If you are intending to work in the UK after your studies it is best to start your research early. This is due to the fact that it can take some time to find a position that is right for you.
If you are sponsored by a government, your home university or an international scholarship agency, you should check with your sponsor to confirm that they will allow you to stay in the UK after your studies. In many cases sponsors will want students to return to their home country as soon as their studies are completed.
You can contact the University Careers and Employability Centre who are available to help all students looking for graduate employment, work experience and training. They are based in the University Centre. You can talk to staff, and use reference material and take-away literature to help you with your career planning. Whatever your course, and whichever country you wish to work in when you graduate, they will try to help.
The Careers and Employability Centre cannot assist with questions regarding your visa or work permit applications, you must contact ISAS for immigration advice.
Once you have completed your studies you can work full-time on your student visa (if it allows you to work) up to a maximum of four months, or until your visa expires, whichever is sooner.
You are not allowed to:
Your course completion date will be the date when you have completed all the requirements of your course, if you are unsure you can get confirmation from the Student Enquiries Service.
If you are a postgraduate taught student who has completed all examinations and are working on your dissertation, this is still a part of your course and would count as term time. You should only work within the number of hours allowed for term time.
If you are a postgraduate research student who is writing up their thesis, or have submitted your thesis and are waiting for your oral examination (viva), this period is a part of your course. You should only work within the number of hours allowed for term time.
If your course has finished earlier than planned or you changed to a shorter course please speak to ISAS as different rules may apply to you.
If you have further questions about working after your study on your student visa you should contact ISAS.
For information about the types of post study work schemes available to international students please see the UKCISA website.
Further information on the above schemes and others can be found in the UKCISA guide to working in the UK after your studies.
Please note that the schemes available do change frequently therefore you should check the UK Border Agency website for up-to-date information
Please note that we do not offer appointments for Post Study Work advice. We suggest you use the information provided by UKCISA and the UKBA.
