Post-study workers
Studied at a United Kingdom institution
This page explains how many points you must score for studying at a United Kingdom institution in the points-based assessment to apply under the post-study worker category (Tier 1 Post-study work) of the points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.
On this page
Full details of all requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraphs 245V to 245ZA of part 6a, which you can find on the right of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you apply under this category. You can download the guidance and application form from the Applying section.
Points awarded for a qualification from a United Kingdom institution
You can claim 20 points if you have studied for the eligible qualification at an institution that:
- is a United Kingdom recognised or United Kingdom listed body; or
- is a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or at a Scottish genuine (bona fide) private education institution which keeps satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; or
- holds a sponsor licence under the student tier (tier 4) of the points-based system (once it launches).
United Kingdom recognised or listed body
A United Kingdom recognised body is an institution which has been granted degree awarding powers by a Royal Charter, an Act of Parliament or the Privy Council. All United Kingdom universities and some higher education colleges are United Kingdom recognised bodies.
A United Kingdom listed body is an institution that is not a United Kingdom recognised body but one which provides full courses that lead to the award of a degree by a United Kingdom recognised body.
Further information on both recognised and listed bodies is on the website of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which you can find on the right of this page.
The United Kingdom recognised bodies and United Kingdom listed bodies that are on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website are also set out in statutory instruments (this is supplementary law which puts into effect specific details that are described in the parent act). These are available on the website of the Office of Public Sector Information, which you can find on the right of this page.
Scottish institution
If you are claiming points for an HND from a Scottish institution, you will not be required to have studied the HND at an institution that is a recognised or listed body. However, the HND must have been studied at a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or at a Scottish genuine private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance. A genuine (or bona fide) private education institution is defined in paragraph 6a of the immigration rules, which you can find on the right of this page.
The Scottish institution must be on the Register of Education and Training Providers list which is available on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website, which you can find on the right of this page.
Student tier of the register of sponsors
The student tier (tier 4) of the points-based system will be introduced during spring 2009. After it is launched, students must be sponsored by an institution that is on the register of sponsors. Institutions can start to register from summer 2008.
From summer 2008 post-study workers can meet this requirement of the attributes points scoring section by providing details of an institution that is held on the student tier of the register of sponsors.