UK Graduate Route Visa (GR)

SUMMARY and responsibilities

The Graduate Route visa (GR) is a flexible and inclusive post study work visa (PSW) that provides the opportunity for eligible Swansea University sponsored students to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, at any skill level for 2 years (3 years for doctoral students) after they have been awarded their degree. Work can be in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship. Study is also permitted under this route, excluding study that should be sponsored under the Student Route visa.

The Visas and International Student Advice (VISA) Compliance team are responsible for reporting all GR eligible students to the Home Office to enable eligible students to make valid applications. However, it is a student’s responsibility to manage their eligibility at all stages of their journey with Swansea University. An important aspect of this is ensuring that you keep the VISA Compliance team informed about any chages to your immigration so that your student record can be kept up to date with your current immigration at all times. This page has been created to clearly convey the eligiblity requirements of the GR visa thus supporting students to protect future immigration aspirations in relation to the UK Graduate route visa.

ELIGIBILITY AND THE REPORTING PROCESS

Within 21 days of a student being awarded their degree all GR eligible students will receive an email from the VISA Compliance team advising them that the Home Office have been advised of their successful completion of a GR eligible qualification and that they can proceed to complete their GR application (if other eligibility criteria can be satisfied). There is no waiting list and there is no need to advise the University that you wish to apply for the GR. Students with nearing visa expiry dates can be assured that they will be prioritised and reporting will take place within 5 working days (48 hours where possible). The email will detail everything required to complete the GR application. You cannot complete a GR application before you receive this email but applications can be prepared in readiness here.

It is important to understand that we cannot identify you and you will not receive this email if we do not have details of a valid student visa (relevant for students who extend their visa). We strongly recommend taking the time to read and understand all of the eligibility information below to ensure you remain eligible to receive the email detailed above at all stages of your journey:

You must be in the UK when you apply

You can only make a GR application from within the UK.

Your window of opportunity for applying for the GR is from the day Swansea University confirms to you that your successful completion of a GR eligible qualification has been reported to the Home Office (as above), until your current student permission expires (remember if you have applied for an extension but not provided the VISA compliance team with your new visa you will not be able to be identified by our systems as eligible). Your successful completion will not be reported until results are ratified and published on the University systems (see sections below). As long as you apply within this window, your student permission is automatically extended until the outcome of your GR application, even when your student permission has expired. This is a general principle of UK immigration law known as 3C leave.

Once you have made your application you must remain in the UK to await the decision.

You must be a Swansea University sponsored student (Student visa)

You must be a Swansea University sponsored student with a valid Student visa when you apply (your current student permission must not have expired).

If you have extended your visa at any point you must have updated your student record with your new immigration status so that reporting can take place against your new visa. Please see the section 'Important Information' for guidence on how to update your student record.

You cannot switch to the GR from any other type of immigration permission. You can apply if you currently have permission as a student sabbatical officer if your last permission was a Student student visa.

If you have previously been granted permission under the GR or DES (Doctorate Extension Scheme) you cannot apply for the GR again during your lifetime.

You must have successfully completed a GR eligible qualification

To be eligible you must have been awarded the UK bachelor's degree, UK masters degree, UK PhD or professional doctorate detailed within your CAS. Exit qualifications are not eligible. Other eligible qualifications include qualifications required by UK law to follow professions such as but not limited to medical doctors, architects, lawyers, teachers, and nurses. An example would be a PGCE (education) or the LPC (legal practice).

You must be awarded your degree within the validity of your current student visa to make an eligible GR application (if you have extended your visa at any time you must share your new visa for it to be updated to your student record). It is VERY IMPORTANT to read the next section titled 'you must have received your results'.

You must have received your results (successfully completed)

Receiving your results within the validity of your student visa could be impacted if your course end date is extended/moved on.

If you are given a new course end date that falls outside of the validity of your student visa you must make a student route visa extension application as soon as possible if you are required to remain in the UK to complete your course. More information can be found here.

If you are given a new course end date that falls within the validity of your student visa it is important to be aware that your results may not be published until after your visa has expired (thus affecting your GR eligibility). We would strongly recommend contacting your faculty promptly to find out exactly when your results will be published when you are given a course end date extension if you are interested in the GR.

We suggest simply emailing 'my course end date has recently been extended, please could you advise me of the date that my results will be published'. Please use the following contact addresses:

Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science: assessment-medicinehealthlifescience@swansea.ac.uk. Faculty of Science and Engineering: assessment-scienceengineering@swansea.ac.uk. Faculty of Humanities and Social Science:- School of Management – assessment-management@swansea.ac.uk. School of Culture and Communication – assessment-cultureandcom@swansea.ac.uk. School of Law – assessment-law@swansea.ac.uk. School of Social Sciences – assessment-socialsciences@swansea.ac.uk

If it is confirmed that your results will be published within the validity of your student visa then you do not need to do anything.
If you are advised that your results will not be published within the validity of your student visa and you want to apply for the GR when you are awarded your degree, you will need to apply for a student route visa extension before your new course end date and ensure your student record is updated with this new visa once you receive your outcome.

To coordinate this you will need to apply for a CAS to extend your Student visa here.

Student Visa Extension = New Course End Date + an Additional 4 Month Wrap Up Period

Important Information

If you have applied for a visa extension you will not be reported for the GR visa until your student record is updated with your new immigration document. To do this please send a share code to the VISA Compliance team. You can generate a share code to email the team here.

You can only apply for and be granted the GR visa once in your lifetime.

Your faculty will not be able to go outside of the normal assessment schedules to fast-track the release of your results (results must be received within the validity of your student visa).

If you have an outstanding Academic Misconduct case or any outstanding fees the VISA Compliance team will not notify the Home Office of your 'successful completion of a Graduate route eligible qualification' and will not support a CAS application for a student route visa extension.

If you have received your results and need to make an urgent GR visa application because of a nearing student permission expiry (please allow 5 working days where possible) you can email: kathryn.miller@swanse.ac.uk.

If your GR application is taking longer than expected you will need to contact the Home Office directly: Check when you will get your visa decision.

Swansea University is a UKVI Licensed Student Sponsor - Track Record

The UK governments register of licensed students sponsors can be found here.

Updated March 2025