Working After Your Studies
Tier 2
Tier 2 (General) (formally known as work permits) is a tier of the Points Based System that allows an employer who is on the UK Border Agency list of Tier 2 (General) licensed sponsors to sponsor an employee who would not usually be allowed to work in the UK. The list of Tier 2 sponsors can be found on the UKBA website.
From April 6th 2012, recent SOAS graduates (and those of other recognised UK bodies) with a Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or PhD can apply to work under the Tier 2 category. To qualify, a graduate requires an offer of a skilled job with a starting salary of over £20,000 or the industry equivalent. See the Tier 2 Codes of Practice on the UKBA website.
Tier 2 licensed sponsors can apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship from UKBA to employ a specific graduate. If this is application is successful, the graduate can use the Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for leave to remain and work in the UK under Tier 2.
The current Tier 2 rules place a responsibility on employers to ensure that they have tried to recruit an employee from within the UK or EEA before they employ a migrant from outside the EEA; this is known as the Resident Labour Market test. Under the new rules, employers will not have to complete this test for recent graduates. Additionally, the annual limits to the number of Tier 2 Certificates of Sponsorship that can be issued will not apply to these graduates.
You can start looking for work before you get your qualification but you cannot accept a permanent job offer as a Tier 4 migrant. Once you have your qualification and have applied for a job and been granted a Certificate of Sponsorship by your employer, you can apply to switch from Tier 4 into Tier 2.
For more information about Tier 2 please visit the UKBA website.
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
SOAS are pleased to announce that we are taking part in the new Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) scheme which opened on 6 April 2012. The scheme is designed to enable graduates that we identify as having developed world class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish one or more businesses. SOAS can sponsor 10 students per year on the scheme. To find out more please go to the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) web page.
Other visa types which allow work in the UK after your studies
Other work related visa categories include; Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme), Tier 5 (Temporary Worker), UK Ancestry and Turkish Workers. For more information about work related visas please visit the UKBA website.
The International Students and Welfare Adviser will be running a series of talks during the summer term on working after your studies. If you would like to attend a talk please email welfare@soas.ac.uk
Where can I get help looking for work?
The SOAS Careers Service offers guidance, advice and information resources on careers, employers, vacancies, CV’s and interview skills.
