The UK Graduate visa is a fantastic opportunity, but its availability is strictly tied to the specific course you studied and the institution you attended. To be eligible, you must have successfully completed a qualifying course with a Home Office-approved education provider. Simply finishing a course is not enough; it must meet a precise set of criteria.
This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the course eligibility requirements. Our team of specialist immigration advisors offers a comprehensive eligibility assessment, verifying that your course, your university, and your period of study in the UK all meet the strict criteria, ensuring you are fully eligible before you invest in the application.
The Three Pillars of Course Eligibility
For your course to make you eligible for a Graduate visa, it must satisfy three key conditions regarding your education provider, the type of qualification, and the duration of your study in the UK.
1. Your Education Provider’s Status
This is a simple but crucial first check. The university or college where you studied must be a licensed student sponsor that holds a ‘track record of compliance’ with the Home Office.
- How to check: You can verify your institution’s status on the official Home Office register of licensed sponsors. It must be listed with the status: ‘Student Sponsor – Track Record’. An institution without this status will not be eligible to offer courses that lead to a Graduate visa.
2. The Type of Course You Studied
The Graduate visa is designed for those who have completed a degree-level or specific professional qualification. The most common eligible courses are:
- A UK Bachelor’s degree
- A UK Master’s degree
- A UK PhD or doctorate
In addition to these, a number of specific professional qualifications also make you eligible. These include:
- An approved law conversion course.
- The Legal Practice Course (LPC), Solicitors Course, or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
- The Bar Practice Course or Bar Course.
- A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
In some other specific cases, completing a course that is required to practice in a UK-regulated profession may also be eligible. Your university’s international student advisory team can usually confirm if your specific course qualifies.
3. The Duration of Your Study in the UK
You must have spent a minimum amount of time physically studying your course in the UK while on your Student visa.
- If your course is 12 months or longer: You must have studied in the UK for at least 12 months.
- If your course is shorter than 12 months: You must have studied in the UK for the full duration of the course.
“Studying in the UK” means being present in the country when required by your university, for example, for lectures, seminars, or tutorials. Time spent outside the UK during scheduled holidays (like Christmas or summer breaks) does not break your period of study.
Special COVID-19 Provisions: The Home Office made specific concessions for students who were forced to study online from overseas due to the pandemic. If your studies between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2022 were affected, different rules may apply to you, and time spent studying outside the UK during this period can often be counted. Our advisors can provide a detailed assessment if you were impacted by this.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Course Eligibility
Q: I changed my course halfway through my degree. Can I still apply?
A: Yes. As long as your university permitted you to change courses without needing a new Student visa application, your eligibility will be based on the successful completion of the final course you switched to.
Q: I was a Student Union Sabbatical Officer. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. If your most recent Student visa was to serve as a Sabbatical Officer, you can apply for the Graduate visa, provided you successfully completed an eligible degree-level course in the UK immediately before you started your Sabbatical Officer visa.
Q: My university is not listed as having a ‘Track Record’. What can I do?
A: Unfortunately, if your sponsoring institution does not have the required ‘track record of compliance’ status, you will not be eligible to apply for the Graduate visa.
Confirm Your Eligibility with Expert Advice
Don’t leave your post-study work plans to chance. A simple misunderstanding of the course requirements can lead to a costly and disappointing refusal. Our expert immigration advisors provide a comprehensive eligibility check as part of our service.
- We verify your university’s sponsor status.
- We confirm that your specific qualification is on the eligible list.
- We assess your study duration, including any time affected by COVID-19, to ensure you meet the minimum requirement.
Secure your future in the UK. Contact our specialist Graduate visa team today for a full eligibility assessment and apply with complete confidence.
About the Author:
Farzad Ghods is an international lawyer specialising in UK immigration law. He is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) in the United Kingdom, and is also a member of the Iran Bar Association. He brings over fourteen years of professional legal experience to his practice.