The Graduate route will be launched in summer 2021 to provide international students with the opportunity to stay in the UK to work or look for work after they graduate. Undergraduate and master’s degree students will be able to stay for two years under the route, whilst PhD students will be able to stay for three years. Graduates will be able to switch into other routes in line with the wider approach to switching when applying for leave inside the UK. This will include the ability to switch into work routes if they are able to meet the requirements. The Graduate route will also increase the attractiveness of the UK’s offer to international students, ensuring we remain internationally competitive and assist in our ambition to increase the number of international students in higher education as set out in the International Education Strategy published in March 2019.
It will be an unsponsored route. All successful applicants will be granted a one-time non-extendable leave period of two years if graduating at undergraduate or masters level, or three years if graduating with a PhD, on this route and will be able to work or look for work, at any skill level during this period. The route will also be Points-Based, with the full number of points being awarded for the successful completion of a degree from a UK Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance.
The current Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), open to international students who have completed a PhD in the UK and allowing them to remain and work here for 12 months after completing their studies, will be closed at the point the new Graduate Route is introduced. The Graduate route significantly improves on the offer of the DES, providing an additional two years and a more streamlined pathway for those who have completed their PhD than the current route.
Who can apply?
The Graduate route will be open to international students, who have valid leave as a Tier 4 (General) Student or as a student at the time of application and who have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a UK Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance during that grant of leave.
Applicants must have completed the entirety of their degree in the UK except for permitted study abroad programmes or when distance learning has been necessary due to Covid-19.
The route will not have a maintenance requirement and applicants will not need to demonstrate English language ability as they will already have proved English language ability by successfully completing a degree at a UK university. Applicants will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the usual rate for the Points-Based System’s routes. This route will not have recourse to public funds.
Table 10: Graduate route conditions and requirements
| Requirements | Conditions and restrictions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | No | Capped | No |
| Application fee | Yes | Switching – routes (in-country) | Yes |
| Immigration Skills Charge | No | Route to settlement | No |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Yes | Dependants* | See below |
| Biometrics | Yes | Access to funds | No |
| Maintenance | No | Supplementary work | Yes |
Additional
*Graduates whose dependants are already with them in the UK will be allowed to continue sponsoring family members who make an application for further leave at the same time.
Applicants Must
- pay the appropriate fee and full Immigration Health Surcharge;
- have valid and extant leave as a student at the point of application;
- be sponsored by a UK Higher Education Provider (HEP) with a track record of compliance as a student at the time of application;
- have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level (RQF 6) or above, and the course must have been the one for which their latest Confirmation of acceptance for Studies (CAS) was assigned. The sponsoring HEP must confirm the applicant meets this requirement;
- have undertaken all study in the UK (those who complete part of their course overseas as part of a study abroad programme, or have studied part of the course outside of the UK as a result of the disruption caused by Covid-19 will also be permitted to apply);
- not have previously been granted leave under the Graduate route;
- have permission to remain in the UK under the Graduate route from their sponsoring body if they have been studying on a government scholarship;
- meet minimum suitability requirements including passing security, identity and criminality checks;
- obtain Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance where applicable, if intending to undertake the supplementary study.
The supplementary study is allowed, but not at a Student route sponsor.
Separate restrictions will apply regarding what type of employment is permitted. Graduates on this route will continue to be restricted from being employed as a professional sportsperson or as a doctor or dentist in training.
