A 2023 Guide to The UK Graduate Visa
The immigration lawyers at OTS Solicitors are receiving inquiries from international students graduating in 2023 about applying for a graduate visa.
In this guide, our specialist immigration solicitors answer your questions on the UK graduate visa.
Online and London Based Immigration Solicitors
For graduate visa and immigration law advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
Can all international students apply for a graduate visa?
You may be eligible to apply for the graduate visa if you are an international student on a UK student visa who has graduated from a UK-based college or university. You can apply for a graduate visa whether you are from the EU or from a non-EEA country.
You cannot apply for a UK graduate visa if you have graduated from an overseas university or you are studying at a higher education institute that is not in the UK. There are lots of other UK visa options for you. For the best immigration options advice call our friendly experts on 0203 959 9123.
Can you apply for a graduate visa from overseas?
If you have left the UK you cannot apply for a graduate visa from overseas. The application must be made from within the UK. Our immigration solicitors can advise you on your alternate visa options, such as the skilled worker visa. You can apply for this visa and other work visas and family visas from overseas.
Does a degree from any UK university count for the graduate visa or are applications limited to Oxbridge graduates?
The following qualifications from any UK university or higher education institute enable you to apply for a graduate visa:
- A UK bachelor’s degree
- A postgraduate degree
- Another eligible course
Your degree can be in any subject – from law to politics to media studies or any other degree-level subject.
What other courses qualify you to apply for a graduate visa?
For your course to be eligible to allow you to apply for a graduate visa it has to be on a list of approved Home Office courses. The list includes:
- Foundation programmes in medicine or dentistry
- Postgraduate Certificates in Education
- Postgraduate Diplomas in Education
- Law conversion courses approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
- Legal Practice Courses in England and Wales, the Solicitor Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland.
- Bar Practice Courses in England and Wales or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland
Other courses meet the graduate visa eligibility criteria. The course must be:
- At UK bachelor’s degree level or above or
- In a profession with reserved activities regulated by UK law or a UK public authority. For example, an architect, solicitor, teacher, or nursing course
If you are not sure if your course or qualification will enable you to apply for a graduate visa then talk to our immigration solicitors for advice on your immigration options. Call us on 0203 959 9123.
I am a graduate in the UK on a student visa but I got a third-class degree – can I apply for a graduate visa?
It does not matter whether you got a first or a third-class degree, you can apply for a graduate visa. You do need to have graduated to qualify for the visa.
If you are not sure if your degree or qualification will allow you to apply for a graduate visa contact our specialist immigration lawyers.
I graduated from a UK university in 2022. Can I apply for a graduate visa?
To apply for the graduate visa, you must be living in the UK on a student visa. If you have graduated and you are no longer on a student visa you will not be able to apply for a graduate visa. Our immigration solicitors can advise you on your best options if you have overstayed on a student visa or if you are now on another type of visa, such as the family visa or skilled worker visa.
Do you have to complete the study course to be able to apply for a graduate visa?
The immigration rules say the minimum period required to study in the UK is the full duration of your course if the course is for twelve months or less. If your course is over twelve months in length then the immigration rules say that the minimum UK study period is twelve months to meet the eligibility criteria.
How long can I stay in the UK on a graduate visa?
A graduate visa usually lasts for 2 years. However, the visa lasts up to 3 years if your course was a PhD course or another doctoral qualification.
Can I work while in the UK on a graduate visa?
You can work while you are in the UK on a graduate visa. Unlike the student visa, you are not restricted to part-time employment.
The graduate visa allows you to work in any type of employment. Your employer does not need a Home Office-issued sponsor licence to sponsor your employment. This flexibility means the graduate visa is a great choice for international students who are looking to stay in the UK after graduation but who do not have a job. If you get a job that meets the eligibility criteria for a skilled worker visa you can apply to switch from the graduate visa to the skilled worker visa.
Can you use time spent in the UK on a graduate visa as part of the 5-year indefinite leave to remain residence requirement?
The graduate visa does not lead to UK settlement. The 2 or 3 years spent in the UK on a graduate visa do not count towards the 5-year residence requirement for an indefinite leave to remain application. That’s why if you are offered a job that qualifies you for a skilled worker visa application that may suit you better than a graduate visa as a skilled worker visa does lead to UK settlement.
Graduate visa help
At OTS Solicitors we understand you may have questions about a graduate visa application and need help with your application. As experts in student visas and graduate visa applications, our friendly individual immigration specialists can guide you through the application process.
Online and London Based Immigration Solicitors
For graduate visa and immigration law advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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