UK Graduate Route Eligibility Checker

UK Graduate Route (PSW) Eligibility and Duration Checker 2024
DeyWithMe Graduate Route guide ↓

UK Graduate Route Eligibility and Duration Checker

Find out if you qualify for the Graduate Route (Post-Study Work visa), how long your visa will last, what it costs, and your switch-to-Skilled-Worker planning window.

Based on 2024 UKVI rules. This tool does not access UKVI records. Not immigration advice. Verify at gov.uk before applying.

This determines your visa duration: 2 years for UG/Masters, 3 years for PhD/doctoral.

Enter to see estimated visa start date, expiry, and ILR switch deadline. Leave blank to skip the timeline.

Graduate Route Mistakes Nigerian Students Often Make

✗

Assuming Graduate Route time counts toward ILR

This is the biggest planning mistake. A Nigerian graduate who spends the full 2 years on Graduate Route, then starts Skilled Worker, needs another 5 years on Skilled Worker before ILR. That is 7 years total in the UK before ILR eligibility, not 5. Switch to Skilled Worker as early as you can after finding a qualifying job.

✗

Travelling to Nigeria before applying for Graduate Route

You must be in the UK on a valid Student visa when you submit the Graduate Route application. If you fly back to Nigeria after graduation without applying first, you are no longer eligible to apply from outside the UK. Apply for the Graduate Route before you book any return trips home.

✗

Waiting until the Graduate Route expires to look for a Skilled Worker job

The Graduate Route is a search window, not a safety net. If you spend most of it not actively pursuing graduate-level roles, you may run out of time before finding a sponsored position. Start applying for graduate jobs from the first month of the Graduate Route, not the last six months.

✗

Not checking if their university has HEP-TC status

A small number of UK institutions have lost or had their track record of compliance status suspended. If your university is not on the UKVI sponsor register as a higher education provider, your degree may not qualify you for the Graduate Route, regardless of your visa status. Check the official register at gov.uk before applying.

How the Graduate Route Eligibility Checker Works

The checker evaluates six binary conditions against the published Graduate Route eligibility criteria. Each condition is a pass or fail. If all six pass, the result is Eligible. If any condition has an uncertain answer, the result is Likely Eligible (verify). If any condition is a clear fail, the result is Not Eligible.

Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Work Permit Expiry and Renewal Deadline

There is no complex scoring here. The Graduate Route eligibility rules are straightforward binary gates:

Eligible = Q1 AND Q2 AND Q3 AND NOT(Q4) AND NOT(Q5) AND Q6 Q1: Currently on a Student visa in the UK? Q2: Degree from a HEP-TC institution? Q3: Successfully completed the degree? Q4: Previously held Graduate Route visa? (fail if yes) Q5: Exceeded permitted Student visa leave? Q6: In breach of immigration conditions? Visa Duration = 2yr if UG/Masters | 3yr if PhD/Doctoral Fee 2yr = £822 + (£1,035 x 2) IHS = £2,892 total Fee 3yr = £1,120 + (£1,035 x 3) IHS = £4,225 total
The Graduate Route cannot be extended. It is a fixed-duration, one-time visa. When it expires, you must switch to another route or leave the UK. If you previously held a Graduate Route visa under a different name or category, you are also not eligible. The “not previously held” condition is absolute.

Graduate Route Quick Reference Table

Degree levelDurationVisa feeIHSTotalCounts toward ILR?
Undergraduate (BSc, BA, BEng etc.)2 years£822£2,070~£2,892No
Taught Masters (MA, MSc, MBA etc.)2 years£822£2,070~£2,892No
PhD / Doctoral degree3 years£1,120£3,105~£4,225No
Switch to Skilled Worker as early as possible. A Nigerian graduate who switches to Skilled Worker in month 6 of their Graduate Route, instead of waiting until month 24, gains 18 months of ILR qualifying time. Over a 5-year ILR window, that difference can mean the difference between applying for ILR in year 7 versus year 5.5 in the UK. There is no cost or disadvantage to switching early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for the UK Graduate Route visa?
You are eligible if you are currently in the UK on a Student visa, have successfully completed a qualifying UK degree from a HEP-TC institution, have not previously held the Graduate Route visa, have not exceeded your permitted Student visa leave, and are not in breach of any immigration conditions. All conditions must be met simultaneously.
How long does the Graduate Route visa last?
2 years for undergraduate and masters degrees. 3 years for PhD and other doctoral qualifications. The duration is fixed. It cannot be extended under any circumstances.
Does Graduate Route time count toward ILR?
No. Time on the Graduate Route does not count toward the 5-year qualifying period for ILR. Only time on qualifying routes such as Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or Spouse visa counts. Switch to a qualifying route as soon as you receive a qualifying job offer to start your ILR clock.
Can I work on the Graduate Route?
Yes. Full unrestricted work rights. Any employer, any role, any hours. You can also self-employ or freelance. No job offer or sponsorship is needed to apply for the Graduate Route.
What happens when the Graduate Route visa expires?
You must switch to another route (most commonly Skilled Worker) or leave the UK. The Graduate Route cannot be extended. There is no grace period after expiry. Planning the Skilled Worker switch well before expiry is critical.
Disclaimer: This checker reflects Graduate Route eligibility rules as published by the UK Home Office in 2024. Rules change and individual circumstances vary. This tool provides a general eligibility indication only and is not a guarantee of visa approval. Verify your eligibility and the current requirements at gov.uk before applying. DeyWithMe is not affiliated with the UK Home Office or UKVI. This is not immigration advice.
Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Skilled Worker Salary Checker
Result copied

Wait, There’s More