What is the UK Graduate Route and how long can I stay after studying?

The Graduate Route is a UK visa that allows international students to stay and work in the UK for 2 years after completing their degree (3 years for PhD graduates). It was introduced in 2021 and has been very popular.

Who is eligible:
- Successfully completed a degree at bachelor's, master's, or PhD level at a licensed UK student sponsor (university)
- Held a valid Student visa for at least part of your studies in the UK
- Not on the Academic Progression pathway
- Must apply from within the UK

What you can do on the Graduate Route:
- Work in any job, at any level, for any employer — no restrictions
- Be self-employed
- Look for work — no minimum salary requirement

What you cannot do:
- Access public funds
- Extend it — it cannot be renewed. You have 2 (or 3) years total.

How to apply:
- Apply online through the UKVI portal
- Apply while your student visa is still valid (do not let it expire first)
- Fee: £822
- No need for employer sponsorship
- Processing: Usually 8 weeks

After the Graduate Route — next steps:
If you find skilled employment paying at least £38,700/year (the current skilled worker salary threshold), you can switch to a Skilled Worker visa directly from within the UK without needing to leave.

The Graduate Route is an excellent option to build UK work experience, which helps when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the future.