Current UK visa regulations for international MBA students

If you’ve shortlisted a UK MBA programme as one of your top choices (or perhaps a few different ones), you’ve likely heard a lot of chatter about staying on in the UK after graduation. 

 And, you may even have a few concerns about getting into the country as an MBA candidate in the first place. 

It’s not as tenuous as you might think, but you do need to be aware of a few things.

UK visa restrictions don’t hamper serious MBA candidates

However, as about 50% of MBA candidates choose schools based on where they would like to work² after graduation, there is something you need to know. Unless you hold an European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss passport, you no longer have two years to secure employment; you have six months. 

Top UK employers are aware of these restrictions³ and appear to be doing their best to ensure they make offers quickly. But, you still need to keep this in mind if you hope to remain in the UK after graduation.

MBA visa tiers – what candidates need to know

There are a few different UK visa tiers that will apply to international candidates in the UK, both during and after their studies. 

If you hold an EEA or Swiss passport, you will need to apply for a UK residence card (and that will necessitate liaising with your MBA admissions office).

These MBA visa tiers apply to international students outside of the UK, EEA or Switzerland:

It’s important to remember that every admissions office will have different procedures, and you may have to provide additional documentation based on your country of origin when applying for a UK study visa. It’s imperative that you get in touch with your university early to make the process as painless as possible.