Launch your career in the UK: a guide to the Graduate Route 

Studying for a degree in the UK is a dream come true for many international students – we’re sure you already know about the world-class education on offer at UK universities. But what about after graduation?  

Many international graduates choose to stay in the UK to gain valuable work experience and kickstart their career in one of the world’s top job markets. And thanks to the UK’s Graduate Route visa, you can do that too!  

Read on to find out more about this visa, including how to use it to unlock post-study work opportunities and build a successful career in the UK. 

What is the Graduate Route?  

The UK government’s Graduate Route welcomes international students to stay in the UK after they graduate. This means that after you’ve successfully completed your degree, you can apply to stay and work – or look for work – in the UK for up to two years. Or if you’ve completed a PhD, you can apply to stay for up to three years.  

Hugo, from Hong Kong, China, dreamt of working in the UK and he took the opportunity to make it happen. The University of Exeter alumnus explains: “If you really want to work in the UK, you have to put in the effort from day one. My placement year was a turning point for me. I had exposure to what the job market and working world were really like.” 

Do I need a job to apply?  

Although developing your career is the main reason for staying in the UK after graduation (if you don’t want to do further study), you don’t need an employer to sponsor your visa – or even a job offer – to apply for the Graduate Route.  

Maybe you want to gain more experience by volunteering? Or undertake an internship? No problem. The Graduate Route gives you the time and flexibility to explore what you’d like to do next in your career.  

Ian from Malaysia believes that when he went back to university after his internship, everything made more sense: “It put everything into perspective.” He adds that after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast “the cherry on the top was getting a job. I did an internship with Airbus and got on the graduate scheme with them.”  

What are the other benefits of the Graduate Route? 

A big attraction of the Graduate Route is that you don’t need to return home to apply for a different visa – you apply for the Graduate Route from within the UK.  

When you get a job in the UK, you can work full or part-time. Unlike other sponsored visas, the Graduate Route isn’t tied to a specific job or employer – giving you the choice in how you want to develop your career. 

“Something that really helped me stand out when applying to internships and grad schemes is the fact that I had lots of varying experience”, says Sara, a University of Exeter graduate from Bahrain. “Teaching and volunteering gave me lots of areas to speak about during my interviews. On the day that I got my job offer, I was super excited. All my hard work was worth it.”  

Or follow in the footsteps of INTO graduates Nargiza and Dmitri who started their own business in London, as the Graduate Route visa allows you to be self-employed. The only restriction under the Graduate Route is that you can’t work as a professional sportsperson or coach. 

Another major benefit of the Graduate Route is that it allows you to travel abroad and return to the UK. If you didn’t have the time to visit other parts of the UK and nearby Europe during your studies, this could be your time to explore!

Am I eligible to apply for the Graduate Route?

There are some conditions you need to meet to apply for a Graduate Route visa. You must be in the UK when you apply with a Student visa which is still valid. You must also have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, a PhD or another doctoral qualification.  

Your university will also need to report your eligibility to the Home Office once your grades are finalized and you’ve successfully completed your course.  

What else do I need to know about the Graduate Route?  

You apply for the Graduate visa online; this must be done after you’ve successfully completed your course – but before your Student visa expires.  

When you apply, you’ll need to pay a one-off application fee as well as the Immigration Health Surcharge – this allows you to continue to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). You can only hold the Graduate visa once and it can’t be extended.  

As with all visa information, you should always check the government website for the latest guidance and specific requirements.  

Why should I stay in the UK after graduation?  

Renewable energy, IT, cyber security, data science and healthcare are some of the UK’s fastest growing industries (indeed.com 2024), providing future-focused graduates with plenty of career-launching opportunities.  

Get a head start on enhancing your employability before you’ve even enrolled at university with an INTO pathway. You’ll gain key skills for future success while preparing for your degree at top study destinations across the UK.  

London is the obvious place to start a career in the UK. England’s capital is a major global center for business, finance and technology. Immerse yourself in professional life at City, University of London, located in the heart of London’s financial district and on the doorstep of Tech City – a hub of major businesses including Amazon, Google and Microsoft.  

Maggie from China Mainland now works in London as an Oil Swaps Direct Trader: “London is the center of financial markets and it’s got one of the best education systems – so straight away I decided if I wanted to study abroad, it would definitely be in the UK, in London and at City. And I did that.” 

However, there are plenty of other locations across the UK that offer excellent study options and professional opportunities. Cosmopolitan Manchester is home to one of the world’s best universities as well as a flourishing business scene.  

Planning a career in software? Head to Belfast in Northern Ireland – one of the UK’s top 10 fastest growing tech cities (UK Digital Economy Council 2021) and home to Russell Group Queen’s University Belfast. Or check out Scotland, where the economy is thriving and the demand for tech professionals saw a 200% surge over 12 months (Accenture UK Tech Talent Tracker 2022) – making the University of Stirling in Scotland the ideal place to prepare for your digitally focused career.

You may also be interested in the cost of studying in the UK for international students or how to pick the right pathway program to prepare for your UK degree.