The Careers Service cannot give personal advice on immigration.

For further information on immigration and visas, please contact the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) through their free advice line: (020) 7107 9922 (Mon – Fri 13.00 – 16.00hrs). If UKCISA have not been able to provide the right information for you, contact the International Student Advisers in Royal Holloway’s Student Advisory and Support department.

It is possible to apply for a visa to live and work in the UK from a UK embassy in your home country. You can get a list of embassies from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Students from the European Economic Area and Switzerland

People from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have a right to live and work in the United Kingdom. People from countries which joined the EU in 2004 may have to register to work in the United Kingdom. Bulgarian and Romanian nationals may need to apply for an Accession Workers Card and your employer may have to apply for a work permit.

Further information for EEA nationals can be found on the UK Border agency website

The British Council website also has details about rules for working whilst studying:

Immigration for International students (non EEA)

There are a number of ways in which people from outside of the EEA (European Economic Area) can apply to live and work in the UK. Those which commonly apply to graduates include the following:

Tier 1 (general)- International workers can apply to live and work in the UK using this points-based system. Points are awarded for factors such as age, qualifications, previous earnings and ability to speak and write English. Years spent in the UK on the Tier 1 scheme count towards the years required to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Tier 1 (post study work) – Graduates from UK universities can apply for a two year visa to live and work in the UK following graduation. Years spent in the UK on the post study work visa do not count towards the years required to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Tier 2 (skilled workers) – Certain organisations who are unable to find UK nationals with the appropriate skills and qualifications to fill their jobs are able to sponsor international people to come and work in the UK. You will need have an offer of a job from one of these organisations to be eligible for this visa.

Further information and details on how to apply for these schemes can be found on the UK Border Agency website.

Don’t assume employers understand your rights to work; the rules are complex and change often. It will benefit you if you can explain your rights to them, or direct them to appropriate sources of information.