As a student at Abertay you are automatically entitled to use the Career Development Centre, which is based on Level 2 of the Library, Bell Street. Turn right at the top of the stairs and we are the last office on your right, just past Student Services reception. Much of what is said here applies to home students as well.
UK employers expect students to have done more than just get a degree when they are at university. They want candidates to have developed skills that will help them fit into the world of work. Examples of these skills are:
There are different ways to get these skills:
If you are a citizen from the European Economic Area (EEA) or the spouse or child of an EEA citizen living in the UK you may work here without a work permit. The EEA countries are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. New member states that joined in 2004 are Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. All other students will need a work permit for permanent work after graduation. The Careers Service does not issue work permits and is not able to advise on the likelihood of you obtaining one. However, if you wish to discuss this with someone, make an appointment at Student Services Reception with our International Student Adviser.
The stamp on your passport will tell you whether or not you are able to work. If your passport says 'Employment Restriction' you may obtain part-time work. If your passport is stamped 'No work' or 'Employment Prohibition' you may not, but you may be able to apply to have your stamp changed to 'Employment Restriction'.
With effect from June 1999, students who have a restricted stamp in their passport no longer need to obtain permission to undertake employment while they are registered as a student at a UK institution and have student status. As long as the position satisfies the criteria given below, the government has provided blanket permission for students to undertake the following:
The following restrictions still apply:
Various other kinds of part-time and vacation work are governed by different rules. These are detailed in the UKCOSA leaflet 'Students and Employment', which is available at www.ukcosa.org.uk
Student advice line (open 1pm-4pm): 0207 107 9922
Many international students hope to work in the UK but few are able to do so immediately after graduation. The majority of students return to their home countries, initially at least, perhaps to gain the necessary experience to enable them to come back to the UK at a later date.
The regulations surrounding work permits are complex. Each person has a different case. For detailed information refer to the AGCAS booklet 'Careers and Further Study for International Students'. Copies are available in the Careers Service, or see www.prospects.ac.uk
A new scheme called the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme offers some hope to science/engineering graduates. This allows high fliers in these areas, with exceptional skills, to work in the UK for 12 months after graduation.
See www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk for more information.
Discuss your individual case with an International Officer. They are:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/
http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/
There are two main ways of entering the UK graduate employment market if you possess the necessary right to work permanently in the UK.
These involve one- to two-year training programmes for new graduates. Employers' websites will give details of their scheme.
The Careers Service holds directories that have details of many of these schemes. Also see www.prospects.ac.uk
Closing dates for many of these schemes occur as early as December so you must start applying in the first semester.
An increasing number of graduates find employment in small and medium-sized enterprises rather than through graduate training schemes. These employers recruit throughout the year. Make an appointment with the Careers Service to discuss these jobs.
Look out for these jobs in the vacancy bulletin produced by the Careers Service.
It is not possible to generalise about employer attitudes to international students. You have to be aware that applying for a work permit is expensive for employers. This means they will only do this for outstanding candidates.
If you do not need a work permit make this very clear on your written application.
See the AGCAS booklet 'Postgraduate Study and Research', which is available in the Careers Service.
Prospects postgraduate directory - www.prospects.ac.uk
There are a range of scholarships available for postgraduate study. Information on this can be found on the Education UK website - www.educationuk.org
