UK Post Study Work Visa for Graduates

PSW visa stands for ‘Post-Study Work’ visa. The UK’s PSW visa is officially known as the Graduate Route.

Under the graduate route, international graduates are able to apply for a PSW visa to stay on in the UK for a fixed period of either two or three years after the completion of their degree studies, depending on their level of study.

For graduates, the PSW visa provides a more straightforward way – compared to other visa routes – to stay in the UK lawfully after graduating. For employers, the visa offers opportunities to recruit recent graduates without the investment and compliance demands of the employment sponsorship process.

In this guide to the UK’s PSW visa, we explain what this route allows and how to make an application.

What is the UK PSW visa?

The PSW visa, or ‘Graduate Immigration Route’, allows:

• International students completing an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree at a qualifying institution to stay on in the UK to work or look for work for a fixed period of two years after they have completed their studies.
• International students completing a PhD at a qualifying institution to stay on in the UK to work or look for work for a fixed period of three years after they have completed their studies.

Graduates staying on in the UK under a PSW visa do not need to be sponsored, either by an education institution or an employer, nor will they need a Certificate of Sponsorship. Once a graduate switches onto a PSW visa, they are no longer sponsored as a student by their education institution.

Graduates on the PSW visa will not be able to work as a professional sportsperson, and while they are allowed to undertake supplementary study while in the UK on a PSW visa, the supplementary study cannot be at any institution that sponsors students for the purposes of their Tier 4 General student visa.

Family members already living in the UK lawfully as dependants of a student visa holder will be allowed to stay on as dependants when the main visa holder switches to the PSW visa. However, apart from children born in the UK, new dependants will not be able to join the PSW visa holder in the UK from overseas.

The visa is non-extendable and the time spent in the UK under the Graduate Immigration Route will not count towards settlement in the UK. We explore options to remain in the UK after the PSW visa later in this article.

The Doctorate Extension Scheme that allows students who have completed their PhD to stay on in the UK for 12 months has closed following the introduction of the Graduate Route.

PSW visa eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for a PSW visa, the student will have to attain 70 points under the points-based immigration system. Points are awarded in respect of successful completion of a qualifying course of study in the UK.

This means applicants must:

• Hold a valid student visa at the time of their application for a PSW visa from a UK higher education provider on the list of registered sponsors “with a track record of compliance”.
• Have successfully completed their degree at undergraduate level or above.
• Have stayed in the UK for the duration of their study. The only exemptions to this are if the student studied abroad as part of a ‘study abroad’ programme, or was forced to study from home for reasons relating to Covid-19.
• Not have previously been granted the PSW visa.
• Pass security, identity and criminality checks.
• Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

Those studying in the UK on a scholarship from the government of their home country have to meet an additional requirement, namely, that their government must have given its permission for them to remain in the UK under a PSW visa.

There is no English language or financial requirement for the PSW visa applicant to meet.

EU nationals 

EEA or Swiss students in the UK with valid EU settled or pre settled status will not need to apply for the PSW visa to remain in the UK. Those without permission under the EU settlement scheme may apply for the PSW visa to retain lawful status in the UK.

Which course are eligible under the PSW visa?

To be eligible, applicants must have completed a course awarding either:

• A UK bachelor’s degree.
• UK postgraduate degree, including PhD and Masters’ degree.
• A Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) conversion course, as validated by the Joint Academic Stage Board in England and Wales.
• The Legal Practice Course (LPC) in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland.
• The Bar Practice Course (BPTC) in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland.
• A foundation programme in Medicine or Dentistry.
• A postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
• A professional course required to study at the UK bachelor’s degree level or above in a profession with reserved activities that is regulated by UK law or UK public authority.

The degree course has to be the same as that on the applicant’s Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). In addition, their sponsoring higher education provider must confirm that they meet this requirement.

Applying for the post study work visa 

The PSW visa application should be made online from within the UK.

Students can apply for a Graduate visa as soon as their sponsoring institution or college notifies the Home Office that they have finished and passed their programme. Students do not have to wait until they have graduated or received a certificate of completion to apply; they should apply while their student visa is still valid.

How much is the graduate visa?

The PSW visa application costs £715. Applicants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is currently £624 per year of leave in the UK.

Visa options after PSW visa?

After the two or three years of the PSW visa have expired, the individual will need to make an application for a new type of visa or leave to remain, in order to stay in the UK with lawful status.

Visa options to remain in the UK could, for example, include a work visa or family-based visa, and will depend on the specific circumstances.

If the graduate visa holder is employed in a skilled role, they may be eligible to apply to remain by switching to the Skilled Worker visa route, provided all of the requirements are met to switch into this category.

To qualify as a Skilled Worker, they must be in an eligible job, working for an employer that is licensed by the UK Home Office to sponsor skilled migrant workers. The Home Office publishes a list of registered sponsors on the .gov website.

In addition, they must meet the minimum salary requirements. They must be paid at least £26,200, or the ‘going-rate’ for the job if it is higher. In some situations, such as if the job is in a shortage occupation, the graduate may still qualify if paid less than £26,200.

The Skilled Worker route also provides a path to settlement in the UK, i.e. indefinite leave to remain. Applicants must have five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK under a Skilled Worker visa to be eligible to apply for settlement.

An alternative to the Skilled Worker visa, the graduate may look to apply for a visa.

Another option could be to make an application based on a relationship with a UK settled person, such as a partner visa.

Taking advice is the best way to determine options to remain in the UK based on specific circumstances.

Need assistance?

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists, and can advise both employers and graduates on Home Office applications such as the new post study work visa. For advice, please contact us.

PSW visa for graduates FAQs

Last updated: 9 March 2023