Graduate Visa (or Post-study work)

Graduate Visa (or Post-study work)

If you are an international student with a Student Visa who is due to complete your course this Autumn and you plan to apply for the Graduate Visa, please take a look at the information below.  

What is the Graduate Visa? 

Please refer to our webpages to find out more about the Graduate Visa. You will also find some frequently asked questions on this website.  

Important things to remember 

• Do not apply for the visa before you receive an email from the university’s Visa Compliance team informing you that we have confirmed your eligibility to the UKVI. We cannot advise you when this will be at the moment, but this is usually done within 2-3 weeks of receiving your results from your school.  

• Make sure your personal details are up-to-date on the Student Portal.  

• Check your eVisa and visa expiry date. Most students will have the following visa expiry date in January 2026. If your visa does not expire as above, there may be a mistake on your visa. Please contact the Visa Support Team for further advice.  

• Please ensure that you read the relevant information and guidance before you submit your visa application. In addition to the notification the university sends to the UKVI confirming your eligibility, you must also meet all the other requirements of the visa to be granted this visa. 

• The Graduate Visa may not always be the best option for you. If you would like to find out more about other types of visa to work in the UK, you can attend the NCL Careers Workshop - Visa (new dates will be added for the new academic year soon).  

• If you are planning further full-time study in the UK, you may not be able to use the Graduate visa to do this. Please check with the institution you will be studying for further advice.  

Applying for the Graduate Visa 

• You should only make a Graduate Visa application after you have receive a notification from the university confirming that we have notified the UKVI of your eligibility.  

• If you make a Graduate Visa application without first receiving the email from the university confirming your eligibility for the visa, we recommend that you contact the Visa Support Team to discuss this further.  

• Students who previously held a Graduate visa or a Doctorate Extension Scheme visa will not be eligible for the Graduate visa.  

• If you need to re-sit exams or modules and you don’t expect to complete your course within the remaining time of your Student Visa, you can contact the Visa Support Team for further advice. 

Duration of the Graduate Visa 

Currently, Graduate Visas are granted for a period of 2 years if you complete a degree course below PhD/ doctoral level. Please check the UKVI website for future updates on this.