Further Study
Give your career a boost by studying for a Masters or PhD. Our postgraduate degrees - whether taught or research - offer small study groups and access to experts in your academic field.
- Postgraduate courses
- Postgraduate teaching courses
- Research degrees
More information on the University of Cumbria’s Postgraduate study.
Alternatively, you can search for Postgraduate courses at any institution here: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-courses
Remaining in the UK
What is the Graduate Route?
The UK’s Graduate Route welcomes international students to apply to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, upon graduation. International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or master’s degree can apply to stay in the UK for up to two years after their studies. PhD graduates can apply to stay for up to three years.
This is a fantastic opportunity for international students who want to take their next steps into employment in the UK.
What are the benefits of the Graduate Route?
The Graduate Route is unsponsored, which means you can use the time after you graduate to work, or look for work, at any skill level. You will have the flexibility to gain work experience, undertake an internship or work as a freelancer in the UK.
There is no minimum salary requirement, and there is no limit on how many international students can have the opportunity to stay in the UK through the Graduate Route.
Once you have found suitable employment in the UK, you’ll have the chance to switch to a skilled work route and remain in the UK after your two or three years have come to an end.
'I decided to apply for the Graduate Route so that I could confidently apply for different jobs in the UK without worrying about my student visa expiry date. After graduating, I worked as a locum (temporary) medical laboratory assistant at Nottingham Trent University. I then applied for a permanent job within the same department, and I secured my current role as a biomedical scientist.'
Yamin, from Myanmar, studied Biomedical Science at Nottingham Trent University and graduated in 2021. She’s living and working in the UK, thanks to the Graduate Route.
What other types of visas are there?
There are lots of options available for international graduates looking to stay in the UK after they finish their studies. You may decide that another visa may better suit your situation. Visit GOV.UK to learn more about your options.
Where can I learn more?
Learn more about the Graduate Visa on GOV.UK.
More information on visa’s.
Returning to home country
In choosing to study at a UK university you have already made a decision that will likely have a positive impact on your future employability. Your qualification will be highly respected in your home country and employers will value many of the qualities, skills and knowledge you will have gained through studying in the UK. However, the market is still competitive. Before you graduate and return to your home country there are some practical things you can do to increase your employability:
- Prepare your CV according to the structure and content that is expected in your home country. Make sure you consider not only your qualifications, but the skills and experience you can offer having lived and studied in the UK and how you can market these to future employers.
- Start researching employers and perhaps create a database of jobsites and/or company list where you can search for opportunities.
- If you have undertaken any part-time work or completed any work placements in the UK, make sure you explore the possibility of gaining an employer reference and have up-to-date contact details for any employers you have worked with.
- Ensure you have up-to-date contact details for academic staff, should you require an academic reference when applying for jobs.
- Share your contact details (and if appropriate your CV) with people that form part of your network both in the UK and your home country.
- Search for professional associations for the area of work that interests you in your home country.
- Search business directories for your home country.
- Check foreign professional journals and newspaper websites that often have vacancies pages.
- Use social media (e.g LinkedIn) and Cumbria Network to research previous alumni who have returned to their home countries for employment and get networking with them.
- Attend graduate recruitment fairs both in your home country, where possible, and in the UK as some international UK companies will have overseas offices.
- Make use of the internet, particularly to search for organisations you are interested in working for as the majority will have their own ‘vacancies’ or ‘careers’ pages.
- Read this article from TARGET Jobs ‘Tips for international students seeking work outside the UK’
The UKCISA website lists some practical steps in preparing to return home, such as travel, notification of departure, and refunds and deposits.
Top Tips for Job Searching in your home country.
- Search for professional associations for the area of work that interests you in your home country.
- Search business directories for your home country.
- Check foreign professional journals and newspaper websites that often have vacancies pages.
- Use social media (e.g LinkedIn) and Cumbria Network to research previous alumni who have returned to their home countries for employment and get networking with them.
- Attend graduate recruitment fairs both in your home country, where possible, and in the UK as some international UK companies will have overseas offices.
- Make use of the internet, particularly to search for organisations you are interested in working for as the majority will have their own ‘vacancies’ or ‘careers’ pages.
- Read this article from TARGET Jobs ‘Tips for international students seeking work outside the UK’