Oxford

DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS
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VISA OPTIONS FOR WORKING IN THE UK
To stay in the UK to work after your studies, overseas students will need permission in the form of
an immigration visa, unless you are an EEA or Swiss national. The rules about working in the UK
are complex and change frequently, so be sure to check for full and up-to-date information.
The University’s Visa and Immigration Advisers give regular talks at the Careers Service on the
current work visa options and can also cover individual queries. Check our event calendar on
CareerConnect for details. Regrettably, The Careers Service’s staff cannot advise on visas.
Up to date information on all your visa options is available through the webpages of:
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Oxford University: www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa/work
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UK Government: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
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UK Council for International Student Affairs: www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Thenext-stage/Working-after-your-studies/
TIER 2 VISAS
Under Tier 2, licensed employers can sponsor applicants for a specific graduate-level job. There
are special arrangements for applying in the UK for a Tier 2 visa for recent graduates, and DPhil
students who have completed at least a year of their course. To qualify under this scheme you
must have a suitable job offer from a licensed sponsor, have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship,
and meet financial and language requirements. You will need to discuss with a prospective
employer whether they are willing and able to sponsor you. The salary offered must be both
at the appropriate level for the job and a minimum of £20,800. If you apply under the special
arrangements for students, your employer is exempt from undertaking a Resident Labour Market
Test. It is also possible to apply under Tier 2 later from outside the UK, but this is more restrictive
for both you and the employer.
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The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA – www.ukcisa.org.uk ) provides useful
information about applying under Tier 2.
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You can check whether an employer is a Tier 2 licensed sponsor by looking at the Home
Office’s register (via www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ukba-sponsors).
TIER 4 - DOCTORATE EXTENSION SCHEME
Tier 4 (Doctorate Extension Scheme) allows DPhil students nearing the end of their studies to stay
in the UK for one year to seek and take work, or to be self-employed. You must be sponsored by
the University and apply in the UK before you officially complete your studies.
TIER 1 - GRADUATE ENTREPRENEUR
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) is for graduates who have a genuine and credible business idea
for development in the UK. Oxford University can usually endorse a maximum of 20 places for
applicants under this system each year. Applications for endorsement are made via The Careers
Service, and the process for making an application will be advertised on The Careers Service’s
website and in its e-newsletter. Consider discussing your business idea with our Entrepreneur in
Residence: see Business Mentoring (p.31).
OTHER OPTIONS
Nationals from some countries may have other access to other routes for working in the UK,
including a scheme for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, and the Tier 5
visa (Youth Mobility Scheme), both of which you must apply for from your home country.
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