Graduate Visa Eligibility: Who Can Apply in 2026

TL;DR

You're eligible for the UK Graduate visa if you completed an eligible UK degree on a Student visa at a Higher Education Provider with track-record-of-compliance status, your sponsor has notified UKVI of your completion, and you apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires.

Core eligibility criteria

You qualify if all of these are true:

1. You successfully completed an eligible degree (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, or relevant integrated qualification)
2. The course was at a UK Higher Education Provider with track-record-of-compliance status
3. You completed the course on a valid Student visa (or its predecessor Tier 4 visa) with no significant gaps
4. You apply from inside the UK before your Student visa expires
5. Your sponsor has confirmed your course completion to UKVI (this is automatic — they're required to report it)
6. You haven't previously been granted leave under the Doctorate Extension Scheme or the Graduate route

What counts as a "track-record-of-compliance" sponsor

Most UK universities qualify. The Home Office maintains a list of Higher Education Providers with a track record of compliance — these are the only sponsors whose graduates can apply for the Graduate visa.

Most established universities qualify automatically. Newer providers, alternative providers, and most further education colleges do not.

If you studied at a non-qualifying provider, you cannot apply for the Graduate visa even if everything else about your situation matches. This is sometimes a surprise to applicants who attended business schools or vocational colleges that don't have HEP status.

What counts as an eligible degree

The qualification levels accepted are:

• Bachelor's degree (BA, BSc, etc.)
• Master's degree (MA, MSc, MBA, etc.)
• PhD or other doctoral qualification
• Postgraduate teaching qualifications (PGCE, PGDE)
• Other qualifications explicitly recognised by the Home Office (specific professional qualifications)

Foundation programmes alone don't qualify — they're preparation, not the qualifying course.

Course completion requirement

You need to have successfully completed the course. This means:

• All assessments passed
• The university has formally awarded the qualification (or confirmed completion pending the formal award ceremony)
• The university has reported completion to UKVI

You don't need to wait for the graduation ceremony — confirmation of completion is enough.

If you've failed the course, withdrawn, or transferred to a non-qualifying programme, you don't meet this criterion.

Application timing

The Graduate visa must be applied for:

• From inside the UK — you can't apply from overseas
• Before your Student visa expires — even by one day late and you can't apply
• After your sponsor confirms completion — usually 1-4 weeks after course end

Most applicants apply 4-12 weeks before their Student visa end date, after the formal completion confirmation but before any rush.

What changes from January 2027

The duration drops from 2 years to 18 months for Bachelor's and Master's graduates. PhD graduates remain at 3 years. The eligibility criteria themselves don't change.

The trigger for the new shorter duration is the application submission date — apply on or before 31 December 2026 to lock in 2 years; apply 1 January 2027 onwards for 18 months.

Restrictions and what you can't do

• Can't be sponsored sportsperson — the only major work restriction
• Can't apply twice — if you've previously held a Graduate visa or Doctorate Extension Scheme leave, you can't apply again
• Can't extend the Graduate visa — single grant only

You CAN:

• Work in any role at any skill level (no minimum salary)
• Be self-employed or freelance
• Hold multiple jobs
• Volunteer
• Take internships or unpaid work
• Start a UK business

Common situations and eligibility

Distance learning / blended learning

If you spent significant time outside the UK during your Student visa (e.g. final year remote due to family circumstances), you may need to demonstrate that you completed the qualifying period of study in the UK. UKVI takes a flexible view but check the per-route guidance.

Switching universities mid-course

Switching between qualifying providers is fine if your Student visa was valid throughout. The completing institution must be the one that issues the qualification.

Failed and re-took a year

You can graduate, but the extra year on Student visa counts toward your overall qualifying period. Most students complete on time — re-takes are case-by-case.

Graduated before getting Student visa

You need to have completed the course on the Student visa. If you graduated before getting the visa (e.g. you visited the UK on Visitor visa for a short course), you don't qualify.

Documents needed

The Graduate visa is one of the lightest UK visa applications — typically:

• Valid passport
• CAS reference from your most recent Student visa
• BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) — current immigration status
• TB test certificate only if applying from a listed country (rare for Graduate, since most apply in-country)

You don't submit your degree certificate — UKVI verifies completion directly with your sponsor.

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