When you have completed your studies

It is possible to study again at the same level, however this will need to be justified. You will need to explain in your course application either:  

• How the new course is related to the previous course you have studied (for instance, the new course will involve a deeper specialisation of a chosen field) 
• Your previous and new courses combined support your career aspirations 

Your explanation for same level study will be considered by the admissions team and included in your CAS if approved. You can only study again at the same level for degree level courses (bachelor's, master's etc). 

No, you cannot study at a lower level than what you have already studied. For example, if you have already studied at master's level and wish to study a bachelor's degree this will not be possible under a Student visa. 

Academic progression applies to Student visa applications submitted within the UK. This means that you will not be subject to the requirements if you are making an application from your home country. However, UKVI may still look at your application with additional detail and require you to attend an interview. We may not be able to offer you a place if we feel that your application may be refused on these grounds. 

For more information on the latest requirements to apply for an extension to your student visa whilst you are within the UK, please visit the government's webpage on extending your visa.

The Graduate route allows eligible students to work in the UK after they have successfully completed their studies. The Graduate visa gives Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students permission to stay in the UK for two years. PhD students have the opportunity to stay in the UK for three years after successfully completing their studies in the UK. 

You are currently in the UK

You can only submit the Graduate visa application inside the UK. 

You must be a valid Student or Tier 4 visa holder

To apply for the Graduate visa, you must be in the UK with valid permission as a Student or a Tier 4 visa holder. This does not apply to those who have had Student permission on the Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES), who unfortunately would not be eligible for the Graduate route. 

Successfully completed a degree-level course

In addition to holding a valid Student or Tier 4 visa, you must also have successfully completed a degree-level course which is mentioned in your CAS letter. Examples of relevant courses are as follows: 

• An undergraduate degree 
• A Masters degree 
• A PhD or similar doctoral qualification 
• A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) 
• The Legal Practice Course 

‘Successful completion” means that you have been awarded your qualification, the award has been confirmed at an academic board, and you have been granted the certificate of award. It does not mean when you have submitted your final assignments or when you attend the awards ceremony.

The university has reported the successful completion of course to the Home Office.

You will receive an email from the Visa team once you have been reported to UKVI on the successful completion of your studies. However, you will not be reported if you have not been officially awarded or have not settled the outstanding fees. 

You must have studied at least 12 months of your course in the UK, or the entire course if it is less than 12 months long. If this does not apply to you because you have been studying remotely in your home country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then you must meet one of the following requirements: 

Course longer than 12 months 

Time spent outside of the UK between the 24th January 2020 and the 27th September 2021 will not count against you and there is no set requirement for you to be back in the UK. However, you must ensure that you do so before your Student visa expires. If your course dates are more than 12 months long but your course is considered to be a “one-year course” then you should consider your course to be 12 months long and meet the next criteria instead. 

Course started in 2020 or 2021 and is 12 months or less 

You must enter the UK on a Student visa before the 27 September 2021. 

Courses starting in September 2021 or January 2022 

You must enter the UK on a Student visa by the 6 April 2022. 

You will need to pay £822 for the cost of your visa application. In addition to this, you will need to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year of your visa. That is £2,070 for Bachelor's and Master's students (two years) and £3,105 for PhD students (three years).

Please refer to the government’s website for any updates regarding this via their graduate visa webpage.

If you currently have dependants with you on your Student visa then you can include them in your Graduate visa application. Your dependants must also be in the UK on a Student Dependant visa and pay the above fees. 

The application is completed online via the UK government. To complete the application, visit their website. 

As part of the application process, you will be required to use an app in order to take a photograph of yourself and scan your biometric residence permit (BRP). You can use the app on a friend or family member’s device if you are unable to do so yourself. 

If you do not have access to the app you will have to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS centre to provide your documents and biometric details. For more information, please visit the UKVCAS website.

You will need to have your BRP, passport and your most recent Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number. This is the same number you used to apply for the Student or Tier 4 visa. You will be able to locate this in your emails or saved visa application form. The number is 14 characters long, contains numbers and letters and begins with “E4G”. 

The University of Derby is required to report to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) eligible students for the Graduate route. Students will be notified once the report has been submitted to UKVI. 

Once issued you can do any work, including employed or self-employed, except as a professional sportsperson or coach. 

UKVI have provided useful information for this new visa route. For more information visit the graduate visa page on gov.uk. Alternatively, you can email  InternationalCompliance@derby.ac.uk to find out more.