Experiencing the UK Graduate route: China, master's degree

Date:Feb 2023

Topic(s): Graduate route, Recruitment, Student employability, Transition

Type(s): AGCAS Case study

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), a member of UKCISA’s International Student Employability Group (ISEG), has captured the experiences of international graduates seeking employment in the UK after graduation in a series of case studies.

Who are you?

Name	Anonymous
Nationality / country of origin	China
Current visa	Graduate route
Are your expectations of your Graduate route visa being met?	Agree
University region, level of study and programme of study	University in North-East England Higher Degree -mainly by taught course (eg. MA.MSc,MBA) Languages
How many roles have you applied for since leaving university?	1-10
Current activity	Employed - full time (permanent contract)

Where do you work?

Job title	Audit Trainee
Industry	Accountancy / business advisory
Region of your contracted place of work	London
Time between the end of your course and start date for your current role	More than 6 months
How did you find your current job?	I was mainly looking at graduate schemes because they have a standard procedure for hiring and provide training and mentorship for graduates. I passed the online test which tested for numeracy skills and completed a short video interview. I was invited to an assessment centre. I finally received an offer three days afterward.

Thoughts on your visa

I am really happy with the Graduate route visa, which allowed me more time to find a job. However, due to it being a newly introduced visa, many companies still preferred the Tier 4 visa holders to Graduate route visa holders. Many companies do not accept Graduate route visas. Overall, I found the process easy and self-explanatory. The costs are fair. I received my new biometric residence permit (BRP) within 15 days after I submitted my application.

Support and development

My university careers service helped me to practice recruitment activities such as interview techniques and assessment centres.

Employer knowledge and attitudes

Recruiters are familiar with how to switch from a Tier 4 visa to a Tier 2 visa and they are happy to do so, but some companies have not decided their stance on the Graduate route visa. Other than that, I have found that employers are fair when it comes to recruiting graduates that require a visa.

What advice would you give to current international students seeking graduate employment in the UK?

Start early! Many graduate schemes are hiring on a rolling basis, so it is best to start preparation work and send applications early.

"Start your job search early and stay positive."

Stay positive. The whole process of applying for jobs, doing tests, and going through multiple interviews on a daily basis can be very stressful and tiring. Speaking to your friends and family for emotional support really helps! Also, remember that it is common to receive rejections. Do not feel disheartened, just move on. There are tons of opportunities elsewhere. Hang in there and it will work out!