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Working abroad

Enhance your employability and gain unique experiences by working overseas.

Working outside of the UK

When considering starting your graduate career outside of the UK. the vacancy and employer resources on this page can help.

  • If you're an international student, you may be interested in our advice on returning home.
  • If you're planning on working somewhere new, read the advice below on getting started.

Getting started

If you're thinking about working abroad, it’s important to start your research as early as possible. 

You’ll need to make practical arrangements for factors such as visas and finance. This can be complicated and involve specific deadlines or processes. 

Follow the steps below to get started:

Step 1: Prioritise

Thinking about what’s most important to you helps you to focus your search.

Use the resources in Making Career Choices if you’re not sure what you want to do.

For help with exploring your options, book a guidance appointment via MyCareer.

Step 2: Get inspiration

Thinking about what other people have done can help with your planning.

You can check profiles of alumni on LinkedIn to see where they are working now and their work history. Search by location, subject studied and career area to see if anyone is working in the country you're interested in.

Watch our quick tutorials to discover how to make the most of LinkedIn. Remember to update your profile if you’re using LinkedIn actively.

You can also contact the university’s Global Ambassadors team and speak to a student who has experience of living abroad.

Step 3: Check for any restrictions

Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) travel advice for the country you’re interested in.

Step 4: Research the visa process

Research the visa process via the relevant UK based embassy for the country you’re interested in. Contact them directly and try to get instructions or information in writing.

Global Opportunities have listed the entry requirements for EU countries to give you an idea of what to expect. It’s essential you check this information directly with the embassy yourself. Visa and immigration information can change at any time, without much notice.

Step 5: Consider practical requirements

If you’re planning to go overseas, the earlier you start researching, the better.

It can help to consider:

  • what are the language requirements?
  • what opportunities are available in your sector?
  • what is the recruitment process like there?
  • what are employers there looking for in CVs and applications?
  • do you know anyone already living there who could help you find work?
  • what are the living and accommodation costs?
  • what finances will you have access to? Eg are opportunities typically paid? Are there any funding options available?
  • what sort of insurance do you need?

Start your research by using the support and information on offer via Global Opportunities. They offer advice about living abroad.

can also help with your research. Their country guides include information on job search resources, industry trends, CVs and applications, interviews, networking and living costs.

You can also find advice from:

Step 6: Start looking for opportunities

There are two main ways to find opportunities

  • applying for advertised opportunities
  • seeking out hidden opportunities by networking and applying speculatively.

Use our resources below to get started with finding opportunities for overseas jobs.

Use to find worldwide opportunities. Their country guides have information on writing CVs for other countries.

For help with finding opportunities, you can book an information appointment via MyCareer.

You may also be interested in term-time study exchanges, short programmes and further study abroad.

Country profiles and advice

Use the following information to help you investigate working overseas:

  • GoinGlobal - worldwide country guides. Covers everything from job search resources and CV guidelines, to cultural advice and visa information. Watch a brief video on how to use the country career guides.
  • target jobs - articles and resources to help you relocate overseas
  • Prospects - country profiles
  • Global Edge - international business research resources
  • Transitions Abroad - advice and articles on working abroad
  • ENIC-NARIC - European Network of Information Centres. Links to official providers of qualification recognition in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia
  • Numbeo - compare living conditions in cities and countries worldwide, including housing and cost of living

Vacancy and employer resources

Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers for speculative applications:

  • MyCareer - international internship and job vacancies for Newcastle University students and graduates
  • GoinGlobal - search for jobs and internships. Watch brief training videos on how to find jobs , internships and employers
  • GradLink - search for graduate jobs
  • iHipo.com - global internships and job opportunities
  • Jobrapido - internships and employment opportunities across the world
  • Monster - internships and employment opportunities across the world
  • LinkedIn jobs - search for opportunities across the world
  • Kompass - business search engine
  • Jobboard Finder - job board search engine and comparison tool. Search for job boards related to specific locations and sectors
  • Explore Occupations - if you are looking for work in a specific sector, many of the vacancy sources listed in pages will include the option of overseas work
  • Finding a graduate job - many of the major UK graduate vacancy websites also include the option of searching for work overseas

Further information

For more advice and vacancy sources see our webpages on specific areas of the world:

International resources
Study abroad