UK Post Study Work Visa Employment: What Indian Students in the UK can expect in 2023

So, you’re interested in applying to a study abroad program in the UK but you’re wondering what happens after you graduate? You’ve made a good choice because UK is known for some of the best universities worldwide. Ever since the UK left the European Union, through the Brexit move, things have been looking very favorable for international students looking to study and work in the UK. 

The Post Brexit Market

Before Brexit, that is, when the United Kingdom was still a part of the European Union, European students stood at many advantages. They had to pay lower tuition fees compared to non-EU students. This meant that, in addition to high visa costs, Indian students also had to look for funding opportunities to cover tuition and living costs.  

Ever since Brexit, that is, when the UK left the EU, this has changed. Now EU students wanting to study in the UK will have to shell out additional tuition fees like other international students, as opposed to paying the concessional fees offered to UK citizens. 

Fewer EU applicants to UK universities will also likely make it easier for Indian students looking at the job market in the UK. 

In the past, the focus of the UK’s student visa strategy was unequal as EU students had an added advantage, primarily financial in nature. Ever since the UK exited the European Union, these advantages to the EU ceased to exist. Instead, the new UK student visa strategy shifts its focus to international students with a focus on skill and qualifications of students and not country of origin. Visa extensions for students looking for work in the UK job market are also guaranteed. 

Types of UK Student Visas

There are 3 types of visas for Indian students looking to study abroad in the UK.

Child-study visa

Indian students applying to study abroad in the UK who are under 18 years of age must apply for a child study visa. 

Short term visa

This visa is for those looking to pursue short term (under 6 month) study programs. 

Student route visa

Indian students who are above 18 years of age and looking to study abroad in the UK must apply for a student route visa (formerly known as the Tier 4 General student visa) if: 

– You’ll be studying at a university/college course for over 6 months 

– You’ll be taking an English language course for over 11 months.

The student route or graduate route visa allows you to pursue long term studies in the UK which includes Masters and doctoral programs. In addition, international students who want to explore the job market following graduation can convert their student route visa into a graduate route visa by submitting an application to the UK government after the successful completion of their program. 

International Masters students who have successfully completed their program can look for work in any sector for a period of 2 years after graduation. Doctoral students are permitted to stay and look for work for a period of 3 years. If you’re successful in finding a job, you make a separate application for a work visa. 

Graduate Route Visa Eligibility

Once you’ve completed your studies at a UK university, you can apply to convert your student visa to a graduate route visa (which permits you to stay and explore job opportunities for 2 years). Before you apply for the transfer from student route to graduate route, make sure:

1. You’re still based in the UK (you cannot apply for this route if you relocate to India immediately after your study abroad program in the UK)
2. You have studied a bachelors, masters or equivalent program with a duration over 6 months in the UK. 
3. You are in ownership of a student route visa or tier 4 (general) student visa. 
4. Your university in the UK can confirm that you have successfully completed your course of study. 

Course Duration Eligibility

The Home Office will also consider your period of stay in the UK when granting you the graduate route visa. To meet the time requirements, you must have:

• Studied for at least 12 months, if your course duration is more than 12 months
• Matched a time period of study equal to the duration of your course. For e.g., if your course is of 10 months, you must have studied for at least 10 months in the UK

Graduate Route Visa Application Process

Once you’ve completed your study abroad program in the UK, you can make an application to the home office for an extension of your student visa into a graduate route visa. You should do this as soon as you are able to acquire documentation from your university saying that you have successfully completed the program. Make sure to initiate the process well before your student visa expires. The home office lists all the documentation required at the time of application. Once you’ve completed your application, the Home Office in the UK notifies you within 8 weeks of your application regarding whether it was successful or not. You can stay in the UK while you’re awaiting the decision from the home office. 

Application Fees for Graduate Route Visa

• Two and three-year Graduate route application: £715
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £624 per year

What You Can Do On The Graduate Route Visa or UK Post Study Work Visa

As a recent graduate from a study abroad program in the UK, there are several advantages that a graduate route visa grants you that you will not have on a student visa. 

Here’s what the graduate route visa allows you to do:

1. Apply for an be hired by employers across most sectors
2. Live in the UK while you apply for work 
3. Be self-employed
4. Stay in the UK with your children and partner, if they are eligible, while you look for work
5. Volunteer
6. Travel abroad and return to the UK

There are some things that you cannot do in the UK on a graduate route visa.

1. Apply for the benefits like public funds, or the State Pension
2. Work as a professional sportsperson

What Happens When Your Graduate Route Visa or UK Post Study Work Visa Ends?

As a recent graduate in the UK, the graduate route visa allows you to stay for a period up to 2 years and look for gainful employment. This period of time is usually sufficient to apply to opportunities and be hired by prospective employers, especially when your university campus placements have a positive track record. Once you are employed or once your visa expires, you will need to apply for a skilled work visa, a general work visa (tier 2) or other relevant visa. 

For a Tier 2 general work visa, you must have been offered a salary of at least £25,600 per year or £10.10 per hour (whichever is higher) and have a confirmed job offer before you apply.

There’s a lot to look forward to from a study abroad program in the UK. So, do you want to get started applying? Here’s a list of study abroad programs in the UK in promising career fields, like the Top 10 universities for Masters in Computer Science  or Top 10 Masters in Civil Engineering. If you’re interested in a masters in cybersecurity , mechatronics or data analytics, the UK is the place to be! Don’t forget to also check deadlines for funding and scholarships for study abroad programs in the UK. 

Check or contact the individual university websites and departments for the latest information on eligibility, tuition fees, scholarships and application procedures, as these are updated all the time. If you need any help, our student support team is always one click away!