What Can I Do After Finishing PSW?

A post-study work visa, commonly known as a PSW visa, allows graduates to stay and work in the UK. This type of visa is only for students with a UK degree or other relevant qualification from an approved UK higher education provider. A post-study work visa permits you to stay in the UK for at least two years after completing a course at a British university. But if you are a PhD graduate, you can apply for a graduate route visa for up to three years.

International students who have started their studies in 2021 or later will be eligible to apply for a graduate route visa. But many students have already applied for a Post-study work visa, or their visa is about to expire. Nowadays, the most searched questions on Google are, “What can I do after finishing PSW?” and “What comes after a graduate route visa?”

In this article, we will discuss what happens after PSW in the UK and what an international student can do after the PSW expires. So, if you are already under this type of visa, hopefully, this article will help you learn what to do after PSW in UK and how to stay in UK after PSW.

What to do after expiring the PSW in UK?

The post-study work visa for the UK allows a graduate to work, stay for at least up to two years, and look for work. But once the PSW in the UK expires, the students who want to stay longer in the United Kingdom need to apply for a skilled worker visa, a general worker visa, or any other relevant visa.

However, to get a skilled worker visa, the candidate must earn at least £38,700 annually or £11.44 per hour (whichever is higher). The national minimum wage per hour changes on April 1 every year. However, to apply for a general worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer.

Can I switch from a graduate route visa to a UK student visa?

Yes, you can apply under PSW once, but you can switch back to the student route if you want to pursue another degree in the UK. This means if your graduate route visa expires, you can’t switch your visa to a general worker visa. If you still want to stay longer in the UK, you can pursue another degree. For example, you can apply for a master’s if your previous degree is at the undergraduate level, or you can apply for a second master’s by switching your graduate route visa into a student visa again.

Can I apply for a graduate route visa outside the UK?

According to the UK immigration rule, to apply for a graduate route visa, you must be in the UK and have an undergraduate, post-graduation, or other relevant degree for a minimum period. Those who apply for a PSW outside of the UK will be rejected or refused entry into the UK, and they could lose their eligibility to apply for the graduate route as a whole.

Can I study with a post-study work visa in the UK?

Yes, you can study with your PSW only if your chosen course is not eligible for a student visa. But if your chosen course is eligible for a UK student visa, you can extend your visa instead. You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if your selected course is related to research or a sensitive topic. 

Can I study after PSW in UK?

Yes, you can study in the UK after your post-study work visa (PSW) expires, but you will need to apply for a new student visa to continue your studies in the UK.

Can I extend my PSW in the UK?

No, you can’t extend your post-study work visa (PSW). You will get 2 years of work and a residence permit with your graduate route visa. But if you have a doctoral degree, you’ll get 1 more year with your graduate route visa. You can’t extend this time limit, but if your PSW expires, you can switch it to another relevant visa, like a skilled worker visa or a student visa.

Can I Switch from a post-study work visa to a spouse visa?

In general, Post-study work visas can be transferred to a general worker visa or a student visa, but you can apply for a spouse visa (5 years route) if you marry a UK Citizen and you meet all the requirements for switching to a spouse visa.

Can I apply for PR after the PSW expires?

No. You can’t apply for PR after the PSW expires. Legally, you can apply for PR in the UK after 10 years of continuous residency. But you can apply after 5 years of residency if you are under a skilled worker visa, health and care, innovator, startup or global talent visa. 

Does PSW count for PR in the UK?

No, under the current immigration rule, the graduate route visa does not count towards indefinite leave to remain (ILR) under 5 years work route. However, the two years should be counted under the 10 years continuous residency route.

Final Words

The United Kingdom is the top-chosen study destination for international students. Every year, a huge number of students visit the UK for education purposes and apply for the Post-study work visa after completing their education. So, in this article, we tried to cover what a student can do after finishing the PSW, or Graduate route visa. But if you still have any confusion regarding this topic, you can always contact AIMS Education.

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