Am I eligible for a UK visa that includes a work permit for a Master's?
Yes, you are generally eligible for the Graduate Route visa, which lets you work in the UK at any skill level without an employer sponsor. You need a valid Student visa, course completion confirmed by your university, and 12 months of UK study. A Master's grants 2 years to stay.
Yes, you are generally eligible for a UK visa that includes work permission after completing your Master's, known as the Graduate Route visa. You can work, search for work, or run your own freelance business in almost any UK job, and no company has to sponsor you first.
Key Eligibility Criteria
| Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Valid Student visa | You must currently hold a Student visa, or the older Tier 4 General visa |
| Course completion | Your university must notify the Home Office that you finished your Master's |
| Study duration | At least 12 months in the UK, and not an entirely online program |
| Application timing | You must apply from within the UK before your current visa expires |
What The Visa Gives You
Right now, finishing a Master's earns you 2 years of stay and work permission in the UK, though this window is set to shrink to 18 months once applications from January 1, 2027 onward are affected. You can work full time, hold multiple jobs, freelance, or be self employed in almost any role. You only get this visa once in your lifetime, and it does not hand you settlement directly, but plenty of graduates use the time to land an eligible role and then move onto a Skilled Worker visa.
My Advice
Confirm with your university exactly when they will notify the Home Office of your course completion, since your Graduate Route application window depends on that timing. If you are still choosing a program, factor in the January 2027 rule change so you know whether you get 2 years or 18 months to work.
How long can you stay and work after a UK master's?
Post-study work rules are changing. Know what you will actually get.
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