International student support

To apply for a Graduate visa, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You must:

• hold a valid Student visa (or Tier 4 (General) visa) sponsored by the University of Glasgow when you apply

• have successfully completed an eligible course in the UK

• have studied in the UK for the minimum required period on your Student or Tier 4 visa

• have had your successful course completion reported to UKVI by the University of Glasgow

The sections below explain these requirements in more detail.

Eligible courses

To qualify for the Graduate visa, you must successfully complete one of the following types of course while holding your current Student or Tier 4 visa:

• a UK bachelor’s degree

• a UK master’s degree

• a PhD or other doctoral qualification

• a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

• a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

• certain professional legal courses, including:

  • a law conversion course approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • the Legal Practice Course (England and Wales), Solicitors Course (Northern Ireland), or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Scotland)

  • the Bar Practice Course (England and Wales) or Bar Course (Northern Ireland)

• a foundation programme in medicine or dentistry

You must be awarded the qualification listed on the CAS used for your Student visa application.

In some cases, you may still meet this requirement if you were permitted to change to another eligible course without applying for a new Student visa and you successfully complete that course.

Studying in the UK (the “required period”)

You must have studied your course in the UK while holding your current Student or Tier 4 visa for:

• at least 12 months, if your course is longer than 12 months, or

• the full duration of the course, if the course is 12 months or less.

Short trips outside the UK during your studies (such as vacations or permitted absences) will not normally affect your eligibility.

Some courses may include study at a partner institution outside the UK (for example Erasmus Mundus programmes). If you held a Student visa for the full duration of the course, you may still be eligible.

Reporting successful completion to UKVI

The University must confirm to UKVI that you have successfully completed your course before your Graduate visa application can be granted.

Once this report has been made, you will receive an email confirmation from the University. You should normally wait for this confirmation before submitting your visa application. Immigration Compliance have further information on their webpages.

You will not be eligible if:

You will not be able to apply for the Graduate visa if:

• you do not hold a valid Student or Tier 4 visa at the time of application

• you have not successfully completed your course

• you are awarded a lower qualification than the one stated on your CAS (for example a postgraduate diploma instead of a master’s degree)

• you did not study in the UK for the required minimum period on your Student visa

• you have previously been issued a Graduate visa

• you have previously been issued a visa under the Doctorate Extension Scheme

You can apply for a Graduate visa once:

• you have successfully completed your programme, and

• We must have reported your successful completion to UKVI

We will email you to confirm when this report has been made. It will usually be within one week of you getting your final result confirmed. You must wait for this email before submitting your Graduate visa application.

You must apply before your current Student visa expires.

Date of application

Your application date is the date that you submit the application online and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and visa application fee.

If you make an in-time application, you can remain in the UK legally under the conditions of your Student visa while your Graduate visa application is being processed, even if your Student visa expires during this time.

Travelling outside the UK after completing your programme

The immigration rules allow you to leave the UK and re-enter using your student visa after you have completed your programme and while your visa is still valid. You may wish to do this before you apply for the Graduate visa. Be aware that you may be asked by Border Force why you are re-entering on your old visa, so be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

Time spent outside the UK after you have successfully completed your studies will not affect your eligibility for the Graduate visa.

You must apply for the Graduate visa online through the UKVI website.

When completing the application form, you will need information from documents such as:

• your passport

• your CAS used for your current Student visa

• details of your current Student or Tier 4 visa

You will pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the online application. You can see how much it costs here.

After submitting your application

After you submit the online form, you will usually be asked to upload any supporting documents (your form should tell you what these are). The form will also tell you to confirm your identity in one of the following ways:

Using the UK Immigration ID Check app

You may be asked to use the UK Immigration ID Check app to verify your identity. This allows UKVI to reuse the biometric information from your previous visa application.

Attending a biometric appointment

If you cannot use the app, you will be asked to book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to provide your biometric information.

Important: travelling while your application is pending

If you leave the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man) while your application is still in progress, this will automatically withdraw your application. Please note that this advice relates to the Common Travel Area, but we strongly advise you not to leave the UK at all while your application is in progress.

After your application is processed.

UKVI will send you an email confirming the outcome of your application. You should keep this email for your records.

You are able to leave and re-enter the UK after you have your Graduate Visa.

When completing the Graduate visa application, you may be asked to provide information or documents such as:

• CAS number: the CAS you used to apply for your current Student or Tier 4 visa

• Passport: your current valid passport

• Current visa details: your Student visa or BRP (if you have one)

If you are not able to use the UK Immigration ID Check app, you may need to upload copies of your documents and attend a biometric appointment at a UKVCAS centre.

Official financial sponsor consent

You may need written consent from your official financial sponsor before applying for the Graduate visa.

This applies if:

• you completed a course in the UK within the 12 months before your Graduate visa application, and

• you received official financial sponsorship from a government or international scholarship agency, and

• the funding covered both tuition fees and living costs (fully funded).

Your sponsor must confirm in writing that they agree to you applying for the Graduate visa and remaining in the UK.

Examples of official financial sponsors include:

• the UK Government

• your home government

• the British Council

• an international organisation or international scholarship agency

You do not need sponsor consent if:

• your funding did not come from a government or international scholarship agency, or

• your funding only covered tuition fees or living costs, but not both.

See here for more information on whether you can include family members on your visa application.

Working while your application is being processed

If you submit your Graduate Visa application before your Student visa expires (an “in-time” application), you can remain in the UK while you wait for a decision, even if your student visa expiry date passes.

Your student visa working conditions continue to apply while your Graduate Visa application is pending, except that you now should be permitted to work in a full-time permanent role (which was not permitted before you submitted your Graduate Visa application). This is confirmed in the "Work Conditions" section of the student visa Immigration Rules. 

You will only be able to work under the full Graduate visa work conditions once your application has been approved.

UKCISA information on the Graduate Route

UKVI Graduate Visa webpages

UKVI Graduate Visa Caseworker Guidance

Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate

Immigration Rules: Appendix Student

Information on using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app