Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications

The key requirement to be eligible for the Graduate Route visa is that you successfully complete a relevant course in the UK. The relevant course must be either:

• an undergraduate degree
• a Masters degree
• a PhD degree or other doctoral qualification,

or one of the qualifications listed in paragraph GR 5.2 of Appendix Graduate of the immigration rules

• a law conversion course validated by the Joint Academic Stage Board in England and Wales
• the Legal Practice Course in England and Wales, the Solicitors Course in Northern Ireland, or a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in Scotland
• the Bar Practice Course in England and Wales, or the Bar Course in Northern Ireland
• a foundation programme in Medicine or Dentistry
• a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
• a professional course requiring study at UK bachelor’s degree level or above in a profession with reserved activities that is regulated by UK law or UK public authority.

You must have received official confirmation of your final award before you complete and submit the online Graduate Route visa application.  You will receive an email from the University of Sunderland’s Student Administration team confirming when your final award has been reported to the Home Office.  This is when you can begin your Graduate Route visa application. 

If you decide to complete an online Graduate visa application form before receiving confirmation of your final award being reported to the Home Office, you do so at your own risk.

A student will NOT be reported to UKVI for Graduate visa eligibility if they decide to leave the university without (i) completing their full programme of study and (ii) achieving all course credits.