So you’re studying in the UK, or you’re planning to. At some point, someone probably told you about the Graduate visa; the one that lets you stay back and work after you finish your degree. It sounds simple enough, but there are a few things happening right now that could seriously affect your plans, especially if you’re a bachelor’s or master’s student.
Let me just explain it the way I’d tell a friend.
The basic idea
The Graduate visa is basically your chance to stay in the UK after graduation without needing a job offer lined up already. You can work in most jobs, try freelancing, look around, figure things out. It gives you breathing room. A lot of Nepali students use this time to get their first UK work experience before applying for something more long-term like the Skilled Worker visa. That’s the whole point of it.
The part you need to pay attention to
Right now, if you finish your degree and apply for the Graduate visa before December 31, 2026, you get two full years to stay and work. But from January 1, 2027, that drops to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates. PhD students still get three years, that part isn’t changing.
Here’s why this matters for you specifically; almost every bachelor’s or master’s degree that starts in 2026 will finish after this date. So if you’re starting this year, plan for 18 months, not two years. It’s not the end of the world, but 6 months is actually a significant difference when you’re trying to build experience and transition into a proper work visa.
Let’s talk money, in actual Nepali rupees
This is usually the part nobody tells you clearly. At today’s rate of Rs. 205.80 per pound, here’s what you’re actually spending just to apply for the Graduate visa.
The application fee is £937, which comes to roughly Rs. 1,92,834. On top of that, you have to pay the healthcare surcharge; basically a fee that gives you access to the NHS. That’s about £1,035 per year. For an 18-month visa, you’re paying around £1,552, which is roughly Rs. 3,19,422. Put it together and you’re looking at close to Rs. 5.1 lakh just to apply after graduating. That’s before rent, food, or anything else.
If you end up working in NHS healthcare; as a doctor, nurse, or in social care; you might qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, which is cheaper and skips some of these fees. Worth knowing.
The Student visa part; before you even get there
Before any of this, when you first apply for your Student visa, you need to show the UK government that you have enough money to actually survive there. Right now the amount you need to prove is £1,529 per month if you’re studying in London, which is around Rs. 3,14,662 per month. If you’re outside London, it’s £1,171 per month, or roughly Rs. 2,40,992 per month. And this is just the living cost; you also need to show you can cover your tuition for the year.
For most Nepali families, this is the hardest part of the whole process. Starting your financial preparation early isn’t just advice, it’s genuinely necessary.
After the Graduate visa, what next?
The Graduate visa can’t be extended; that’s just how it works. But it’s designed to be a stepping stone, not an endpoint. Most people use it to get local experience and then switch to the Skilled Worker visa once they have an employer willing to sponsor them. If you’re in healthcare, the Health and Care Worker visa is usually the more practical path.
One more thing; English language requirements for UK work visas went up this year. The minimum is now B2 level, which is roughly IELTS 5.5 to 6.5. If you’re planning to switch visas after your Graduate visa, just make sure your English certification is recent and meets that standard.
The UK is still a great place to study and start your career. Just go in knowing the actual numbers and the actual timeline, not the vague version. Check the UK government website or UKCISA when you’re applying; things like the maintenance amounts get updated regularly and you want the most current figures when you actually sit down to apply.
