Post Study Visa

The new UK graduate route is finally starting from next month. Students who are now studying in the UK will also have the opportunity to work for two years after graduation. With the new system, the graduate or post graduate students can work in the country for two years and students who completed their PhD can stay  up to three years after completing the course.

Fees:

At the end of your course, you have to apply for a new visa. The cost of the application fee is £700 and £624 per year as an immigration surcharge. For example you will have to pay £1948 in order to apply for two years visa and £2572 for three. You can only apply for this visa from the UK. Use this visa fee calculator tool to work out the cost of your visa application

Eligibility:

In order to eligible, you need to complete the course from an educational institution in the UK with a track record of compliance. If you are doing the course online from the home country, you can still apply for the visa. You need to meet all the requirements of the route provided. The UK governments Covid 19 visa concession guidance states:

• Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or 2021 via distance learning, and who have not previously entered the UK to study that course, will be able to make an application if they make a successful student visa application and arrive in the UK either before their visa ends or by 27 September 2021, whichever is sooner.
• Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or 2021 who have existing permission as a Student to study that course, and who have already traveled to the UK during that period of permission, will be able to make an application as long as they are present in the UK before the end date of their permission.
• Students sponsored for a course lasting longer than 12 months will not be prevented from being eligible for the Graduate Route as a result of any distance learning that took place either in the UK or overseas between the period of 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021.

Pros and Cons:

• You dont need to find a sponsor in order to apply.
• At the time of application, you don’t need a job
• No salary requirements
• No work restrictions
• If you find a better job, you are able to switch the job without switching the visa.
• On top of your fees and other expenses, you need to save around £2000 to apply for the visa.

Visit the home office blog for more information about the graduate route and more frequently asked questions.

Click here to find more about the work after the studies.