Graduate Route (PSW)

The Graduate route provides an opportunity for international students who have been awarded their degree to stay in the UK and work or look for work, at any skill level for two years, or three years for doctoral students.

The Graduate route is unsponsored, meaning you do not need a job offer to apply for the route. You will be able to work flexibly, switch jobs, and develop your career in the UK as required. The work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship.

Students studying on a Tier 4/student visa will need to make an application in the UK to be granted permission under the route after successful completion of their degree. There are specific eligibility requirements, so you are advised to read the information on this page in full.

It is possible to work full-time on your Tier 4 / Student visa after you have completed your course but with some restrictions on the type of work you can do.

What are the requirements to apply for a Graduate Route (PSW) visa?

To be eligible for the Graduate Visa you must be able to meet a number of certain requirements, you could be eligible if you:

• Are currently in the UK;
• Hold a valid Student Visa (Including the old Tier 4 Student Visa);
• have held valid permission on the Student or Tier 4 (General) routes which expired but either one of the paragraph 39E exceptions for overstayers applies or the applicant has been given a period of exceptional assurance and has not overstayed that period. In either case, the period of overstaying will be disregarded when considering their application;
• Have studied on an eligible course;
• Have successfully completed your course of study in the UK.

You will need to have studied at an educational institution that is a licensed sponsor (holds a tier 4 student sponsor licence) and you will need to have studied for 12 months or the full length of your course, whichever is shorter.