Working in the
UK after your
studies
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International Student Support
Options
Main routes
Tier 1 – Entrepreneurs and Investors
Tier 2 General – skilled jobs with a Tier 2 sponsor
Tier 5 – Temporary workers and Youth Mobility Scheme
PhD route – Doctorate extension scheme (Tier 4)
Other Options (only relevant to some)
Dependants
Spouse or partner of person settled in UK
EEA family member
UK Ancestry route – Commonwealth + grandparent UK born
Turkish Workers – self employment and working rights
(Note Tier 3 is currently closed and Tier 4 is student route)
.
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Resources and links
What help is available to me

ISS website -www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/immigration

This presentation will be emailed to you

UKCISA website, section ‘The next stage’, www.ukcisa.org.uk/InternationalStudents/The-next-stage/Working-after-your-studies/

UK Visas and Immigration website (UKVI), www.gov.uk/browse/visasimmigration/work-visas – guides for each Tier

See an International Student Adviser at a drop-in (Bramber House Level 2 – usually
2-4 Monday to Friday, check our website for a monthly timetable)

Email immigration queries to immigration@sussex.ac.uk
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Tier 2 requirements: an overview
There are different subgroups of Tier 2:
 Main route is Tier 2 (General)
 Intra-company transfers which could apply to you if you are employed by a multinational company outside the UK which has a UK branch
 Sportspersons
 Ministers of Religion
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General: points system
A. Attributes – 50 points required
 Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) = 30 points
 Salary – minimum of £20,800 (can be higher) = 20 points
B. English Language – 10 points (your degree)
C. Maintenance – 10 points
£945 held for continuous 90 day period OR A-rated sponsor certifies will maintain and
accommodate applicant until end of first month of employment
TOTAL = 70 points required
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General – Overview
In order to apply under Tier 2 (General), you must meet all the following requirements:
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Job offer from an employer who has a Tier 2 sponsor licence
Job skills level requirement
There is a minimum wage level of £20,800, it can be higher
Strict advertising requirements for jobs (some cases student exemption if applying in
the UK?)
You have to prove that you have English language skills (your degree)
You have to meet maintenance requirements
If you apply outside the UK your job must also score a number of points (32 minimum)
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General – Overview
To be able to apply for Tier 2, you need a graduate level job offer from an employer who
holds a Tier 2 licence ( Issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS))
Check if potential employers are on the Tier 2 register of sponsors - employers (29,276),
www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers
If employer is not a Tier 2 sponsor - CEC have an information sheet to give employers
Initial grant up to 5 years or length of the contract (whichever is shorter), extension to 6
years
Only work for sponsor in occupation stated on CoS BUT supplementary and voluntary
work permitted
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Full details, www.gov.uk/tier-2-general
Tier 2 and 5 Register of Sponsors
Tier 2 General – Application
options
Tier 2 application options:
1. Applying in the UK before your Tier 4 visa expires, special provisions for students – in
most cases no Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) and new entrant salary level
applies
2. Applying from your home country – Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) applies
(restricted COS and points system apply) exception from RLMT if shortage occupation.
What is the Resident Labour Market Test?
This is the process an employer must follow before employing a person who is not a
permanent resident of the United Kingdom, they must be able to prove that no suitably
skilled settled worker could do the job (specific advertising requirements)
What is the shortage occupation list?
Jobs that employers find hard to fill using settled workers, the RLMT does not apply to
these jobs. Examples.
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General – Shortage
Occupation
Tier 2 application options:
1. Applying in the UK before your Tier 4 visa expires, special provisions for students – no
Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) and new entrant salary level applies
2. Applying from your home country – Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT) applies
except if the job is on shortage occupation list (restricted COS and
points system).
What is the Resident Labour Market Test?
This is the process an employer must follow before employing a person who is not a
permanent resident of the United Kingdom, they must be able to prove that no suitably
skilled settled worker could do the job (specific advertising requirements)
What is the shortage occupation list?
Jobs that employers find hard to fill using settled workers, the RLMT does not apply to
these jobs. Examples.
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General – What type of
jobs are acceptable?
This is explained in the Codes of practice
Employers use Codes of practice to identify the standard occupational classification for
a job
The codes of practice tell you what the minimum rates of pay and the skill level are for
any job, explains which jobs are acceptable under Tier 2
Most jobs must be NQF level 6 minimum (exceptions in creative sector/shortage
occupation)
Details salary requirements by job – all £20,800 or higher
Salary levels differ for ‘new entrant’ and ‘experienced worker’
Codes of practice - www.gov.uk/government/publications/sponsorship-codes-of-practice-for-skilledworkers (Example)
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 General – What type of
jobs are acceptable?
This is explained in the Codes of practice
The codes of practice tell you what the minimum rates of pay and the skill level are for
any job, explains which jobs are acceptable under Tier 2
All jobs must be NQF level 6 minimum (exceptions in creative sector/shortage
occupation)
Details salary requirements by job – all £20,800 or higher
Salary levels differ for ‘new entrant’ and ‘experienced worker’
Employers use Codes of practice to identify the standard occupational classification for
a job they are recruiting for
Codes of practice - www.gov.uk/government/publications/sponsorship-codes-of-practice-for-skilled-workers
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 – Do I qualify for the
RLMT exemption?
Student exemption from the Resident Labour Market Test (RLMT), if you apply in the UK
before your Tier 4 visa expires AND:
Your period of study towards your award was undertaken whilst you had entry
clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK and you were not subject to a
restriction preventing you from study
You must have completed at least 12 months of study in the UK towards a UK PhD, or
have completed and passed a UK recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree or a PGCE
(during your current leave, or a period of continuous leave which includes your current
grant of leave)
CHECK if you will meet the student exemption requirements here:
www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/The-next-stage/Working-after-yourstudies/Employment-Tier-2/Resident-Labour-Market-Test-and-exemptions/
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Tier 2 – Application process,
requirements, costs, & timing
Once you have your Certificate of sponsorship from your employer, fill in online form
You need to maintain £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days (sponsor
certification possible from A rated sponsors), timing?
Deadline to apply in the UK is your visa expiry date
Cost of application – Less than 3 years = Postal £651, PEO in person £1,051, from Home
£564
Cost of application – More than 3 years costs increases
Payment of Immigration Health Surcharge - £150 per year (at time of application)
Are you or have you been financially sponsored ? Unconditional consent letter needed if
in last 12 months and fully sponsored (fees and living costs)
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 2 – Timing
How long will my TIER 2 application take?
Decisions are made:
• within 8 weeks for postal/online applications – usually quicker!
• within 10 days if you’re able to use the Tier 2 priority application service
• usually on the same day if you use the premium service
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example
because:
• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend a credibility interview
Starting work – in some cases this is possible if agreed with your employer.
You need a graduate level job offer with a salary of > £20,800
Tier 5
Purpose – for people coming to the UK through approved schemes that aim to share
knowledge, experience and best practice, and to experience the UK's social and cultural
life.
2 Schemes
1. Youth mobility scheme
2. Temporary Worker - subcategories:


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government authorised exchange
creative and sporting
charity workers
religious workers
international agreement
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Tier 5 – Youth Mobility Scheme
Youth mobility scheme is available to nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco,
New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, & Hong Kong (SAR), and to British Overseas
Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas).
Allocations by country are:
Australia - 38,000 places
Canada - 5,500 places
Japan - 1,000 places
Monaco - 1,000 places
New Zealand - 11,000 places
Republic of Korea - 1,000 places (certificates of sponsorship)
Taiwan - 1,000 places (certificates of sponsorship)
Hong Kong Special Administration Region – (certificates of sponsorship)
Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong SAR – a valid CoS is required from national
government
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Tier 5 – Youth Mobility Scheme
18-30 year olds only
£1,890 in your bank account on date of application
No previous time in UK as a Working Holidaymaker or a Tier 5 (YMS) migrant
Single period of leave for 2 years – you can work in the UK for up to 2 years
Self-employment permitted but restrictions
No switching in the UK, apply from home only
No dependants allowed
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Tier 5 – Government Authorised
Exchange (GAE)
Made up of four programmes:
 Work experience programmes (55)– volunteering, job-shadowing, internships and
approved work experience programmes. Max stay 12 months.
 Research programmes – working on specific scientific, academic, medical or
government research projects. Max stay 24 months.
 Training programmes – in receipt of formal, practical training in the fields of science
and/or medicine. Includes training programmes for qualifying graduates. Max stay 24
months. (Research and Training programmes – 17)
 Overseas government language programmes. Max stay 24 months. (1)
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Tier 5 – Government Authorised
Exchange, requirements
Need to be sponsored by a licensed overarching body and be issued with a Certificate of
Sponsorship
Must meet the requirements of the individual scheme
You can stay in the UK for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re
applying for)
National minimum wage applies
Switching into GAE only in specific circumstances, some GAE schemes allow application
in UK
Maintenance requirement £945 for 90 days (or sponsor certification)
VISA fee £225 by post/online OR £625 in person
 You must have one of the following:
• a PGCE, PGDE, or UK bachelors or masters degree
• completed at least 12 months study towards a UK PhD
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Tier 5 – Government Authorised
Exchange, examples
Tier 5 Intern Scheme – run by GTI recruitment solutions, http://tier5intern.com/aboutthe-scheme, work experience scheme, employer needs to register with GTI
Industry specific and professional bodies e.g. Bar Council, Sponsored Scientific
Researcher Initiative, BUNAC
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Tier 5 – Government Authorised
Exchange
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Tier 5 – Government Authorised
Exchange
Start researching relevant schemes - you need to find your own Internship or
opportunity – work placements/contacts
Contact the Tier 5 sponsor to ask for full details and find out how to apply
Details of GAE schemes www.gov.uk/government/publications/tier-5-governmentauthorised-exchange-schemes
Tier 5 GAE guidance, www.gov.uk/tier-5-government-authorised-exchange
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Doctorate extension scheme –
Tier 4
PhD work scheme - must be studying for a PhD qualification
Apply in UK only, before your course ends via Tier 4 route – speak to an adviser 3
months before your thesis submission
 TIMING VERY important
Apply after viva, once submitted corrections (if any), must apply before official
completion – keep in touch with Research Student Administration Office re timing
Self-employment allowed
Do not need a job offer to apply for DES
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Doctorate extension scheme –
Tier 4
12 months duration – bridge Tier 2
Maintenance £1,640, for 28 consecutive days
Costs the same as Tier 4 (it is part of Tier 4), postal £439, in person £839
Are you financially sponsored ? Consent letter needed if in last 12 months and fully
sponsored (fees and living costs)
University of Sussex will continue to be your sponsor (monitoring requirements)
www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/working/doctorateextensionscheme
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Tier 1 – “High value migrants!’
Tier 1 of the Points Based System offers several routes for working in the UK as what the Home Office
terms a "high-value migrant“, there are a number of subcategories:
Exceptional talent
Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur
Investor
You can find information about all of these schemes at www.gov.uk/search?q=tier+1
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Tier 1 – “Exceptional talent”
Exceptional talent – this route is for exceptionally talented individuals who wish to work in the UK in
the fields of:





Science
Humanities
Engineering
The arts
Technology
Either:
Already internationally recognised at the highest level as world leaders or emerging leaders in field
OR
Already demonstrated ‘exceptional promise’ and are likely to become world leaders in particular field
(from 6 April 2014)
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Tier 1 – “Exceptional talent”
Require endorsement from Designated Competent Body (Arts Council, Royal Academy of
Engineering, British Academy, Royal Society, Tech City UK - recognised world leaders only)
Limited to 1000 per year
No maintenance requirement
Initial grant 3 years and 4 months, extension 2 years, settlement after 5 years
More details can be found here - www.gov.uk/tier-1-exceptional-talent
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Tier 1 – “Entrepreneur, Investor
and Graduate Entrepreneur”
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) a scheme for graduates who have been endorsed by a UK university
as having developed ‘genuine and credible business ideas and entrepreneurial skills’ . Sussex is not
participating in this scheme in 2014/15 or 2015/16. This will be reviewed for the following academic
year
Entrepreneur - is for people who want to invest in the UK by setting up or taking over, and being
actively involved in the running of, a business or businesses here (Usual £200,000, minimum £50,000
investment)
Investor - is for high-net-worth individuals who want to make a substantial financial investment in
the UK (minimum £1 million)
You can find detailed information about all of these schemes at www.gov.uk/browse/visasimmigration/work-visas
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Contact details
Bramber House, 2nd Floor, Room 202
T: +44(0) 1273 678422
E: immigration@sussex.ac.uk
www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/immigration
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