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Skip to content PSW stands for “Post-Study Work” visas. Officially, the UK calls its PSW visa the Graduate Route.
Graduates from foreign universities may apply for a post study work visa UK via the graduate route, which allows them to remain in the UK for a certain amount of time after they finish their degree (two or three years, respectively).
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PSW visa holders can stay in the UK after studying for two years after completing a qualifying undergraduate or master’s degree to do post-graduation work or find employment.
After completing a PhD at a qualified institution, international students must stay in the UK for three years to work or search for employment. Graduates can remain in the UK on a PSW visa without needing a Certificate of Sponsorship or sponsorship from an educational institution or company. Once they transition to a PSW visa, their educational institution no longer supports them as students.
While PSW visa holders can attend further education while in the UK, it cannot be at a school that sponsors students for the Tier 4 General student visa, so graduates on this visa cannot work as professional athletes.
When a student changes their visa to a PSW visa, any dependent family members who are currently residing in the UK legally may continue to live with them. New dependents cannot join the PSW visa holders in the UK from outside the country, except for children born in the UK.
You cannot extend your stay in the UK through the Graduate Immigration Route, and it will not contribute to your settlement in the UK. In the section that follows, we discuss ways to extend your stay in the United Kingdom beyond the PSW visa.
In light of the new graduate route, the Doctorate Extension Scheme, which formerly allowed PhD graduates to remain in the UK for an additional year, is no longer valid.
The student must achieve 70 points under the points-based immigration system to be eligible for a PSW visa. After finishing a qualifying course of study in the UK, you receive points. Thus, candidates are obligated to:
Scholarship-receiving international students need their home country’s government approval for a PSW visa to study in the UK.
Applicants applying for a psw visa UK are not mandated to showcase English proficiency or meet specific financial criteria.
EEA or Swiss students in the UK with settled or pre-settled EU status don’t require a PSW visa. The PSW visa permits non-EU residents to stay in the UK without EU settlement authorization.
Those who want to apply must have successfully finished a course that grants either:
All applicants must ensure that the degree course matches the one on their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). They must also have confirmation from the higher education institution that is funding them that they fulfil this requirement.
The optimal way to apply for a PSW visa within the UK is through the Internet. Students are advised to apply while their student visa is still active instead of waiting until they graduate or receive a certificate of completion.
It will cost you £715 to apply for a PSW visa.
Additionally, applicantsmust pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which amounts to £624 for each year of UK leave.
A partner visa lets applicants enter the UK through ties with a permanent resident. Get help from work permit solicitors to understand your options for staying in the UK based on your situation.
Our immigration lawyers frequently assist international students and recent graduates in staying longer in the UK after their studies through the Graduate Route (PSW visa UK). This visa allows you to remain in the UK for up to two years (or three years for doctoral students) to work or look for employment without a sponsor.
Navigating the Home Office regulations can be complex, but our work permit solicitors are highly experienced in guiding students through the various immigration options, including the Graduate Route, ensuring you make informed decisions about your future.
We take great pride in our proactive and approachable service, understanding that each client has unique needs. Our dedicated and highly motivated team is committed to providing precise and easy-to-understand immigration advice, so you can focus on building your career in the UK with confidence.