Where Do International Graduates of UK Universities Go After Their Bachelor's Degree? HESA Graduate Outcomes for 17 UK Universities: Shares in Work, Further Study and Unemployment, High-Skilled Work in the UK, the Graduate Visa Falling to 18 Months From 2027, and What It Means for Domestic and International Applicants (Including Students in China)
According to the official HESA Graduate Outcomes survey, among 2021/22 international (non-UK domiciled) undergraduates at the 17 UK universities in this site's database, about 15 months after graduating the median share working was 52%, in further study 27% and unemployed 6%; of those working in the UK, the median share in high-skilled jobs was 91%. gov.uk states that a Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027.
When choosing UK universities, many families ask how many international students find work after their bachelor's degree and how many go on to further study. An official UK survey answers this: the Graduate Outcomes survey run by HESA, the Higher Education Statistics Agency, asks graduates what they are doing about 15 months after graduating. The "Graduate outcomes" section on this site's university pages uses this data; this guide brings together the 17 UK universities in this site's database.
1. Who is counted and how
- Who: undergraduates in the class of 2021/22 at 17 UK universities whose home address was outside the UK (that is, international students), about 15 months after graduating; 4,770 graduates with known outcomes across the 17.
- Source: the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA Graduate Outcomes), open data under CC BY 4.0.
- Approximate figures: HESA publishes counts rounded to the nearest 5, and this site calculates percentages from the rounded counts, so every percentage is approximate and a single university's figures may not add up to exactly 100%. Combinations with fewer than 50 graduates with known outcomes are not shown on this site.
- Graduate outcomes, not placements: this shows what graduates were doing about 15 months after graduating, not internships during study or longer-term careers.
2. What graduates were doing about 15 months later
| Outcome | Median of 17 | Range across 17 | All 17 combined (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working | 52% | 44%–59% | 51% |
| Working and studying | 10% | 3%–12% | 10% |
| Further study | 27% | 14%–32% | 26% |
| Unemployed | 6% | 2%–11% | 6% |
| Other | 7% | 3%–10% | 7% |
"All 17 combined" adds up graduates with known outcomes across the 17 universities before calculating the share, and is also approximate. What this shows:
- About half were working: the median share working only was 52%, between 44% and 59% across the 17; adding those working and studying (median 10%), close to six in ten were working (median 60%).
- More than a quarter went on to further study: the median share in further study was 27%, between 14% and 32%; postgraduate study is a common path for international undergraduates.
- Unemployment: a median of 6%, between 2% and 11% across the 17.
3. What kind of work graduates in the UK were doing
HESA classifies jobs as "high-skilled" by occupation. Across the 17 universities, the median share of graduates working in the UK who were in high-skilled jobs was 91%, between 80% and 100%. Note that the base for this share is only graduates working in the UK: about 1,825 across the 17, around 38% of graduates with known outcomes; graduates working in other countries are not included.
4. Staying to work in the UK: the Graduate visa
- How long: gov.uk states that a Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027; with a PhD or other doctoral qualification it lasts 3 years (gov.uk: Graduate visa). Students applying for UK bachelor's degrees now, who will graduate after 2027, would get 18 months under the current rules.
- Cost: a £937 application fee, plus a healthcare surcharge that is usually £1,035 for each year (gov.uk: Graduate visa).
- Other rules: you must be in the UK when you apply, and the visa cannot be extended; to stay longer you may be able to switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk: Graduate visa).
- This is policy information read in November 2026 and does not constitute immigration or legal advice; follow the latest rules on gov.uk.
5. How domestic and international applicants (including students in China) can read this data
- Domestic (UK) applicants: the figures here cover only graduates whose home address was outside the UK; for UK graduates, log in to see the "all graduates" figures on each university page.
- International applicants: when comparing universities, look not only at the share working but also at further study and unemployment, and at how many graduates were working in the UK; if you plan to stay and work, build the Graduate visa period into your plans.
- Students in China: this data does not separate out students from China, so treat it as a reference for international graduates overall. You can open each UK university page in our university database to see its graduate outcomes; after logging in you can also see postgraduate and subject-level figures.
Frequently asked questions
How many international bachelor's graduates of UK universities are working after graduation?
According to the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey, among 2021/22 international (non-UK domiciled) undergraduates at the 17 UK universities in this site's database, about 15 months after graduating the median share working only was 52%, between 44% and 59%; the median shares were 10% working and studying, 27% in further study and 6% unemployed. Percentages are calculated from counts rounded by HESA and are approximate.
How many international graduates working in the UK are in high-skilled jobs?
Across the 17 UK universities, the median share of international bachelor's graduates working in the UK who were in high-skilled jobs was 91%, between 80% and 100%. The base is only graduates working in the UK, about 1,825 across the 17, around 38% of those with known outcomes.
How long does the UK Graduate visa last?
gov.uk states that a Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years with a doctoral qualification; the application fee is £937 plus a healthcare surcharge that is usually £1,035 a year, you must apply from inside the UK, and it cannot be extended. This is policy information and does not constitute immigration or legal advice.
When are HESA graduate outcomes measured?
The HESA Graduate Outcomes survey asks graduates what they are doing about 15 months after graduating. This guide uses the class of 2021/22, with 4,770 international bachelor's graduates with known outcomes across the 17 UK universities; HESA rounds counts to the nearest 5, so the percentages are approximate.
References
HESA Graduate Outcomes (CC BY 4.0); gov.uk: Graduate visa. The 17 UK universities counted: University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Durham University, The University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, King's College London, University of Leeds, London School of Economics and Political Science, The University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, The University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University College London, The University of Warwick. Figures compiled in November 2026; follow the latest data from HESA and gov.uk.