New 1-year work scheme for all international UK graduates

If you are studying in the UK and want to stay and work after your studies, here is some very good news.

The government is putting into place its plan to allow more skilled migrants to come and work in the UK. From 1 May 2007, all those who complete undergraduate or postgraduate studies in the UK can apply to stay and work for up to 12 months under the new International Graduate Scheme (IGS) announced by the DfES yesterday.

IGS replaces the current SEGS programme, which allows certain Science and Engineeting graduates, and postgraduates in any subject who started after 1 May 2006, to stay and work for 12 months.

IGS cannot be extended, and is not itself a route to settlement in the UK, but eligible people will be able to switch to another suitable employment category like HSMP or Work Permits, both of which are routes to settlement.

It's very new, but keep an eye on thhe Schemes and Programmes section of workingintheuk.gov.uk for more information soon.

Oooh that sounds really cool! Thanks for posting, I will have to read up about that (even though I won't be eligible).

That's great news. I had heard that the SEGs was for S&G grads but not limited to just those degrees. But wasn't quite sure. DH is able to work 40hrs a week while we're there and he will be actively trying to get a work permit. I'll definitly apply for this new scheme.
The international office at my Uni seems to be very helpful on all the schemes and filling out paperwork.

There is now information about the IGS available online at

http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/schemes_and_programmes/internationalgraduatesscheme.html?

Thanks for sharing this with us.