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International students in the UK now have the option to stay longer after graduation.
Back in March, the UK’s Home Office announced the Graduate route. This will let students continue living in the UK for two to three years after finishing their studies. It’s a big deal, giving students the opportunity to begin their careers, as well as set long-term goals for themselves abroad.
“As we rebuild from the global pandemic we want the world’s brightest talent, who aspire to a career at the highest levels of business, science, the arts and technology to see our United Kingdom as the natural place to fulfill their aspirations,” said Minister for Future Border and Immigration Kevin Foster in a statement.
In this article, we’ll take a look at everything graduates and prospective students need to know about the new UK visa.
The UK hopes to welcome 600,000 international higher education students per year by 2030. The Graduate Route contributes to this plan. It is designed to attract students to study in countries throughout the UK. In fact, since the route was announced back in 2019, enrolments from students outside the EU hit a new high – increasing 17% year-over-year.
So, how will the new UK visa work? International students who’ve completed an undergraduate degree (or above) should be able to apply. With the route, bachelor’s and master’s students will be able to stay in the UK to work or look for work for two years after graduation. Doctorate students will be able to stay for three years.
The new Graduate route within the UK immigration system is meant to be flexible. That means you won’t need a job offer to apply. There’s no salary limit and you can change jobs whenever you want. However, if you find a job you like, you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Graduate route doesn’t count for settlement. So if you want to stay in the UK permanently, you may consider applying for a work visa which does count toward settlement sooner.
If you’ve finished your undergraduate, master, or doctorate degree and have a valid student visa when you apply, you are likely to be eligible for the Graduate route.
People studying remotely outside the UK during the pandemic are also eligible, at least for a time:
If you began university in fall 2020, you’ll have until June 21st of this year to enter the UK on your Student visa. Do so and you will be eligible for the Graduate route later on.
If you started in winter 2021, you’ll have until September 27th.
The cost to apply to the Graduate route is £700 for both two and three-year Graduate route applications. On top of this, there will be an extra Immigration Health Surcharge of £624 each year. This gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service on generally the same basis as a UK permanent resident. To discover more about the visa application process and the UK visa requirements, be sure to check the UK Visas and Immigration website.
The Graduate route is welcome news for international students in the UK. However, it’s not the only option when it comes to UK work visas. For example, after graduating you might also be able to apply for a:
If you have an innovative business idea and plan, you might be eligible for a Start-up visa. This lets you stay in the UK for up to two years. To apply, you need to be endorsed by either a UK university or a business organization. There’s also the UK Innovator visa, which lets you stay in the UK for three years.
The Global Talent visa is made for people who are leaders (or potential leaders) in digital technology, arts and culture, and academia.
Getting this type of visa isn’t easy. You need to apply for an endorsement through the Home Office, which experts in your industry will review. If you get granted the visa, you’ll be able to stay in the UK for up to five years. You will only be required to renew your visa each time you want to stay longer.
The Skilled Worker visa lets you stay in the UK for up to five years to work for a UK employer. To apply, an employer needs to sponsor you. Your job will also need to be eligible for the visa.
That said, there is a long list of occupations in the UK that need filling including nurses, teachers and engineers so if you work in these jobs, you’ll have a big advantage when applying.
Learn more on our blog, “The great UK skills shortage:5 occupations that can help you move abroad”.
There’s no doubt that having a UK degree is valuable. But getting UK work experience afterwards? That’s priceless.
The UK is also an excellent place to settle. According to the OECD Better Life Index, the UK ranks above average in important areas like health status, civic engagement, jobs and earnings, education and skills, and environmental quality.
Not to mention, people who work 5 days a week get lots of holiday time – 5.6 weeks a year!
If you want to move to the UK to study and work, PTE Academic can help you get there. Our computer-based, unbiased English language proficiency test at PTE Academic is approved by the UK Home Office for all visas including student and post-study work visas.
The Summarize Group Discussion task is one of the most comprehensive speaking challenges in PTE Academic. It tests your ability to listen actively, take effective notes, and deliver a coherent summary that captures multiple perspectives.
Understanding how to approach this task strategically can significantly boost your speaking score.
The "Respond to a Situation" task in the Speaking section of PTE Academic tests your ability to handle real-world university scenarios using appropriate language. This task simulates everyday campus interactions, requiring you to respond naturally and effectively to common situations you might encounter as a student.
Knowing your English level helps you pick the right course, get visas, and make strong applications for work or school. In short: proficiency levels are standard descriptions of what you can do in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
You can check your level with trusted online tests or official exams like PTE Academic or PTE Core, which give scores based on global standards. Below, we explain how levels are defined, how they’re tested, how to estimate your current ability, and what different goals usually need, so you can plan your next step with confidence.
Language proficiency levels show how well you can read, listen, speak, and write. These levels follow shared standards so schools, employers, and governments around the world can easily understand your skills.
The most common system is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which rates language ability from beginner (A1) to highly advanced (C2). A recent overview explains CEFR’s role as a standard for designing tests and interpreting scores across countries and programs and notes ongoing efforts to keep it up to date for modern assessments.
Pearson’s Global Scale of English (GSE) provides a more granular 10–90 scale that also aligns to CEFR tiers. This makes it easier to see fine-grained progress and map scores to CEFR bands.
Typical CEFR levels at a glance:
A1: Understand and use everyday expressions; introduce yourself; ask and answer simple questions
A2: Handle routine tasks; describe immediate needs and simple aspects of daily life
B1: Understand main points of clear standard input; produce simple connected text; manage travel or work situations
B2: Interact with fluency on familiar topics; write clear, detailed text; follow lectures with some support
C1: Use English flexibly and effectively in academic and professional contexts; understand demanding texts
C2: Understand virtually everything heard or read; summarize information coherently; express nuanced ideas precisely
Common uses:
A1-A2: Mainly used for basic immigration visas, family reunification, entry-level work or training programs, and integration courses where simple everyday communication is sufficient.
B1–B2: Many vocational programs, initial professional roles, and some visa pathways
B2–C1: Most undergraduate admissions and professional certifications
C1–C2: Postgraduate study, specialized professions, and roles requiring complex communication
Proficiency is measured across four core skills:
Reading:Understanding texts, identifying main ideas and details, and interpreting vocabulary in context
Listening : Following speech at natural speed, recognizing key information, and inferring meaning
Speaking: Producing clear, organized speech; using accurate grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
Writing: Composing well-structured texts suited to purpose and audience; demonstrating control of grammar and cohesion
The scoring for most English language tests is measured against the CEFR. For The scores for PTE Academic (for studying and work) and PTE Core (for general use and migration), align to CEFR with scoring between 10 and 90. Learn more about PTE scoring alignment.
Build a reliable picture by mixing official tests with quick checks and reflective habits:
Take a recognized practice test: Use an official Pearson PTE Scored Practice materials Test
or other reputable online assessments to estimate your CEFR level and identify strengths and gaps
Practice with PTE-style items: Work through sample reading tasks (e.g., fill-in-the-blanks), listening summaries, and short spoken responses to simulate real test conditions.
Use self-analysis prompts that match the CEFR level you are aiming for: For example, ask, “Can I follow a university lecture?”, “Can I write a formal email with clear structure?”, “Can I explain a process or opinion for 60–90 seconds?”
Requirements vary, but many universities, colleges, professional bodies, and visa authorities set minimum thresholds around B1–C1, or the equivalent GSE score range of 43-84 for PTE Academic and PTE Core. . Some UK family and settlement visas require A1 or A2 level. Always confirm details with the program or government authority.
Typical requirement ranges (illustrative):
University / College admission:
Undergraduate: Often B2; competitive programs may prefer C1
Postgraduate: Commonly C1
Professional certification:
General professional registration: Frequently B2–C1
Visa/migration pathways:
Skilled migration: Typically B1–B2+ equivalents; some routes require higher levels depending on occupation
Family visas: Often A1-A2.
For Canadian migration scenarios, explore PTE Core requirements and pathways here.
For UK migration, consider PTE UK visa SELT tests.
For many learners, English isn't just the goal; it’s the way to get degrees, licenses, and international jobs. Universities and employers look at test scores to decide who to admit or hire. Once students are in university or at work, success depends on great communication (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) skills, whether it's doing research or talking to clients.
Research indicates that higher English proficiency supports academic performance and integration for international students, improving classroom participation and social engagement. In the workplace, clear communication underpins teamwork, safety, and advancement, making ongoing skill development a career investment, not just a test goal.
Target all four skills with short, consistent practice:
Daily core routine (20–40 minutes):
Listening: Listen to 2–3 minutes of a podcast or lecture; note new phrases
Speaking: Answer one daily Q&A aloud (60–90 seconds) on familiar topics
Reading: Skim a news article; summarize the main idea in two sentences
Writing: Draft a short email or 120–150 word paragraph; focus on structure and linking words
Quick wins:
Grammar and vocabulary: Do 10 fill-in-the-blank or sentence completion items; build a personal word bank with examples
Reading for context: Underline signal words (however, therefore) and infer meaning of three unknown words from context
Listening focus: Practice identifying the overarching meaning first, then the key details and numbers
Feedback loop: Swap writing with a friend or use self-scoring checklists; act on one improvement point per day
To prepare for your English exam, practice with practice tests that are similar to your actual test and check the scoring guidelines to make sure your answers meet the expectations. If you aren't sure where to start take our 'Which test is right for me?' tool. You can also read our article 'How to pick an English test that works for you'.
Practice short answers to everyday prompts like “What did you do today?” and “What do you like to eat?” to build fluency and reduce hesitation.
Use clarifiers such as “Could you repeat that more slowly?” or “Do you mean…?” to confirm meaning and keep the conversation clear.
Do fill-in-the-blanks, sentence completion, and synonym/antonym matching to reinforce patterns and expand word choice.
Study common task types (reading comprehension, short writing, gap-fill, brief speaking responses) and practice them under timed conditions to build accuracy and pacing. You can also try practice tests to get used to the format of a specific test, like PTE.
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