This page answers the 12 most common questions Kerala students ask about the UK Graduate Route in 2026. All answers reflect current Home Office policy as of May 2026, including the January 2027 change that reduces the Graduate Route to 18 months for Bachelors and Masters graduates. For a destination overview, see our UK destination page.
1.What is the UK Graduate Route and who is eligible?
The Graduate Route is a post-study work visa that lets international students who have completed an eligible UK degree stay in the UK to work or look for work without needing employer sponsorship. To be eligible: you must have completed a UK degree at an institution with track record of compliance, completed your studies on a valid Student visa, and applied within the UK before your Student visa expires. The Graduate Route does not require a job offer at the time of application.
2.How long can I stay in the UK on the Graduate Route?
As of May 2026, the Graduate Route grants 2 years for Bachelors and Masters graduates and 3 years for PhD graduates. IMPORTANT: from 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route reduces to 18 months for Bachelors and Masters (PhD remains 3 years). If you apply by 31 December 2026, you still get the full 2 years. Students starting September 2026 intake graduate around September 2027, which means they will apply under the 18-month rules. Plan your job search timeline accordingly.
3.Do I need a job offer or sponsorship for the Graduate Route?
No. The Graduate Route is unsponsored. You can work for any UK employer in any role, including self-employment, freelance work, or starting a business. You can also work part-time, change jobs without restriction, and take time off to job search. This flexibility is the single biggest advantage of the Graduate Route over the Skilled Worker visa.
4.How much does the Graduate Route visa cost?
As of May 2026, the application fee is £880 and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is £776 per year. For a 2-year Graduate Route, the IHS comes to £1,552, making the total visa cost £2,432 (approximately ₹2.6 lakh). For the 18-month Graduate Route (from January 2027), the IHS will be roughly £1,164, making the total around £2,044 (₹2.18 lakh). These fees are paid upfront when you submit the application.
5.Can I switch from Graduate Route to a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. This is the standard pathway to longer-term UK stay. To switch, you need: a job offer from an employer who is a licensed sponsor, the job must be at the required skill level (RQF 3 or above), and the salary must be at least £38,700 (or £30,960 for shortage occupations, or 80 percent of the going rate for new entrants, whichever is higher). The switch can be done from within the UK. After 5 continuous years on Skilled Worker, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is UK permanent residency.
6.What is the £38,700 salary threshold and is it negotiable?
From April 2024, the general salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa was raised to £38,700. There are exceptions: shortage occupation list roles can use £30,960, new entrants to a profession (recent graduates, under 26, switching from Student visa) can use 80 percent of the going rate, healthcare workers (NHS roles) have separate thresholds. For Kerala graduates with Masters degrees from UK universities, most entry-level jobs in tech and finance pay £32,000 to £40,000, so the salary threshold is genuinely challenging. Research the going rates for your target roles before assuming employability.
7.Can my spouse join me on the Graduate Route?
Generally yes, but with conditions tightened in 2024. If your dependants accompanied you during your Student visa (and you are still on Student visa when applying for Graduate Route), they can extend their dependent visa alongside your Graduate Route application. If you came to the UK alone as a Student and now want to bring a spouse on Graduate Route, this is significantly restricted: dependants of Graduate Route holders cannot apply from outside the UK in most cases. Plan family arrangements at the Student visa application stage, not later.
8.Can I do internships or unpaid work on the Graduate Route?
Yes. The Graduate Route allows any kind of work, including internships, unpaid volunteer work, freelance, and self-employment. There are no restrictions on the type or hours of work. This is genuinely unusual among work visas globally and gives you flexibility that Skilled Worker visa holders do not have.
9.What happens if I cannot find a job before the Graduate Route ends?
If you cannot transition to a Skilled Worker visa by the end of the Graduate Route, you must leave the UK. There is no extension available for the Graduate Route. Some students return to India and reapply for work visas later, others switch to a different visa category (e.g., Innovator Founder visa if starting a business, Spouse visa if married to a British citizen). Approximately 30 to 40 percent of Graduate Route holders return home without securing a Skilled Worker transition; treat this as a real possibility when planning.
10.Can I do a Masters in the UK and then move to another country for work?
Yes. The Graduate Route is not a requirement; you can use the UK Masters degree as a credential and move to another country (Germany, UAE, Singapore, Canada, Australia) for work. For example, UK STEM Masters graduates have strong access to Germany's Blue Card route, Singapore's Employment Pass, and Australia's skilled migration. A UK Masters typically opens doors equivalent to a top Indian institute Masters in Indian and Middle East job markets.
11.Do I need a separate work permit for healthcare jobs on the Graduate Route?
No. The Graduate Route allows any work including NHS or private healthcare roles. However, to actually practice as a nurse, doctor, or other regulated healthcare professional, you need professional registration from the relevant council (NMC for nurses, GMC for doctors, HCPC for AHPs). The visa permits the work; the professional council registration enables you to actually do it. These are separate processes.
12.If I have a low CGPA in my UK Masters, will it affect Graduate Route eligibility?
No. The Graduate Route only requires that you successfully complete your UK degree. There is no CGPA or class threshold. A bare pass is sufficient for visa eligibility. However, a low CGPA does affect your employability and your chances of transitioning to a Skilled Worker visa, where graduate scheme employers typically expect a 2:1 or higher.
13.Still have questions?
Every student's situation is slightly different. We file these visas and pathways every month from our Trivandrum and Kochi offices and can map your specific case in a 30-minute call.
Book a free counsellor call or explore our other FAQ topics.