After spending some amazing years in the UK to get your degree, it’s time to think about the next big step. After all of your hard work, it’s time to start looking for your perfect job.
Luckily for international students, there are lots of job opportunities in the UK. The employment rates are high, meaning lots of graduates manage to get a full-time job after graduating. Here’s what you need to know about potential job opportunities in the UK.
- International student graduate statistics
- Visas for working in the UK
- Check if you can get sponsored
- How to find opportunities
- Graduate employability at Newcastle University
International student graduate statistics
A study from iGraduate analysed what international graduates have done after gaining a degree in the UK. The results show that the majority have gone on to have successful and satisfying careers.
The majority also say that a UK degree was a big part of their success. Here are some more key statistics from the survey:
- 69% of international graduates that studied in the UK say they’ve progressed in their career compared to international students that studied outside of the UK
- 83% of international graduates say that their UK degree helped them get their job
- 82% of international graduates say that their UK degree was worth the investment
However, getting a job in the UK after graduating depends on your visa. If you want to work in the UK after graduating, the Tier 4 General visa you applied for won’t let you stay here to work. But you do have some options to choose from.
Visas for working in the UK
Before applying for graduate jobs in the UK, we recommend that you consult UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Regular changes are made so please keep checking in.
Speak to your university’s visa team. At Newcastle University, our visa team will provide you with useful information about the main immigration routes available to international students.
Every month, there’s a workshop called ‘Immigration routes into graduate employment for international students.’ So if you need more information, go to one of these workshops.
Check if you can get sponsored
Another way to work in the UK after graduating is if an employer is willing to sponsor you. The Home Office has produced a register of licensed sponsors to employ migrant workers. You can use this list to check if a company can sponsor your visa.
If a company is on this list, it means they have sponsored a migrant worker in the past. If a company isn’t on this list, you can still apply to work for them. They may be willing to become a registered sponsor if they want you to work for them.
How to find opportunities
Try to start your search for a job as early as possible. Deadlines for sponsored visas can sometimes be earlier than other deadlines. Here’s where you can find some job opportunities after graduating:
- search Newcastle University’s graduate jobs section
- look at the different sector options at Newcastle University
- find advertised jobs on Student Circus. Only employers that are registered to sponsor the UK Tier 2 visa will post jobs here
- view current opportunities from Knowledge Transfer Opportunities (KTP). These are three-way partnerships between businesses, graduates and universities that last between 1-3 years
To have the best chance of getting a job once you graduate, you should attend a university that can support you all the way.
Graduate employability at Newcastle University
Latest available data has shown that over 85% of Newcastle University graduates are employed within six months of finishing their degree. (Source: Destination of Leavers of Higher Education Survey 2016/17).
We’ve also been awarded a graduate prospects score of over 82%. This is the proportion of graduates who are in processional jobs after graduating. (Source: The Times University Guide 2017).
We also have well-established links with some of the biggest national and local recruiters and have achieved five plus QS Stars for Employability, the highest score a university can achieve. This is the first international assessment of this type, and our excellent score shows that we put students and their futures first.
At Newcastle University, we have the facilities and support to help you get your dream job you graduate. To help with that, we’ve created a free career guide which will help you along the way.
Start developing your career at Newcastle University with your career guide
To get your perfect job in the UK after you graduate, you need to plan ahead. Our guide will help you plan your ideal career path for different subjects. You’ll also have your very own career development checklist, the amazing support you’ll get from us at Newcastle University and much more.
To get your free copy, click on the link below.
