Post-study workers
Initial applications
This section explains how you can make your initial application under the post-study worker category (Tier 1 Post-study work) of our points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.
On this page
- How to apply if you are already in the United Kingdom
- The immigration categories from which you can switch into the post-study worker category
- The conditions you must meet for permission to stay if you apply and are already in the United Kingdom as a student
- How to apply if you are in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man
- How to apply if you are outside the United Kingdom
- The conditions you must meet for permission to enter or stay if you apply from outside the United Kingdom
It applies if you are in the United Kingdom as a student (which includes student, student nurse, student resitting examinations and student writing up a thesis). If you are in any other category, you cannot apply to switch into the Tier 1 (Post-study work) category.
You should read the section on eligibility first, to make sure you meet the requirements to apply.
How to apply if you are already in the United Kingdom
The process for applying is:
Step 1: complete a self-assessment online using our points-based calculator to find out if you are likely to score enough points.
Step 2: fill in the post-study worker application form.
Step 3: send it to us with your fee and supporting evidence.
We strongly advise you to send all supporting documents with your application. We will not consider any evidence sent in after we have made a decision.
If you are sending any dependant applications at the same time as your own application, we encourage you to send your application and dependant applications in the same envelope.
The immigration categories from which you can switch into the post-study worker category
If you are in the United Kingdom and wish to remain as a post-study worker, you will need to be sure that you can switch into this category. You can apply to extend your stay in this category if you are already in the United Kingdom as a student (which includes students, student nurses, students resitting examinations and students writing up a thesis).
Switching into this category is allowed if you currently hold leave in the following categories:
- student;
- student nurse;
- student resitting examinations;
- student writing up a thesis.
If you are a participant in the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), International Graduates Scheme (IGS) or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT: WISS), you should see the section on transitional arrangements.
If you are here under any other category, you will not be able to switch into the post-study worker category. You can find more information on switching on the pages of Working in the UK that are relevant to your category.
If you are given leave to remain (permission to stay) as a post-study worker, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum period of two years. When the end of this period approaches you will not be able to apply to extend your stay, as we expect you to switch into another category of the points-based system.
The conditions you must meet for permission to stay if you apply and are already in the United Kingdom as a student
If you are applying to stay as a student (this includes student, student nurses, students resitting examinations and students writing up a thesis), leave to remain is subject to the following conditions:
- you must have no recourse to public funds which means you will not be able to claim most benefits paid by the state;
- you must register with the police if this is needed by paragraph 326 in part 10 of the immigration rules;
- you may not be employed as a doctor in training.
We do not allow employment as a doctor in training unless you have, or were last given, permission to enter or stay in the International Graduates Scheme (IGS), or Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT:WISS).
How to apply if you are in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man
The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and Alderney) and the Isle of Man have their own immigration laws and policies, separate to those of the United Kingdom. For immigration control, we treat these islands as outside the United Kingdom.
If you are living within the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and have been granted permission to stay (leave to remain) there by one of the island authorities, you will not be able to make an application for leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a post-study worker directly from the islands.
In these circumstances, you can apply under Tier 1 (Post-study work) in two ways. These are:
- by returning to the country where you are normally resident (your home country) and applying for permission come to the United Kingdom (entry clearance) from there; or
- if your permission to stay on one of the islands is still current, you can come directly to the United Kingdom. Once you are in the United Kingdom, you may apply to switch into Tier 1 (Post-study work) provided the immigration category under which you were given permission to stay on the islands is one from which United Kingdom immigration law allows you to switch into Tier 1 (Post-study work). This is because, once you have travelled to the United Kingdom, we are able to treat the leave given to you under the island laws as if it had been granted by the United Kingdom authorities.
The immigration categories from which you can switch are listed in the section above. You must make your application to switch into Tier 1 (Post-study work) before your current leave to remain in the islands expires.
In certain circumstances, overseas nationals living on the islands must obtain a visa (entry clearance) before travelling to the United Kingdom. You can find these in the immigration directorate instructions, Chapter 1, Section 2.
How to apply if you are outside the United Kingdom
The process for applying if you are outside the United Kingdom is:
Step 1: complete a self-assessment online using our points-based calculator to find out if you are likely to score enough points.
Step 2: go to the visa services website, which you can find on the right of this page, to find out if you must submit any personal details in the country you are applying from and to find the application form.
Step 3: take or send your form(s), fee and supporting evidence to the visa application centre. You must also arrange to give your biometrics, which are usually taken at the visa application centre.
We strongly advise you to bring all supporting documents with your application. We will not consider any evidence provided after we have made a decision.
If you are granted entry clearance as a post-study worker from outside of the United Kingdom, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum period of two years. When the end of this period approaches you will not be able to extend your stay, as we expect you to switch into another category of the points-based system.
The conditions you must meet for permission to enter or stay if you apply from outside the United Kingdom
Leave is subject to the following conditions:
- you may have no recourse to public funds, which means you will not be able to claim most benefits paid by the state;
- you must register with the police if this is needed by paragraph 326 of the immigration rules;
- you may not be not employed as a doctor in training.
We do not allow employment as a doctor in training unless you have, or were last given, permission to enter or stay in the International Graduates Scheme (IGS), or Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS), or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme (FT:WISS).
Application forms
Tier 1 (Post-study work) - for applications made inside the United Kingdom
- Application for a grant of leave under Tier 1 (Post-study work) - main applicant. Valid from 1 October 2009.PDF 910KB opens in a new window
- Photograph guidancePDF 325KB opens in a new window
- Tier 1 (Post-study work) of the points-based system - policy guidance PDF 331KB opens in a new window
Terms explained
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Public funds
Public funds are income-related benefits paid by the state. They include income support, income-based job seekers allowance, housing and homelessness assistance, housing and council tax benefit, working families' tax credit, a social fund payment, child benefit and any disability allowance. Benefits paid as a result of contributions, such as the state pension, are not considered to be public funds. Social housing is not considered to be a public fund either. Claiming public funds when you are not eligible is known as benefit fraud and it is a criminal offence.