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 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, unless the student studied abroad as part of a ‘study abroad’ programme.
- 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?
An application for a PSW visa under the Graduate route costs £880. Applicants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is currently £1,035 for most applicants per year of leave in the UK. Therefore, the total IHS cost could be:
| Visa Type | Application Fee | Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-year Graduate visa | £880 | £2,070 (£1,035 per year) |
£2,950 |
| Three-year Graduate visa (for PhD/doctoral graduates) |
£880 | £3,105 (£1,035 per year) |
£3,985 |
Visa options after PSW visa to stay in the UK
To stay in the UK with lawful status after your period of leave under the Graduate route, you will need to make an application for a new type of visa or leave to remain.
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 relevant minimum salary requirement.
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.
If your ambitions are to start a business in the UK, you could look at the Innovator Founder route.
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
What is the Graduate visa?
The Graduate visa allows international students who have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK to stay in the country for up to two years (or three years for PhD graduates) to work or look for work.
Do I need a job offer to apply?
No, you do not need a job offer to apply for the Graduate visa. You can work in most types of jobs, be self-employed, or look for work during your stay.
How much does the Graduate visa cost?
The application fee is £880. In addition, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is currently £1,035 per year. For a two-year visa, this totals £2,070.
Can I bring my dependants with me on the Graduate visa?
Only dependants who were already in the UK with you as your dependants on your Student visa can apply to extend their stay with you under the Graduate route. New dependants cannot join you on this visa.
Can I switch to a different visa from the Graduate route?
You can switch to another visa category from within the UK, such as the Skilled Worker visa, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the new route.
Does time spent on the Graduate visa count towards settlement (ILR)?
Time spent on the Graduate visa does not count towards the five-year period required for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Can I study on a Graduate visa?
You can undertake some additional study, but not with a Student sponsor and not on a course that would normally require a Student visa.
When should I apply for the Graduate visa?
You must apply before your Student visa expires and after your university has confirmed that you’ve successfully completed your course.
What happens if I leave the UK while my Graduate visa application is pending?
Your application will be withdrawn if you leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while it’s being processed. It is important to remain in the UK until a decision is made.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Graduate visa | A UK visa that allows international students to remain in the UK for up to two years (or three years for doctoral graduates) after successfully completing an eligible course. |
| Post-Study Work (PSW) | A term commonly used to describe the Graduate visa, allowing recent graduates to work or look for work in the UK. |
| Student visa | The UK visa route for international students enrolled in an eligible course at a licensed Student sponsor. |
| Dependent | A partner or child who accompanies or joins the main visa holder in the UK, subject to eligibility requirements. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | A fee paid by visa applicants to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) during their stay. |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | A form of permanent residency in the UK, allowing an individual to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. |
| Skilled Worker visa | A UK visa route for individuals with a job offer in an eligible skilled role from a licensed sponsor, which can lead to settlement. |
| Home Office | The UK government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. |
| Sponsor | An organisation licensed by the Home Office to employ or enrol international students or workers. |
| Course completion | The formal confirmation from a UK education provider that a student has successfully finished their degree or eligible qualification. |
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
