can I come to the UK as part of the international graduates scheme?

This page explains how you can come to the United Kingdom as part of the International Graduates Scheme and explains how you can still apply under the former Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme.

You can apply for the scheme whilst you are in the United Kingdom or from abroad. To find out more information see the page on how to apply.

International Graduates Scheme

To be granted leave to stay in the United Kingdom under the International Graduates Scheme you must have successfully completed a course at an institution of higher or further education, which is listed on the Department for children, schools and families website on or after 1 May 2007. The types of course you must have completed are:

• a bachelors degree course;
• a masters or PhD course; or
• a postgraduate certificate or diploma.

You must:

• have completed your course in the last 12 months (as shown by the date of expiry of leave as a student to complete this course);
• intend to work during the period of leave granted under the scheme;
• be able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without using public funds; and
• intend to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your stay.

If you completed your course on or after 1 May 2007 you can apply for the International Graduates Scheme regardless of which course you have studied. However, if you finished your course before 1 May 2007 you will have to apply under the conditions of the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme rules.

You can switch into the International Graduates Scheme if you are already in the United Kingdom and you have valid leave as a student. This includes leave as a student, a student nurse, to re-sit an examination or to write up a thesis.If you leave the United Kingdom you can apply under the rules listed above but you will need entry clearance.

You will be granted 12 months maximum leave to complete the International Graduates Scheme. If you spend anytime outside the United Kingdom during this time, we will not give you further leave to make up this time.

You will be able to switch into other employment and self-employment categories (work permit employment, Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, business plans or innovators) whilst in the United Kingdom providing you meet all the requirements of the category.

If you are being sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency you will need to get written permission from your sponsor before applying for the International Graduates Scheme.

All dependants can stay in the United Kingdom under the International Graduates Scheme. If they are applying from abroad they will need entry clearance.

Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme

If you finished your course before 1 May 2007 and were planning to apply for the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme, the same rules apply as the International Graduate Scheme except the types of courses are slightly different. They are:

• a degree course (with 2:2 honours or higher); and
• a masters or PhD on the relevant list of physical science, mathematics and engineering courses.

You will need to know what the joint academic coding system's code for your course is when applying for the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme, and your tutor or a member of the university staff will be able to provide you with this.

If you have completed a masters degree or PhD that was not on the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme list of eligible courses (PDF 41K opens in a new window), and you started it after 1 May 2006 and completed it before 1 May 2007 you can apply for the International Graduates Scheme providing that you meet the other requirements of the Rules.

Back to our Working in the UK International Graduates section.

 

Please note CK and Jones is not currently providing any immigration advice until we become regulated by the OISC. Please browse our visa information sections in the meantime and use the contact us page to leave us a message.

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