UK Student and Graduate routes in 2026
Student and Graduate are separate permissions. The Student route covers eligible study with a licensed student sponsor; the Graduate route is a post-study option after successful completion of an eligible UK course.
GOV.UK states that non-doctoral Graduate applications made on or before 31 December 2026 receive 2 years, while applications made on or after 1 January 2027 receive 18 months. Doctoral graduates receive 3 years.
Graduate permission cannot be extended, though switching into another route may be possible. The current Student rules also limit dependant eligibility mainly to government-sponsored students on longer courses and specified postgraduate research study.
See the Student visa guide and Graduate visa guide.
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Official and supporting sources
- GOV.UK Student visagovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOV.UK Student dependantsgovernment · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOV.UK Graduate visagovernment · accessed 2026-09-19