Work After Studies & Employment Opportunities
Please be aware that TIER 1 POST STUDY WORK (PSW) CEASED TO EXIST ON 05th APRIL 2012. No new applications will be accepted for PSW after this date!
Under the Points Based System the main immigration route available to international students who wish to remain in the UK to work after their studies is “Tier 2 - General ”. Arrangements have been put in place by UKBA to make the graduate route into Tier 2 more accessible than the standard route. Key features are:
- Applicants will need to have successfully completed a UK Bachelor degree, Masters degree or a PG Certificate/PG Diploma in Education at a Tier 4 licenced institution;
- PhD students can apply having studied for at least 12 months of a PhD programme;
- Applicants must have a job offer from a Tier 2 licenced sponsor;
- Minimum salary of £20,000 per annum (with exceptions for specific career routes - "Codes of Practice");
- Applicants can begin work before Tier 2 graduate route visa is granted, as long a Certificate of Sponsorship has been assigned by an employer;
- No resident labour market test required;
- Limited to a maximum of 6 years in total;
- The applicant MUST be switching into Tier 2 from Tier 4 Student and the application MUST be submitted from within the UK before the current / valid visa expires.
The Visa Team present a Workshop every month in partnership with Newcastle University Careers Service. These Workshops offer basic information to students on the key features of the Tier 2 route as well as the application process. No booking is required. Further details can be found at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/events/workshops.htm
Guidance on Tier 2 application forms and other relevant information about working after studies can be found on the UKCISA website at http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/working_after.php
Please note that the Visa Team cannot check Tier 2 applications for students/graduates.
The UK Border Agency is also expected to introduce a brand new immigration route called “Graduate Entrepreneur”. We will post further information when it becomes available.
