The UK Graduate Route, Explained
What the post-study work visa actually gives you, how long it lasts, and how students use it to move onto a Skilled Worker visa before it expires.
By Al Ameen Mohammed Ali, Founder & CEO, AimBritz
Published 16 August 2026 · Last updated 12 November 2026
Short answer
The Graduate Route lets you stay and work in the UK after your degree without a job offer: 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027 (two years if you applied before), and three years after a PhD. It costs £937 plus the £1,035-a-year health surcharge, can't be extended, and doesn't count towards settlement — most graduates use it to switch to a Skilled Worker job.
What it is
The Graduate Route lets most international students stay in the UK and work after completing an eligible course. Its defining feature is that it needs no job offer and no sponsor — you are free to work, look for work, or be self-employed while it lasts.
That freedom is the point. It is a window in which to find a sponsored role, not a permanent status in itself.
How long it lasts
For applications made on or after 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route lasts 18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates. Doctoral (PhD) graduates keep three years. You apply from inside the UK after your university confirms you have successfully completed the course.
What changes on 1 January 2027
Until 31 December 2026 the entitlement is two years for bachelor's and master's graduates. From 1 January 2027 it drops to 18 months. What counts is the date you apply for the Graduate visa — not when your course started — so anyone who completes and applies before 1 January 2027 keeps the two years.
In practice, almost everyone starting a UK course from now on will be on the 18-month rule. That makes the job search tighter: plan internships, sponsor-licensed employers and the switch to the Skilled Worker visa from your first term, not after graduation.
Source: UK university immigration guidance on the rule change (for example the University of Salford's 'Changes to Graduate visas from 1 January 2027'). Rules change — always confirm on gov.uk before you apply.
What it does not do
It does not lead directly to settlement. Time on the Graduate Route does not count towards indefinite leave to remain, which is why the students who use it best treat it as a runway rather than a destination.
The usual sequence is: graduate, take the Graduate Route, find an employer with a sponsor licence, then switch to the Skilled Worker visa — which does count towards settlement.
Cost of the Graduate visa
The application fee is £937, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 a year (for an 18-month visa, one year plus half a year — £1,552.50). The visa can't be extended, so the switch to another visa has to happen within the window.
Switching to a Skilled Worker visa
This is the route that leads to settlement, and the rules tightened in July 2025:
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Job level | Graduate-level roles (RQF 6 and above); medium-skilled roles only if on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List |
| General salary threshold | £41,700, or the going rate for the job if higher |
| New-entrant rate | 70% of the going rate with a floor of £33,400 — for under-26s and recent Student/Graduate visa holders, up to 4 years in total including Graduate visa time |
| English | B2 level for new Skilled Worker applicants from 8 January 2026 |
| Sponsor | The employer must hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence |
Making the window count
Two years passes quickly. Students who convert successfully tend to start looking during their final term rather than after graduating, and target employers who already hold a sponsor licence — that list is public and worth working from.
- ·Start applying before you finish, not after
- ·Filter employers by whether they actually hold a sponsor licence
- ·Understand the salary threshold for your occupation early, since it determines which roles can sponsor you
Common questions
Does the Graduate Route lead to permanent residency?
Not directly. Time on the Graduate Route does not count towards settlement. Most graduates use it to find a sponsored job and switch to the Skilled Worker visa, which does count.
Is the UK Graduate visa 2 years or 18 months?
18 months for bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027; two years if you applied before then. PhD graduates get three years either way. It is the application date that matters, not your course start date.
Do I need a job offer for the Graduate Route?
No — that is its main advantage. You apply after successfully completing your course, without needing an employer or sponsor.
Official sources
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm them on the official sources before you apply — or get your own case checked in a free session.
Free consultation
Every case is different. Get this checked against your own profile — free, with a British Council–certified counsellor.
