Here you’ll find information to help you if your student visa is ending and you want to stay in Scotland after graduating.
Check what type of visa you need
If your student visa is ending and you want to stay in Scotland, there are several options available.
You will have to apply for a new visa before your student visa expires. If you have a partner or children who joined you as dependants on your student visa, they will also have to apply for new visas before your student visa expires.
Graduate visa
A graduate visa lets you stay in Scotland for at least two years after finishing your course.
You don’t need a job offer to apply for this visa. If you do get a job, you can change jobs while on this visa.
If you have a partner or children who joined you as dependants on your student visa, they can apply to stay as dependants on your graduate visa.
Find more information about applying for a graduate visa on gov.uk.
Skilled worker visa
You might be eligible for a skilled worker visa if you have a job offer from an employer who can sponsor you.
You must meet certain conditions to switch from a student visa to a skilled worker visa.
If you have a partner or children, they can apply to stay in Scotland as your dependants if they meet certain conditions.
Find more information about switching to a skilled worker visa on gov.uk.
Check if your partner or children can apply as your dependants on gov.uk.
Student visa
If you want to continue studying in Scotland, you might be able to extend your student visa.
You can only extend your student visa if you can show that your studies will be at a higher academic level than your current course.
If your partner or children are dependants on your student visa, they will need to apply to extend their visa.
Check if you can extend your student visa on gov.uk.
Check if your partner and children can extend their visas on gov.uk.
Other visas
Check other visa options to stay in Scotland after you graduate at Scottish Development International (SDI).
Finding a job
There are a range of career opportunities across different sectors in Scotland.
Find out more about Scotland’s job sectors at SDI.
You can search for jobs in many ways, for example through job sites or recruitment agencies. SDI has some great information to help you start your search for a new career in Scotland.
You can also get careers advice and search for graduate jobs from Prospects.
If you need more help, book a free advice appointment with one of our trained advisers.