• Studied at United Kingdom Institution
• United Kingdom Qualification
• Immigration status during United kingdom study and/or research
• Date of award of Qualification
• English Language
• Maintenance

Post-study worker category (Tier 1 Post-study work) allows applicants to work in the United Kingdom for 2 years.

What points you have to score to apply as a post-study worker
To apply under our points-based system and be accepted into the post-study worker category, you must pass a points-based assessment.
You must score:

• 75 points for your attributes, which are a United Kingdom qualification, study at a United Kingdom institution, your immigration status during United Kingdom study and/or research, and the date of award of the qualification; and
• 10 points for English language; and 
• 10 points for available maintenance

Studied at United Kingdom Institution:
Points awarded for a qualification from a United Kingdom institution
You can claim 20 points if you have studied for the eligible qualification at an institution that:

• is a United Kingdom recognized or United Kingdom listed body; or
• is a Scottish publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or at a Scottish genuine (bona fide) private education institution which keeps satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; or
• holds a sponsor license under the student tier (tier 4) of the points-based system (once it launches

United Kingdom Qualification
Points awarded for a United Kingdom qualification
You will score 20 points if you have been awarded one of the following qualifications.
A United Kingdom recognised degree at bachelor's or postgraduate level
For your qualification to be considered a United Kingdom recognised degree at bachelor's or postgraduate level, it must have been awarded by a United Kingdom recognised body.
A United Kingdom recognised body is an institution which has been granted degree awarding powers by a Royal Charter, an Act of Parliament or the Privy Council. All United Kingdom universities and some higher education colleges are United Kingdom recognised bodies.
Further information on United Kingdom recognised bodies can be found on the website of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the right of this page.
You will not be awarded points for a postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma, except a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (see below).
United Kingdom Postgraduate Certificate in Education
United Kingdom Postgraduate Certificates in Education (PGCEs), including Professional Graduate Diplomas in Education obtained in Scotland, are acceptable for this requirement. It is not necessary for the awarding body to be a United Kingdom recognised body.
Higher national diplomas (HND) from a Scottish institution
The qualification must be at HND level. The institution at which you studied for your HND must be a Scottish institution. We will use the address of the institution to confirm this point.
Qualifications that are not acceptable
Qualifications that cannot be used for the award of points include:

• foundation degrees; 
• honorary degrees; 
• qualifications awarded in the United Kingdom by overseas awarding bodies;
• qualifications undertaken in overseas campuses of United Kingdom institutions;
• professional and vocational qualifications; and 
• postgraduate certificates or diplomas

Immigration status during United Kingdom study and/or research
Points awarded for your immigration status
You can claim 20 points if you can show that during your period of study and/or research in the United Kingdom, you had permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom as a:

• student; or
• student nurse; or
• student resitting an examination; or
• student writing up a thesis; or
• dependant of someone with leave in any category that allows dependants to join them in the United Kingdom.

We will not award any points if your immigration status was not one of those listed above while you were studying in the United Kingdom towards the qualification that you want to claim points for, and will refuse your application.
You do not need to have lived in the United Kingdom throughout the entire period of your study. It is reasonable to expect, for example, that as a student you may have studied overseas and/or done research while getting the qualification you are claiming points for.
A dependant would be entitled to claim 20 points for this attribute, but if they are still in the United Kingdom they are unable to switch into becoming the main applicant for post-study worker. The dependant would have to leave the United Kingdom and make an application overseas for entry clear

Date of award of Qualification

Points awarded for the date of award of qualification

You can claim 15 points if your qualification that you are claiming points for was obtained no more than 12 months before you apply for permission to enter or stay in the UK as a post-study worker.
Graduates of UK medical schools can claim 15 points if they have completed the NHS Foundation Programme no more than 12 months before they apply to Tier 1 (Post-study work).

How we define the date of award

The date on which you were first notified in writing, by the awarding institution, that the qualification has been awarded is the date on which the qualification was obtained (known as the date of award).
We will not accept that the date of award is the date of graduation.
As long as the date of award (or the completion of the NHS Foundation Programme) is no more than 12 months before the date of application, we will award the points.
Sometimes you will have started another course after finishing the course leading to the qualification you are claiming points for.  You do not need to finish this subsequent course.  However, the date of award of the qualification you are claiming points for must still fall within the 12 months before your application, or you will not score points.

English Language:

How points are awarded for English language
If you score 75 points for your attributes, which are a United Kingdom qualification, studying at a United Kingdom institution, your immigration status during United Kingdom study and/or research and the date of award of qualification, you will satisfy the English language requirement.

Maintenance (Funds):

The points awarded for maintenance (funds) if you are already in the United Kingdom
You must score 10 points for maintenance (funds), which are awarded if you are applying for permission to stay in the United Kingdom (known as 'leave to remain') and have £800 in available fu How we assess maintenance (funds)
Maintenance (funds) can include:

• cash savings in your bank account that have been in your account for at least three months before your application; 
• cash savings in a joint bank account that have been in your joint account for at least three months before your application; 
• cash savings held in a bank account overseas (we convert the amount to pounds sterling using the rate which appears on the OANDA website, whcih you can find on the right side of this page, and the date on your bank statement), that have been in your account for at least three months before your application.

The balance must show that you have had at least £800 in your account at all times over the three-month period for applications submitted within the United Kingdom, and £2,800 for applications submitted outside the United Kingdom.
Evidence must be in the form of cash funds.  Other accounts or financial instruments for example, shares, bonds, pension funds or agreed overdraft facilities are not acceptable as evidence of your maintenance (funds).
For applications made either in the United Kingdom or overseas, all evidence must be dated no more than one month before the application is submitted.
You must have a minimum level of maintenance (funds) available and score 10 points in this section, or your application will be refused
For more information visit: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk