If you're an international student, there are several visa options available if you’d like to work in the UK after your studies.
Graduate visa
The Graduate visa allows people who have successfully completed an eligible course to apply for a visa to remain in the UK to work, look for work, become self-employed or start a business. The visa is valid for 2 years if you’ve completed an undergraduate or postgraduate taught degree, or 3 years if you’ve completed a postgraduate research degree.
Have a look at our article What is the Graduate visa? for further guidance, including the application process and conditions.
Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa allows you to work in the UK with an employer licenced by the Home Office.
To apply for the Skilled Worker visa, the main eligibility criteria are:
- You must have a job offer from an employer who has a Skilled Worker visa licence.
- Your role must be in a job that is an eligible occupation for sponsorship.
- You must be paid the minimum salary and the standard pay rate for the role - these amounts vary depending on the role. There are some concessions for people whose job is in a shortage occupation or have studied specific subjects.
- You need to meet the English language requirement - if you’ve successfully completed a UK degree, you automatically qualify.
- You must meet the current financial requirement which is to hold at least £1,270 in a bank account for a consecutive 28-day period.
Important to know: You can only switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa after you’ve completed your studies. The only exception to this is that postgraduate research students can switch after completing a minimum of 24 months of their studies.
You can find further guidance about the Skilled Worker visa on the UK Council for International Student Affairs’ webpage.
Should I apply for a Graduate visa or a Skilled Worker visa?
The table below contains a list of differences between the Graduate and Skilled Worker visas.
This is a list of the key differences rather than all of the differences.
| Graduate Route | Skilled Worker | |
| Sponsorship required? | No | Yes |
| Minimum salary required? | No | Yes |
| Minimum skill level required? | No | Yes |
| Visa duration | 2 years for UG and PGT students 3 years for PGR students | Up to 5 years |
| Number of applications | 1 | No limit |
| Study allowed? | Restricted* | Yes |
| Dependants allowed? | Yes** | Yes |
| Leads to settlement? | No | Yes after 5 years |
* Graduate visa holders can’t undertake any study which is eligible for Student visa sponsorship, including undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research degrees.
** Only dependants who are already in the UK as dependants on the applicant’s Student visa.
Global Talent visa
The Global Talent visa is for leaders or potential leaders in specific fields, such as academia or research, arts and culture and digital technology. To make a successful application, you also need to have successfully applied to the Home Office for endorsement or received an eligible award.
There are various ways to be eligible for endorsement, including having certain roles in academia or research. Within academia and research, there are 4 pathways:
- an eligible job offer as an academic or researcher
- an individual fellowship
- a research grant that is approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- an eligible award.
If there’s an academic or research position at King’s that you think might qualify under the ‘eligible job offer’ pathway, please send the job description to our HR department. They will evaluate whether the role meets the criteria for King's to assist you in applying for endorsement for a Global Talent visa.
Important to know: King’s HR department will check whether a role is eligible under the academic/researcher or UKRI pathways, and if appropriate, provide supporting documents in line with the Home Office's requirements.
You can read more about the various ways to apply for endorsement under these pathways on the Government’s webpage. More information about this visa can also be found online.
Innovator Founder visa
The Innovator Founder visa is for those who want to set up a business in the UK. To make a successful application, you must demonstrate that your business is “new, innovative, viable, and scalable".
You must have an endorsing body to support your business idea. There’s no requirement to have a minimum amount of investment funds, but your endorsing body must be satisfied that you have enough money to grow your business.
More information about this visa can be found online.
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is for people who come from a country which participates in the Youth Mobility Scheme and want to live and work in the UK for 2-3 years.
Currently, only the countries listed below participate in the scheme. Unless otherwise noted, you would be granted a 2-year visa.
- Andorra
- Australia (3-year visa)
- Canada (3-year visa)
- Iceland
- Japan
- Monaco
- New Zealand (3-year visa)
- Republic of Korea
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong (SAR)
- San Marino
- Uruguay
- British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas)
You must be aged 18-30 years old to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa – or 18-35 years old for Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and South Korean nationals – and you must apply in your home country.
More information about this visa can be found online.
Indian Young Professionals Scheme
This is a 2-year visa for Indian nationals aged 18-30 years old. Applications can only be made by people who hold an eligible qualification and are selected in the scheme’s national ballot.
More information about this visa can be found online.
Other immigration routes for working in the UK
Ancestry Visa
This visa is for people who were born in a Commonwealth country and can prove that one of their grandparents was born in the UK. Successful applicants can come to the UK for up to 5 years to look for a job and work.
British National Overseas
This visa is for people who are from Hong Kong and hold a British National (Overseas) passport. It allows you to live, study and work in the UK for either 2 years and 6 months or 5 years.
High Potential Individual
This is a 2-year visa for those who completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from one of the top global universities within the last 5 years.
Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange
This visa is for people who want to come to the UK on an approved government-authorised exchange scheme. Successful applicants can come to the UK for a maximum of 12 or 24 months depending on their job.
More information about these visas and other options can be found online.
Important to know: King’s – in particular, our HR department and our Visa and International Student Advice team – can’t provide advice on eligibility for work visas and the application process.
For more advice on any work visa routes, please seek external immigration advice from professionals authorised by the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). You can search for an immigration adviser who is authorised by OISC on the Home Office's website.