The choices you make about where to study can make a big impact on the rest of your life. When you study abroad in a country like the UK, you can make connections and find opportunities to enable your future career growth all over the world. Consider the list of options below to start your life after graduation in the UK!
Investigate internships
During your final year of studies in the UK, start looking for internships that are available in your field. An internship is a great way to get much-needed work experience after you graduate and often companies will use your internship period to assess whether you are the right fit for a permanent role. If your internship goes well, you could have an immediate foot in the door to your chosen industry and avoid job hunting without experience.
An internship can last as long as a year or be as short as the UK summer holidays. Whether your time with a company is brief or extended, the experience adds value to your resume. Study UK suggests getting in touch with your university’s career services, reaching out to potential employers on LinkedIn and searching specialist internship websites like Milkround.
Work placements while you study
Depending on the course you choose, you may be offered a work placement opportunity as part of your master’s degree. According to Study UK, you can expect to be placed with a company for a period of six to twelve months, before completing your final year of study. This is an excellent opportunity to make career connections and learn valuable real-world skills in a professional environment. After you graduate, you can return home with experience and a competitive edge over other first-time job seekers in your field.
Reach out to your university about work placement opportunities while you study and read more about the rules and regulations involved here. Once you’ve taken an IELTS test, you can apply to universities in the UK that offer work placements and get a head start in your career.
Take the graduate route
After you graduate in the UK, you can apply to stay in the country for up to two years while you look for work. If you complete a doctoral degree, you can apply to stay for up to three years. The Graduate Route takes the pressure off having a UK based job lined up right after you complete your studies. International students are not required to have a job first or a company sponsor to apply for the Graduate Route and there is no minimum salary requirement. This means graduates can take up internships and freelance work while they live in the UK.
Once your studies are complete, take advantage of the opportunity to gain work experience abroad! Read more about UK Graduate visa requirements here.
Achieve your goals anywhere in the world
Find an institution that prides itself on the employability of its graduates if you have global career ambitions. Three UK universities make the top 20 list of QS Graduate Employability Rankings for 2022. At Oxford University, 80% of graduates found paid employment within 15 months of graduating. An Oxford Graduate Outcomes Survey of students who graduated between 2018 and 2020 revealed that 86% of participants felt their work was meaningful and important to them. If you have big career aspirations, research the employability rate of the universities you plan to apply to.
Once you’ve qualified at a world-renowned institution with an internship or work placement under your belt, you can enter the job market with confidence. Life after graduation in the UK can bring you a world of opportunities!