UK Graduate Route cut to 18 months: what it means for Pakistani students starting in 2027

What exactly is changing

The Graduate visa (often called the Graduate Route or post-study work visa) lets international students stay in the UK after their degree to work or look for work, without needing a job offer or a sponsor. Until now, bachelor’s and master’s graduates received 2 years.

GOV.UK now states that the visa lasts 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026, you still get 2 years. PhD and other doctoral graduates are not affected and still receive 3 years.

The key point for Pakistani families is that the rule follows the date of your Graduate visa application. It does not matter when you applied to university or when your course started.

Who gets 2 years, and who gets 18 months

• You get 2 years if you have completed your course, your university has reported that to the Home Office, and you apply on or before 31 December 2026.
• You get 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. This covers everyone starting a bachelor’s or master’s in 2027, and most students already part-way through a degree.
• You get 3 years if you complete a PhD or other doctorate, whenever you apply.

For example, a student who starts a one-year master’s in September 2027 will usually finish around September 2028, apply for the Graduate visa then, and receive 18 months.

What it costs

The Graduate visa has two costs, both paid when you apply:

• The application fee of £937.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year. For an 18-month visa this is usually one and a half years, about £1,553.

That means planning for roughly £2,490 in government fees for an 18-month Graduate visa, on top of your living costs while you look for work. Check GOV.UK for the current figures before you apply, as fees change regularly.

How to make 18 months count

Six months less time means the job search has to start earlier. These steps help:

1. Start in your final term, not after graduation. Use your university careers service, update your CV for the UK market, and apply for graduate schemes while you are still a student.
2. Choose your course with jobs in mind. Courses with placements, internships or strong employer links give you UK experience before you graduate.
3. Apply for the Graduate visa as soon as you can. You can apply once your university reports that you have completed your course, without waiting for the ceremony. Your Student visa must still be valid.
4. Plan your next visa early. The Graduate visa cannot be extended. If you want to stay, look at the Skilled Worker visa and which employers can sponsor you, well before your 18 months end.

Is the UK still worth it?

For many students, yes. A UK master’s usually takes one year, so the total time from arrival to the end of an 18-month Graduate visa is still about two and a half years, and UK degrees remain widely recognised by employers in Pakistan, the Gulf and beyond.

It is worth comparing the options, though. Ireland gives 12 months after a level 8 bachelor’s and 24 months after a level 9 master’s, and Australia and Canada have their own post-study work visas. Our Ireland, Australia and Canada guides set out the rules side by side with the UK guide.

Checklist: when you finish your UK degree

• Confirm with your university that it has reported your successful completion to the Home Office.
• Check your Student visa expiry date. You must apply before it ends.
• Apply online from inside the UK and pay the £937 fee and the health surcharge.
• Prove your identity as part of the application, as GOV.UK explains.
• Keep working on job applications while you wait for a decision.