UK International Graduate Scheme (IGS)

The International Graduate Scheme seeks to encourage foreign nationals graduating from British universities and other establishments of further and higher education to remain in the UK and pursue careers in the country.

The International Graduate visa service replaces the previous Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (SEGS) and will apply to applicants graduating on or beyond May 1st 2007.

The International Graduate Scheme, or IGS is designed as a way of providing a transition between studying in Britain and having the opportunity to live and work in the UK. Applicants who have been living in Britain on a study visa who successfully graduate with a degree, Master's degree, PhD or any other recognised postgraduate qualification will be granted a period of 12 months leave to remain in Britain in order to seek and undertake a position. Within this time, candidates may choose to switch into an appropriate UK immigration service such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) or a UK work permit, which will enable them to continue living and working in the UK with a view to applying for permanent residency.

Benefits

Under this type of visa for the UK, no restrictions are placed on the type of paid work the UK visa applicant wishes to undertake.

However, the main benefit of the IGS is the flexibility of allowing a candidate to switch their visa status once in the country to the Business Persons or Innovators visa category, to remain in Britain through the procurement of a working permit or through the HSMP. As is the normal practice with UK work permits, a specific offer of employment will need to be in place from a sponsoring company in Great Britain. The Highly Skilled Migrant Program however, offers complete freedom to seek and undertake employment in Great Britain to those applicants who meet the points based criteria threshold.

Eligibility Criteria

As discussed, applying for the International Graduate Scheme requires candidates to have successfully completed a course of study at a recognised British educational institution. The course must have been completed no earlier than 1st May 2007 and must be either a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, a PhD or another recognised postgraduate qualification.

In addition, candidates applying for UK visas of this class must also have completed their course within the last 12 months and must intend to work during the grant of 12 months under the IGS. Applicants must be able to fully support themselves and any dependents financially for the period granted without public funding and must intend to leave the country at the expiry of the 12-month period. However, the requirement to leave will not apply if applicants successfully switch to another UK visa service such as HSMP, work permits, or one of the UK business visa options.

Family Immigration

The IGS permits family members of the main applicant who are already resident in the UK to remain in the UK along with the applicant switching to IGS. This includes spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, and dependent children. Dependents who are not residing in Britain with the main applicant may still come to Great Britain however, in these circumstances dependents will need to apply for UK entry clearance in their own right.

Important Information

Applications from candidates who graduated before May 1st 2007 may still be entered on the IGS forms, but will be assessed against the narrower criteria of the outgoing SEGS programme. To qualify in these circumstances, applicants must have completed one of the following

• A Science and Engineering course with a minimum of second class honours (2:2)

• A recognized higher Science or Engineering degree course, or a Masters course, or a PhD at a British institution of Higher or Further Education.