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You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.
If your visa was for a full-time programme of study and your visa type permitted work during term-time, after you have successfully completed your course you can work full-time until your visa expires. Please note the following:
Please note that during the period after you have successfully completed your programme of study, the same restrictions on the type of work that is permitted still applies. Types of work that are not permitted include: self-employment/business activity; work as a professional sportsperson including as a sports coach; work as an entertainer; and taking work as a doctor or dentist in training.
If we remove sponsorship on your visa because you have withdrawn or suspended from your course or because you have exited with a lower award then you are not permitted to undertake any work after the date that we remove sponsorship of your visa, unless you successfully complete the lower level degree at either Bachelor’s level or postgraduate level as part of an integrated programme for which your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned.
You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on working after studies
The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.
Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) launched the new Graduate Route visa on 1 July 2021.
Students will be eligible to apply for permission to stay on the Graduate Route if they have successfully completed the programme of study for which their CAS was issued and they still have valid permission in the UK as a student (on either Tier 4 or Student visa).
Further information for students looking to apply to the Graduate Route, including eligibility, how to apply, accessing your immigration status (eVisa) and conditions of the route can be found in the Home Office guidance: The Graduate route: information for international students
There is also the UKVI webpage Graduate visa
Please note the following main points you should be aware of:
The VISAS team will email eligible students to their University email address once we have notified UKVI of successful completion of course, following the award date. Students should wait to submit an application under the Graduate Route until they have received the email confirmation.
Students who expected they would be eligible and have not received a notification 10 working days after the award date should contact the VISAS team for further advice.
To be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route:
Concessions due to COVID-19:
Where distance learning took place overseas between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022, this will not prevent the applicant meeting the requirement to spend the relevant period studying in the UK if either:
(a) you began a course of 12 months or less prior to 21 June 2021 and entered the UK on or before 27 September 2021 with permission as a Student; or
(b) you began a course of 12 months or less between 21 June 2021 and 30 June 2022 and entered the UK on or before 30 June 2022 with permission as a Student.
Any period of distance learning between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 as part of a course of study lasting longer than 12 months whilst you held permission as a Student, will not prevent you from meeting the study in the UK requirement.
You can apply after you have been awarded your degree but only after the University has confirmed this to UKVI.
You will need your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number for your current course at Southampton (the course you will be graduating). You will not need to evidence funds. However, if you were a financially sponsored student, you will need permission from your financial sponsor to remain in the UK on the Graduate Route.
There are very few work restrictions, you cannot work as a professional sportsperson including work as a coach. All other work including self-employment is permitted.
Please note that after you apply for the Graduate Route and whilst you are waiting for the outcome of your application, you are restricted to the work conditions of your Tier 4/Student visa.
You cannot study on a course that you would normally study on a Student visa. However, you are permitted to switch back to a Student visa to undertake another course in the UK. You cannot apply for another Graduate Route visa after further study.
Only if they are already in the UK as your dependant on your Tier 4 or Student visa.
You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) - further information on working after studies
The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.
Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
Note: the Skilled Worker visa replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa on 1 December 2020.
The University of Southampton Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS Team) cannot offer advice about applying for work visas.
For information and guidance on switching into the Skilled Worker visa from a Student visa, please refer to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) online guidance. The links to both UKVI and UKCISA can be found below.
You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)- further information on working after studies
The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.
Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
The Start-up route is a sponsored route aimed at students/graduates who wish to establish a business in the UK. The University of Southampton is a Home Office approved endorsing body.
For further information, including how to apply for visa sponsorship under this route, please refer to the Careers and Employability Service website.
You can contact us by email and through online chat. We also offer online 1 to 1 appointments.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) - further information on work visas
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)- further information on working after studies
The information contained in this website is believed to be correct at the time of publication.
Please note: The University of Southampton is not responsible for the content of any external websites.