WORKING IN THE UK AFTER YOUR STUDIES
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The rules on switching from immigration leave in one category (e.g. student) in order to apply for leave to remain in a different
capacity (e.g. work permit) are applied very strictly. Note that even if your application under the relevant scheme is approved, if you
do not meet the switching rules, you will not be able to extend your immigration leave in the UK and will have to leave and make a
new application. Students will usually need to have successfully completed their courses or graduated in the UK in order to be able
to switch into a work related scheme. Under all schemes, your spouse and children can apply to stay in the UK with you, or join you
here.
Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) / International Graduate Scheme (IGS)
The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) was launched in October 2004 with the aim of encouraging non-EEA
nationals who graduate from UK further or higher education establishments in physical sciences, mathematics and engineering to
pursue a career in the UK.
The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme enabled those students who successfully obtained a recognised UK degree (with
second class honours or above), Master's degree or PhD in an eligible subject to work without restriction in the UK for up to 12
months after completion of their studies.
For recognised UK degrees, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) drew up lists of eligible undergraduate courses, based
on trends in numbers of UK students graduating. However, because these lists changed every year, it was not possible for UK
Universities to tell potential students if they would be eligible for leave under the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme by the
time they had graduated. As a result the maximum potential benefit of the scheme to attract international students to study in the UK
was not being realised.
In May 2006 the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme was expanded so that those who commenced a Master's degree or
PhD after 1 May 2006 were eligible to apply regardless of the subject they had studied. On 1 May 2007, the Science and
Engineering Graduate Scheme was replaced by the International Graduates Scheme (IGS). Under the International Graduates
Scheme, applicants who successfully complete either a recognised UK degree, Master's degree, PhD or postgraduate certificate or
postgraduate diploma in any subject on or after 1 May 2007 will be eligible to apply for leave under the International Graduates
Scheme.
Work Permits
An employer can apply for a work permit to enable them to offer a job to someone who would not otherwise be allowed to work in the
UK and Northern Ireland. It is relatively straightforward for an employer to obtain a work permit if the job is categorized as a ‘shortage
occupation’. In June 2005, certain jobs in the following fields were categorized as ‘shortage occupations’:
Railway Engineers; Structural and Bridge Engineers; Transportation and Highways Engineers; Salaried General Practitioners;
Consultant Doctors in most specialist areas; General Healthcare (including professionals allied to medicine, dentistry, pharmacists,
social workers and biomedical scientists); Nurses and midwives; Actuaries; CAA Licenses Aircraft Engineers; Teachers in England;
Veterinary Surgeons.
The list of ‘shortage occupations’ is updated regularly. For an up-to-date and detailed list, see <workingintheuk.gov.uk> website
(click on ‘Work Permits’, then ‘Applying for a Work Permit’ and finally ‘Business and Commercial’) or contact Work Permits UK.
Sponsored Researchers
There is a new category under the work permit scheme for postgraduate researchers who have a job overseas or are on sabbatical
and who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of research work at a UK educational or research institution. Applications are dealt
with under the same more straightforward procedure for shortage occupations. Note that there is a separate application form for
applications under this category.
It is very much harder for an employer to obtain a work permit if the job is not
categorized as a ‘shortage occupation’. For jobs that are not ‘shortage occupations’, employers normally have to demonstrate that
they have advertised the job to ‘resident workers’ (allowing four weeks for responses), and provide detailed explanations of why
each individual who applied was not suitable, and could not do the job with extra training. ‘Resident workers’ are nationals of the
EEA, and people who have settled status in the UK. The advertising has to be in an appropriate medium, readily available
throughout the EEA (e.g. national newspapers or professional journals). There are a number of other requirements too.
For more information on work permits, and the application process, look at the Home Office website: <workingintheuk.gov.uk>.
Alternatively, telephone the Work Permits (UK) distribution center and ask them to send the information to you by post (08705
210224, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Note that you can only switch into work permit employment without leaving the UK if
you currently have current permission to be in the UK as:
Otherwise you will usually need to be outside the UK when the employer makes the work permit application and will usually need to
apply for an entry clearance to come to the UK as a work permit holder once the work permit is sent to you.
If you are able to switch into work permit employment from within the UK, the employer should send you a copy of the letter
approving the employment and you will need to make a separate application to the Home Office to change your immigration status
on Form FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires (and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter).
The form is available from the ‘All Forms’ section of the workingintheuk.gov.uk website or by telephone. If your prospective employer
is not experienced in applying for work permits, they may want to seek advice from a business immigration specialist.
TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (TWES) PERMITS
An employer can apply for a TWES permit to enable them to offer training or work experience to someone who would not otherwise
be allowed to work in the UK and Northern Ireland.
TWES permits are issued on the clear understanding that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the agreed period to use your
new skills and experience. You will not be allowed to transfer to work permit employment at the end of your training or work
experience. You will also be required to spend a certain amount of time outside the UK when your TWES permit finishes, before
being issued with any further work permits (12 months, if your TWES permit was for up to 12 months; 24 months, if your TWES
permit was for more than 12 months).
TWES permits are not issued for training or work experience in the sports or entertainment sectors.
You need to meet a number of different criteria, including:
For more information on TWES permits, and the application process, look at the <workingintheuk.gov.uk> website, or telephone the
Work Permits (UK) distribution center and ask them to send the information to you by post.
Note that if you currently have permission to be in the UK as a student, you can apply to remain as a TWES permit holder without
leaving the UK. You do not need to have completed your course.
Once your prospective employer has obtained authorization to employ you under the Scheme, you will need to make a separate
application to the Home Office to change your immigration status on Form FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires
(and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter). The form is available from the ‘All Forms’ section of the
workingintheuk.gov.uk website or by telephone.
INNOVATORS SCHEME
This scheme enables some entrepreneurs to apply to stay on in the UK to establish businesses without needing to invest large sums
of their own money. The scheme is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs in the areas of science and technology, including e-commerce.
To qualify to apply under the scheme, you must meet four requirements:
Office’s leaflet ‘Innovators: guidance to applicants’.
You can apply to stay in the UK as an innovator if you currently have permission to be in the UK as one of the following:
HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANT PROGRAMME (HSMP)
The HSMP scheme is designed to allow individuals with exceptional skills and experience to come to or remain in the UK to seek and
take work without having a prior offer of employment, or to take up self-employment opportunities. It is a points-based scheme, with
separate points schemes for those aged under 28 and those aged 28 and over. The areas in which points are awarded are:
educational qualifications; work experience; past earnings; demonstrable achievement in your
chosen field; your partner’s achievements. People with particular skills or in particular professions can also attract further points.
You can apply to stay in the UK as a highly skilled migrant if you currently have
permission to be in the UK as one of the following:
under 28). You will need to make a separate application to the Home Office to change your immigration status on Form
FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires (and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter).
MBA Scheme
MBA graduates, who have graduated on or after 2 December 2004 from one of 50 top international business schools specified on a
list published by the UK government may apply under HSMP and will be given enough points. The list is expected to be reviewed and
re-published annually.
capacity (e.g. work permit) are applied very strictly. Note that even if your application under the relevant scheme is approved, if you
do not meet the switching rules, you will not be able to extend your immigration leave in the UK and will have to leave and make a
new application. Students will usually need to have successfully completed their courses or graduated in the UK in order to be able
to switch into a work related scheme. Under all schemes, your spouse and children can apply to stay in the UK with you, or join you
here.
Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) / International Graduate Scheme (IGS)
The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) was launched in October 2004 with the aim of encouraging non-EEA
nationals who graduate from UK further or higher education establishments in physical sciences, mathematics and engineering to
pursue a career in the UK.
The Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme enabled those students who successfully obtained a recognised UK degree (with
second class honours or above), Master's degree or PhD in an eligible subject to work without restriction in the UK for up to 12
months after completion of their studies.
For recognised UK degrees, the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) drew up lists of eligible undergraduate courses, based
on trends in numbers of UK students graduating. However, because these lists changed every year, it was not possible for UK
Universities to tell potential students if they would be eligible for leave under the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme by the
time they had graduated. As a result the maximum potential benefit of the scheme to attract international students to study in the UK
was not being realised.
In May 2006 the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme was expanded so that those who commenced a Master's degree or
PhD after 1 May 2006 were eligible to apply regardless of the subject they had studied. On 1 May 2007, the Science and
Engineering Graduate Scheme was replaced by the International Graduates Scheme (IGS). Under the International Graduates
Scheme, applicants who successfully complete either a recognised UK degree, Master's degree, PhD or postgraduate certificate or
postgraduate diploma in any subject on or after 1 May 2007 will be eligible to apply for leave under the International Graduates
Scheme.
Work Permits
An employer can apply for a work permit to enable them to offer a job to someone who would not otherwise be allowed to work in the
UK and Northern Ireland. It is relatively straightforward for an employer to obtain a work permit if the job is categorized as a ‘shortage
occupation’. In June 2005, certain jobs in the following fields were categorized as ‘shortage occupations’:
Railway Engineers; Structural and Bridge Engineers; Transportation and Highways Engineers; Salaried General Practitioners;
Consultant Doctors in most specialist areas; General Healthcare (including professionals allied to medicine, dentistry, pharmacists,
social workers and biomedical scientists); Nurses and midwives; Actuaries; CAA Licenses Aircraft Engineers; Teachers in England;
Veterinary Surgeons.
The list of ‘shortage occupations’ is updated regularly. For an up-to-date and detailed list, see <workingintheuk.gov.uk> website
(click on ‘Work Permits’, then ‘Applying for a Work Permit’ and finally ‘Business and Commercial’) or contact Work Permits UK.
Sponsored Researchers
There is a new category under the work permit scheme for postgraduate researchers who have a job overseas or are on sabbatical
and who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of research work at a UK educational or research institution. Applications are dealt
with under the same more straightforward procedure for shortage occupations. Note that there is a separate application form for
applications under this category.
It is very much harder for an employer to obtain a work permit if the job is not
categorized as a ‘shortage occupation’. For jobs that are not ‘shortage occupations’, employers normally have to demonstrate that
they have advertised the job to ‘resident workers’ (allowing four weeks for responses), and provide detailed explanations of why
each individual who applied was not suitable, and could not do the job with extra training. ‘Resident workers’ are nationals of the
EEA, and people who have settled status in the UK. The advertising has to be in an appropriate medium, readily available
throughout the EEA (e.g. national newspapers or professional journals). There are a number of other requirements too.
For more information on work permits, and the application process, look at the Home Office website: <workingintheuk.gov.uk>.
Alternatively, telephone the Work Permits (UK) distribution center and ask them to send the information to you by post (08705
210224, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Note that you can only switch into work permit employment without leaving the UK if
you currently have current permission to be in the UK as:
- A student and have successfully graduated from a UK higher or further institution.
- A postgraduate doctor or dentist or trainee general practitioner.
- A student nurse
- A working holiday maker who has been in the UK for at least 12 months and the work is a shortage occupation.
- A participant in the SEGS scheme.
- A highly skilled migrant or
- An innovator
Otherwise you will usually need to be outside the UK when the employer makes the work permit application and will usually need to
apply for an entry clearance to come to the UK as a work permit holder once the work permit is sent to you.
If you are able to switch into work permit employment from within the UK, the employer should send you a copy of the letter
approving the employment and you will need to make a separate application to the Home Office to change your immigration status
on Form FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires (and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter).
The form is available from the ‘All Forms’ section of the workingintheuk.gov.uk website or by telephone. If your prospective employer
is not experienced in applying for work permits, they may want to seek advice from a business immigration specialist.
TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (TWES) PERMITS
An employer can apply for a TWES permit to enable them to offer training or work experience to someone who would not otherwise
be allowed to work in the UK and Northern Ireland.
TWES permits are issued on the clear understanding that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the agreed period to use your
new skills and experience. You will not be allowed to transfer to work permit employment at the end of your training or work
experience. You will also be required to spend a certain amount of time outside the UK when your TWES permit finishes, before
being issued with any further work permits (12 months, if your TWES permit was for up to 12 months; 24 months, if your TWES
permit was for more than 12 months).
TWES permits are not issued for training or work experience in the sports or entertainment sectors.
You need to meet a number of different criteria, including:
- You must be additional to your employer’s normal staffing requirements and you must not be filling a job that would otherwise
be filled by a ‘resident worker’. - You must have an adequate command of the English language to enable you to benefit from the training or work experience.
- The training or work experience should be for a minimum of 30 hours per week, excluding any time for associated study.
- The work experience should be managerial level, or at least NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent, or the training should lead to a
recognized professional or specialist qualification that requires an entry-level qualification of at least that level. - You should already have an academic or vocational qualification at least at NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent or previous
experience to enable you to benefit from the work experience programme. - The pay and conditions should be in line with a ‘resident worker’ doing the same kind of work experience. The national
minimum wage must be complied with, and also the working time regulations.
For more information on TWES permits, and the application process, look at the <workingintheuk.gov.uk> website, or telephone the
Work Permits (UK) distribution center and ask them to send the information to you by post.
Note that if you currently have permission to be in the UK as a student, you can apply to remain as a TWES permit holder without
leaving the UK. You do not need to have completed your course.
Once your prospective employer has obtained authorization to employ you under the Scheme, you will need to make a separate
application to the Home Office to change your immigration status on Form FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires
(and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter). The form is available from the ‘All Forms’ section of the
workingintheuk.gov.uk website or by telephone.
INNOVATORS SCHEME
This scheme enables some entrepreneurs to apply to stay on in the UK to establish businesses without needing to invest large sums
of their own money. The scheme is aimed mainly at entrepreneurs in the areas of science and technology, including e-commerce.
To qualify to apply under the scheme, you must meet four requirements:
- Your proposed business must create jobs.
- You must have shares in your company.
- You must be able to live in the UK without help from public funds.
- You must be able to finance your business for the first six months.
Office’s leaflet ‘Innovators: guidance to applicants’.
You can apply to stay in the UK as an innovator if you currently have permission to be in the UK as one of the following:
- A student and have successfully graduated from a UK higher or further institution.
- A postgraduate doctor or dentist or trainee general practitioner.
- A work permit holder.
- A participant in the SEGS scheme.
- A highly skilled migrant.
- A self-employed person.
HIGHLY SKILLED MIGRANT PROGRAMME (HSMP)
The HSMP scheme is designed to allow individuals with exceptional skills and experience to come to or remain in the UK to seek and
take work without having a prior offer of employment, or to take up self-employment opportunities. It is a points-based scheme, with
separate points schemes for those aged under 28 and those aged 28 and over. The areas in which points are awarded are:
educational qualifications; work experience; past earnings; demonstrable achievement in your
chosen field; your partner’s achievements. People with particular skills or in particular professions can also attract further points.
You can apply to stay in the UK as a highly skilled migrant if you currently have
permission to be in the UK as one of the following:
- A student and have successfully graduated from a UK higher or further education institution.
- A postgraduate doctor or dentist or trainee general practitioner.
- A work permit holder.
- A working holidaymaker.
- A participant in the SEGS scheme.
- An innovator.
under 28). You will need to make a separate application to the Home Office to change your immigration status on Form
FLR (IED) before your current leave to remain expires (and not later than six months after the date of the approval letter).
MBA Scheme
MBA graduates, who have graduated on or after 2 December 2004 from one of 50 top international business schools specified on a
list published by the UK government may apply under HSMP and will be given enough points. The list is expected to be reviewed and
re-published annually.
Working in the UK after your studies
Note: If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss
national, or the dependant of one, this Guidance Note does not
apply to you.
The countries of the European Economic Area are:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Slovak Republic, Spain,
Sweden and the UK.
If you are coming to the end of your studies in the UK, you may
wonder whether there is any possibility of staying on in the UK to
work. This Guidance Note explains some of the schemes that are
likely to be of particular relevance to students at the
end of their studies.
The schemes change frequently. Each section contains information
about where to go for up-to-date information. If you would like to
work in the UK and do not see information of relevance to you,
please check the Home Office website.
If you are thinking about making an application under any of these
schemes, make an appointment with either an international student
adviser or a careers adviser. Some law centers, and other advice
centers, have immigration specialists, and
provide free advice. Immigration Advisory Service and some private
solicitors also specialise in immigration law, although they will
charge you a fee for their advice.
Remember, that if you want to stay in the UK under one of these
schemes, you must make your application before your current
permission to be here as a student runs out and usually after you
have graduated.
Note: If you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss
national, or the dependant of one, this Guidance Note does not
apply to you.
The countries of the European Economic Area are:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Slovak Republic, Spain,
Sweden and the UK.
If you are coming to the end of your studies in the UK, you may
wonder whether there is any possibility of staying on in the UK to
work. This Guidance Note explains some of the schemes that are
likely to be of particular relevance to students at the
end of their studies.
The schemes change frequently. Each section contains information
about where to go for up-to-date information. If you would like to
work in the UK and do not see information of relevance to you,
please check the Home Office website.
If you are thinking about making an application under any of these
schemes, make an appointment with either an international student
adviser or a careers adviser. Some law centers, and other advice
centers, have immigration specialists, and
provide free advice. Immigration Advisory Service and some private
solicitors also specialise in immigration law, although they will
charge you a fee for their advice.
Remember, that if you want to stay in the UK under one of these
schemes, you must make your application before your current
permission to be here as a student runs out and usually after you
have graduated.