Life after University

When you graduate you'll have the opportunity to stay in the UK and work. You'll also find useful information here about preparing to go home.

Staying on in the UK and working

For more information on how you can stay on in the UK and work after you complete your studies at Abertay please refer to the following links.

Post Study Work visa (two years)
The Post Study Work visa allows non-EEA nationals who have graduated from a UK university to remain and work in the UK for two years. Applicants can apply from the UK or from their home country, but must do so within 12 months of completing their studies. Applicants also need to show they have access to the required amount of funds (currently £800 for single applicants applying in the UK, but more for those applying outside the UK and those with dependants), and that they have had access to these funds for the three months prior to applying.

Post Study Work has replaced the previous schemes which existed, which were the International Graduate Scheme and Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland.

For more information visit
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy.

Sponsored skilled worker visa (shortly to replace work permits)
This category is for applicants who have a job offer from a UK-based employer, and is an option for some of our students with specialised skills and experience. For more information please visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2

Highly Skilled Worker visa
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) is designed to allow highly skilled people to come to the United Kingdom to look for work or self-employment opportunities. For more information please visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/

Work permits
Some Abertay graduates will be eligible to apply for a visa under the Highly Skilled Worker category, which allows highly skilled people to look for work or self-employment opportunities in the UK. Unlike a work permit, applicants do not need a job offer to apply. Applicants are awarded points based on their qualifications, previous earnings, United Kingdom experience, age, English language skills, and available maintenance (funds).

For more information please visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general

UK careers after graduation

Your time in the UK will boost your CV and give you valuable life skills that can lead to future contacts and work opportunities in your own country and in Scotland.

The first point of contact should be the Career Development Centre. You will find a wealth of information about a wide range of careers, plus details about specific employers and listings of job vacancies. The Careers advisers can discuss your future career options with you, and can provide concrete advice about job-hunting techniques, including:

• how to find and approach potential employers
• how to prepare a CV
• how to handle yourself at interviews

The Career Development Centre will be able to direct you towards information about international employment opportunities. The UK hosts a number of international recruitment fairs, and is also an important centre for international consultants who can assess your potential and introduce you to some of the most successful multinational businesses in the world.

You should also talk to people in your academic department. Your lecturer, tutor or research supervisor may know of organisations (in the UK or overseas) that offer work programmes related to your studies.

You can find information about work permits at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Preparing to go home

Leaving will be just as hard as arriving. There will be many things you have to organise well in advance and people you will want to stay in contact with. You may even feel that you have lost contact with your family and friends at home so be prepared to face the culture shock all over again. Your time in Scotland will have undoubtedly had a positive impact on you, so saying goodbye might be harder than you first expect. Give yourself time to adjust and reacclimatise. Don't forget you have just completed not only an academic journey, but a personal one too.

Talk to the International Student Adviser and the academic staff you have felt most comfortable with - they will be interested to know your plans, and they might even be able to help you with some of the arrangements for your departure.

Before you leave the UK, give your home address to:

• friends and colleagues, so they can keep in touch
• a responsible person where you're living, so they can forward any post that arrives for you
• your institution's registry and alumni office, so they can keep in touch and send you information
• the post office, if you wish - they will forward mail to your new address for a fee

Don't forget to give notice on your accommodation, pay all remaining bills, and ensure all the contacts that you have made are aware of your leaving date.

Shipping items home again
You will probably have accumulated quite a few possessions and need to decide what to take home, what you can give away to fellow students, and what you can sell. Do this as early as possible or you might be left with items you don't really need and can't afford to send back home.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Do you have anything that you are not allowed to take back to your country?
• Will the authorities charge excise tax on any of your goods? If so, think about the value of the goods
• Find out from your airline what your baggage allowance is, and weigh your packed luggage to see if it is within the limit
• You may be entitled to claim back the VAT you paid on certain goods (e.g. large electrical goods) that you bought in the UK. To do this, you must be taking the goods out of the EU, and you must have bought them no more than three months before your departure

To find out more, visit the HM Revenue & Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk