The PSW visa no longer exists under that name. The UK's post-study work route is now called the Graduate Route, and if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 you get two years. Apply on or after 1 January 2027 and you get 18 months. PhD graduates get three years either way.
If you are reading this in 2026 and you are eligible now, the date above is the single most important thing on this page.
Last verified 28 July 2026.
Why is it called PSW if that is not the name?
The Post-Study Work visa was the original scheme, closed in 2012. The UK reintroduced post-study work rights in July 2021 under the name Graduate Route, as part of the International Education Strategy.
Almost nobody calls it that. Students, agents and university WhatsApp groups still say "PSW", which is why you searched for it and why this page uses both terms. The official name on every Home Office form is Graduate visa.
The deadline that actually matters in 2026
In May 2025 the government published its immigration white paper, "Restoring control over the immigration system". The Statement of Changes published on 14 October 2025 implemented it.
The effect on the Graduate Route:
| You apply | Bachelor's or master's | PhD or doctorate |
| On or before 31 December 2026 | 2 years | 3 years |
| On or after 1 January 2027 | 18 months | 3 years |
Two clarifications, because both get misreported.
It is based on when you apply, not when your course starts or ends. A student finishing in November 2026 who applies in December gets two years. The same student who waits until January gets 18 months. Six months of work rights turns on the date you press submit.
PhD graduates are unaffected. Some sites state that doctoral graduates drop to two years. Specialist immigration sources and university legal advice centres are consistent that the three-year allowance is retained. If you see otherwise, check the source.
Students starting courses in September 2026 are broadly the last intake positioned to apply within the two-year window, depending on course length.
Am I eligible?
You must meet all of the following:
- You are in the UK when you apply
- You currently hold a valid Student visa or Tier 4 (General) visa
- You have successfully completed an eligible UK bachelor's, postgraduate or other approved course
- Your education provider has notified the Home Office of your successful completion
That fourth point is where most refusals come from, so it deserves its own section.
Read Also: What is a CAS Letter for UK Student Visa?
The most common reason applications get refused
Timing. There is a window, and it is narrower than people assume.
You cannot apply before your university has told the Home Office you passed. You cannot apply after your Student visa expires. You must apply between those two points.
Students routinely get caught by applying the moment results are published, before the university has processed the notification. The application is refused, the fee is largely lost, and by the time they reapply their Student visa may be closer to expiry.
What to do:
- Email your international student support team and ask when your completion will be reported to the Home Office. Ask for a date, not a reassurance.
- Check your Student visa expiry date.
- Apply in the gap between those two.
If your Student visa expires before the university reports completion, contact your international team immediately. There are exceptions but they are not automatic.
What does it cost?
Three separate costs, and students frequently budget for only the first:
- Application fee, paid to the Home Office
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), charged per year of permission and typically the largest single item
- Biometrics, where required
The IHS is worth understanding before you plan. It is charged upfront for the full length of your permission. A two-year Graduate visa carries roughly a third more IHS than an 18-month one, which slightly offsets the value of applying before the deadline. Slightly. The extra six months of work rights is still worth considerably more than the additional surcharge for most people.
Check current figures on GOV.UK before applying. Fees change and we are not going to publish a number here that may be stale by the time you read it.
What can you do on a Graduate visa?
Most things, and this is its main advantage over the Skilled Worker route.
You can work in almost any job, at any skill level, for any employer. You can be self-employed. You can look for work while not working. You can volunteer. You can travel in and out of the UK.
You do not need a sponsor, which is the whole point. Skilled Worker requires an employer licensed to sponsor you, a qualifying role and a salary threshold. The Graduate Route requires none of that, which is why it is the standard bridge between graduating and finding a sponsored role.
What you cannot do: claim most public funds, work as a professional sportsperson, or extend the visa. It is not a route to settlement.
What happens when it ends?
This is the part to plan from day one, because the route cannot be extended and you can only hold it once.
The usual next step is switching into the Skilled Worker visa, which does count towards settlement. That requires a job with a licensed sponsor at or above the relevant salary threshold.
The practical implication of the 18-month reduction: from 2027, graduates have meaningfully less time to find sponsored employment. If you are on the shorter route, you should be applying for sponsored roles from the start rather than treating the first year as breathing space.
Other options include the Global Talent visa, Innovator Founder, or a family route, all of which have their own requirements.
A realistic timeline
| When | What to do |
| 3 months before course ends | Confirm your Student visa expiry date. Ask your university when completion is reported |
| Results published | Wait for confirmation that the Home Office has been notified |
| Notification confirmed | Apply. Do not delay if you are near 31 December 2026 |
| While waiting | You can usually stay and work under the terms of your existing permission |
| Decision received | Start applying for sponsored roles immediately if you are on 18 months |
FAQs
Q: Is PSW the same as the Graduate Route?
A: Yes. PSW is the informal name people still use. The official route is the Graduate visa, launched in July 2021.
Q: How long is the PSW visa in 2026?
A: Two years for bachelor's and master's graduates applying on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months for those applying on or after 1 January 2027, and three years for PhD graduates regardless of date.
Q: Do I need a job offer to apply for a Graduate visa?
A: No. The Graduate Route requires no sponsor and no job offer, which is its main advantage over Skilled Worker.
Q: Can I apply for the Graduate visa from outside the UK?
A: No. You must be physically in the UK on a valid Student or Tier 4 visa when you apply.
Q: Can I extend the Graduate visa?
A: No. It cannot be extended and you can only hold it once. Plan to switch into another route, usually Skilled Worker, before it expires.
Q: When exactly should I apply?
A: After your university notifies the Home Office that you have successfully completed your course, and before your Student visa expires. Applying outside that window is the most common reason for refusal.
Q: Does the Graduate visa count towards settlement?
A: No. Time on the Graduate Route does not count towards indefinite leave to remain. Skilled Worker time does
Read Also: UCAS Hub Guide 2026
