I stay in the UK on the Graduate Route?

Students completing an Undergraduate or Master's degree in the UK will be permitted to work full-time in the UK on the Graduate Route for 2 years.
Students completing Doctorates (PhD) in the UK will be permitted to work full-time in the UK on the Graduate Route for 3 years.

When can I apply?

You can apply after you have been awarded your degree but only after the University has confirmed this to UKVI.

What documents do I need to be able to apply?

You will need your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number for your current course at Southampton (the course you will be graduating). You will not need to evidence funds. However, if you were a financially sponsored student, you will need permission from your financial sponsor to remain in the UK on the Graduate Route.

What work can I do on the Graduate Route?

There are very few work restrictions, you cannot work as a professional sportsperson including work as a coach. All other work including self-employment is permitted.

Please note that after you apply for the Graduate Route and whilst you are waiting for the outcome of your application, you are restricted to the work conditions of your Tier 4/Student visa.

Can I study on the Graduate Route?

You cannot study on a course that you would normally study on a Student visa. However, you are permitted to switch back to a Student visa to undertake another course in the UK. You cannot apply for another Graduate Route visa after further study.

Can my dependants apply with me?

Only if they are already in the UK as your dependant on your Tier 4 or Student visa.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on working after studies

The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

Note: the Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa on 1 December 2020.

The University of Southampton Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS Team) cannot offer advice about applying for work visas.

For information and guidance on switching into the Skilled Worker visa from a Student visa, please refer to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) online guidance. The links to both UKVI and UKCISA can be found below.

Contact us

You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas

UKCISA

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)- further information on working after studies

The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

The Start-up route is a sponsored route aimed at students/graduates who wish to establish a business in the UK. The University of Southampton is a Home Office approved endorsing body.

For further information, including how to apply for visa sponsorship under this route, please refer to the Careers and Employability Service website .

The University of Southampton VISAS Team

Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.

Privacy Settings