New Visa Route For Star Graduates Launched

The new 'High Potential Individual' visa route has launched today as part of the government's wider innovation strategy which seeks to attract the "best and brightest" graduates from the world's top universities to work in the UK.

Graduates who have graduated with a degree in the last five years from top global universities including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, the University of Hong Kong, the Paris Sciences et Lettres University and the University of Tokyo will be able to apply for a work visa giving them the right to work in the UK for two years (three years if they hold a PhD degree). The full list of currently eligible institutions has been published here.

There is no requirement for graduates to have a job offer. The absence of a sponsorship requirement makes it easier for skilled graduates to come to the UK and gives them the ability to freely switch jobs or employers whilst in the UK.