Internatonal students:

Guide to visas and immigraton

The UK Government operates a Points Based System (PBS) to determine who can work, study
or visit the UK. If you wish to work in the United Kingdom on completion of your studies you will
need to apply for an appropriate Visa. There are five different types of Visa.
As a student you would usually have a Tier 4 Visa. If you have another type of Visa you
will need to check if it is possible to change to a work Visa within the UK by emailing
immigration@sussex.ac.uk with your details.





Tier 1 - Immigration routes available for exceptional talent, investors, and
entrepreneurs
Tier 2 - Skilled workers with a job offer
Tier 3 - Workers filling specific temporary labour shortages (not currently in use)
Tier 4 - Students
Tier 5 - Temporary workers, for example participants in the youth mobility scheme or
through government authorised exchange
For more information go to the points-based calculator on the UKBA website:
ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) a new scheme is being introduced for those who have
been identified by UK universities as having developed world-class innovative ideas or
entrepreneurial skills, but who are not yet in a position to meet the full requirements of
the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route. The University of Sussex does not meet the qualifying
criteria, so this is not an option in 2012/2013.
Tier 2 (General) Visas are open to recent graduates with a Bachelor's or Master's
degree, PhD, or a PGCE or PGDE, from a UK recognised or listed body. To obtain a
Tier 2 (General) Visa:
If you were studying at undergraduate level you must have been awarded your
degree. (If you are a PhD student you can apply once you have studied for at least 12
months).
You must have an job offer for a graduate level job from an employer who has
registered with UKBA to become a Tier 2 licensed sponsor and who is therefore
able to offer you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). [The CoS is an electronic
database record issued by the UKBA to your Tier 2 employer Sponsor and you
will be given a unique number associated with your CoS for the graduate level
job]
The graduate level job you are being offered must have a minimum salary offer of
20,700 per year and meet the salary Tier 2 (General) Visa specifications
detailed in the codes of Practice on the UKBA website bit.ly/UKBA-sussex
You will need to hold 900 in your own bank account for a period of 90
consecutive days and you are advised to open a savings account solely for this
purpose
You will have to get 70 points to meet the Tier 2 (General) Points Based system
For more information about the Tier 2 Visa, see the International & Study Abroad Office
website sussex.ac.uk/International/admissions/employment.shtml
If you make your application in the UK before your Tier 4 student Visa expires, the employer
will not have to meet what is known as a resident labour market test (to show the UKBA they
have been unable to fill the position by a resident worker) and there is no requirement for the
job to be on the shortage occupation list.
For further information go to ukcisa.org.uk/student/working_after.php
If you have any further questions, you can email: immigration@sussex.ac.uk


30 points for your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
20 points for your salary of 20,500+ (or an appropriate rate of pay)
10 points for having sufficient savings
10 points for speaking English

There is a points-based calculator on the UKBA web site:
ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator
Tips for Finding Work in the UK
The Careers and Employability Centre can help you to manage your career successfully,
from developing and selling your skills to supporting your job search strategy and providing
you with opportunities. Talk to our advisers, come to our events, and use our online resources!
1. Target firms that are already on the register of Tier 2 sponsors bit.ly/UKBA-list
2. Once you have been given a CoS job offer, you can apply for permission to stay in the
UK and work for that organisation for up to three years (with the possibility of extending
your stay for a further two years)
3. Direct any employer not currently on the register to the UKBAs information on joining
the register of Tier 2 sponsors bit.ly/UKBAsponsors
4. Research the employer carefully. Think about how to provide evidence of your suitability
for a position and how you might contribute to the employers future success. We can
help you with this
5. Network. Use any contacts, through work or study, to help you make a personal
approach to particular employers.
Use sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/creativejobsearch for advice about networking
6. Use our Employability Accelerator Programme of events to meet and network with
employers and Sussex University alumni. We also offer a wide range of skills
workshops, led by employers and career experts. Book your place at
sussex.ac.uk/careers/newsandevents/events
7. The Employability Accelerator Programme will help you to develop your skills,
personal qualities and confidence and to understand what UK and international
companies are looking for in future graduate recruits. This will help maximise your
employability prospects
8. Explore the different kinds of graduate recruitment schemes in the UK and
internationally
9. Keep your options open. Include applying for options in your home country or exploring
other opportunities to work in the global labour market. We can help you with your job
search strategy
10. Keep in touch with us. We are on Twitter @SussxUniCareers and
Facebook.com/sussexcareers. Our news page will keep you up-to-date with the
latest career tips and opportunities at sussex.ac.uk/careers/newsandevents
11. . You can also sign up to get vacancies emailed to you directly from
sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/, or set up your own RSS feeds to automate your job
search



Currently around 26,500 employers are registered as Tier 2 licensed sponsors
Many of the employers at our Graduate Fairs are already Tier 2 sponsors; including
Amex, Baker Tilley, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, Santander, Accenture, Capgemini,
Cummins, Edwards, FDM group, General Electric, Logica, and Mitsubishi
A recent report, Global Graduates into Global Leaders (2011) identifies the skills, knowledge,
and attitudes required in the global world of work and comments:
The market for high-skilled graduates is becoming increasingly global... Globalised
businesses require talent to compete in global marketplaces and have higher
expectations of graduates. The significant growth and development in emerging markets,
particularly the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations, means that to complete
effectively UK organisations must take the global view and seek out new opportunities in
these markets.
You can read the report at:
bit.ly/CIHEreport

The Careers and Employability Centre
The Library, University of Sussex, Brighton,
Phone: 01273 678429
E-mail: careers@sussex.ac.uk
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers
Facebook: Facebook.com/SussexCareers
Twitter: @SussxUniCareers