The UK’s new Graduate Route has opened from 1 July 2021.
The UK’s Minister for Immigration also stated that the Covid concessions of visa rules, around a requirement to be in the UK to study for the next intake, will be extended to 6 April 2022.
This means that newly arriving international students will be able to study remotely if health and visa requirements need them to do so. They will still be eligible for working rights on the scheme after graduating.
Kevin Foster, the UK Minister for Immigration, clarified that “those are the rules that relate, for example, to blended learning and distance learning.”
The government is keen to encourage students to consider the 6 April a deadline rather than a “target for arrival”.
“We hope the world will be in a much better position come February and March next year, particularly with vaccination programmes advancing rapidly now in many countries,” Foster added.
The UK Graduate Route opened on 1 July and international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above are eligible to apply. They must have graduated from a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, and have a valid Tier 4 or Student Visa at the time of application.
Students must also have completed the entirety of their course in the UK as a student, with the exception of permitted study abroad programmes or remote study due to Covid-19, as clarified by the UK Minister for Immigration.
Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International (UUKi) said:
“The Graduate route is a real opportunity for international students to make the most of their UK degree and gain valued experience working in a UK based organisation, making them more employable in the future. Along with the flexibility the UK offers around how students wish to begin their UK experience, these are really welcoming policies, developed to make the UK as attractive as possible to international students. We want you to choose the UK.”
You can apply for the Graduate Route as soon as your university has sent you your final course results, and not before. You must also be in the UK to apply. More information can be found on the UK Government website.
