The new Graduate route will open for applications on 1 July
2021, allowing the UK to retain the brightest and the best
international students to continue to contribute to society
and the economy post-study.
International students must have completed an eligible
course at a UK higher education provider, with a track
record of compliance with the government’s immigration
requirements to apply to the Graduate route. Students on
the Graduate route will be able to work or look for work
after their studies for a maximum period of 2 years, or 3
years for Doctoral students.
The launch of the new Graduate route shows that the
government is continuing to deliver on its key manifesto
promise to implement a points-based immigration system,
which will attract talent and ensure that businesses can
recruit the most highly qualified from across the globe to
drive the economy forwards.
The Graduate route will work for all corners of the UK,
ensuring that communities in England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland can benefit from talented individuals who
want to stay after their studies.
Minister for Future Borders and Immigration said:
As we rebuild from the global pandemic we want the
world’s brightest talent, who aspire to a career at the
highest levels of business, science, the arts and
technology to see our United Kingdom as the natural place
to fulfil their aspirations.
The changes announced today will ensure once they have
received a gold standard qualification from one of our
world leading education institutions they can easily
secure the status they need to continue living, working
and fulfilling their dreams in the UK.
As detailed in the Immigration Rules laid in Parliament
today (4 March), the new route will open for applications
on 1 July 2021, to international students who successfully
complete a degree at undergraduate level or above in the
UK.
The Graduate route will be unsponsored, meaning applicants
will not need a job offer to apply for the route. There
will be no minimum salary requirements nor caps on numbers.
Graduates on the route will be able to work flexibly,
switch jobs and develop their career as required.
The new route will help the government to achieve the
ambition set out in the International Education Strategy to
increase the number of international students in higher
education in the UK to 600,000 by 2030.
Coronavirus concessions for students unable to travel to
the UK due to the pandemic have also been extended,
recognising the continuing disruption many face due to
international travel restrictions.
Applicants who began their studies in Autumn 2020 will now
have until 21 June 2021 to enter the UK (updated from 6
April 2021) in order to be eligible for the Graduate route.
Students who began their studies in January or February
2021 will need to be in the UK by 27 September 2021.
The Graduate route comes as the government also unveiled
plans to launch another new immigration route that will
help start-ups and fast-growing firms recruit the talent
they need to innovate and grow at yesterday’s Budget as
part of a range of measures for highly skilled migrants. As
part of the route, highly skilled migrants with a job offer
from a recognised high-growth firm will qualify for a visa
without the need for sponsorship or third-party
endorsement.
