Apply for the Graduate visa

Stay and work in the UK after you graduate

If your application is successful, you can:

• Stay in the UK for:
  • 2 years after graduation (undergraduate or postgraduate students)
  • 3 years if you’ve completed a PhD

• Work in any job, at any skill level
• Work without employer sponsorship
• Earn any salary (no minimum requirement)
• Switch jobs at any time or take time to look for work
• Be self-employed or freelance.

From 1 January 2027, the duration will change to 18 months instead of 2 years (PhD remains 3 years).

What you need to know

• You do not need a job offer to apply
• This visa is not extendable
• You may be able to switch to another visa (for example, a Skilled Worker visa) if you want to stay longer.

Dependants

• Your partner and children can stay with you only if they are already in the UK as your dependant
• You cannot bring new dependants on this visa route.

Check if you're eligible

You can apply if all of the following apply:

• You’re in the UK when you apply
• Your current visa is a Student visa (or Tier 4)
• You’ve successfully completed a UK undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree or PhD
• Your university has reported your successful completion to the Home Office
• You meet the minimum study requirement in the UK
• You apply before your Student visa expires
• You have not previously had a Graduate visa.

Study requirement

You must have studied in the UK for:

• At least 12 months, if your course is longer than 12 months, or
• The full length of your course, if it’s shorter than 12 months.

Important information before you apply

Do not apply until you receive confirmation from the university that your course completion has been reported to the Home Office.

Applying before this happens is likely to result in your visa being refused.

At Coventry University London, the International Student Compliance (ISC) team will email you once this has been confirmed.

When to contact the ISC team

Get in touch via email if:

• It’s been more than 6 weeks since your results and you haven’t received confirmation
• You have less than one month left on your visa.

Apply for a Graduate visa

You can apply online via GOV.UK once you’ve received confirmation from your university.

Find out more about the Graduate visa

The Student Portal has more information on the Graduate visa. The ISC Team Portal also has general information for international students on a Student visa.