Post-study work is often the ROI question for UK. Details below; full destination context is in the country guide.
Can I Work While Studying in the UK?
Yes. Student visa holders can generally work up to 20 hours/week during term time at degree level, and full-time during official vacation periods. Work must not involve self-employment or professional sporting activity, both of which are prohibited under the Student visa route.
What Is the Graduate Route? (UK Post-Study Work Visa)
After completing your degree, the Graduate Route lets you stay and work in the UK without needing a job offer or sponsor - currently 2 years for Bachelor's and Master's graduates, 3 years for PhD graduates. This is changing: from 1 January 2027, the non-doctoral Graduate Route period drops to 18 months for new applications, though PhD graduates keep their full 3 years. What matters is your application date, not your course start or end date - so a student graduating in 2026 who applies before the cutoff still gets the full 2 years.
To stay in the UK beyond the Graduate Route, you'd typically need to switch to a Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job offer meeting a minimum salary threshold (£41,700 general, with lower thresholds for STEM PhD holders and shortage occupations).
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