UK Graduate Visa Drops to 18 Months from 1 January 2027: Who Still Gets Two Years?
Published 27/10/2026
In short: The UK's Graduate visa, which lets international students stay and work after their degree, is getting shorter. Bachelor's and master's graduates who apply on or after 1 January 2027 will get 18 months instead of two years. This matters most to Indian students finishing a UK course in the next two months, and to every family weighing a UK degree for 2027.
What happened
The change was set in the UK's Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1333), laid on 14 October 2025. The Home Office said the shorter stay is meant to push graduates towards graduate-level jobs. With just over two months to go, GOV.UK's Graduate visa page now spells out the two dates:
- Apply on or before 31 December 2026: up to 2 years.
- Apply on or after 1 January 2027: 18 months.
- Finished a PhD or other doctorate: still 3 years, whichever date you apply.
What counts is the day you apply, not the day your course started or ended.
Can I still get two years?
Only if you can apply by 31 December 2026. GOV.UK sets three conditions for applying:
- You must be in the UK when you apply.
- You must hold a Student visa (or the older Tier 4 student visa).
- Your university must have told the Home Office you have successfully completed your course.
That third step is the one to watch. A master's student whose final dissertation is marked in December may not be reported as complete in time. If you are in that position, ask your university's international student team this week when they expect to report completion.
For students
If you finish in 2026. Note your course end date and your Student visa expiry date. Ask the university when it will report your result. If you can apply before 31 December, plan the paperwork now rather than in the last week of the year. GOV.UK says a decision usually takes about 8 weeks, and that you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get it, or the application is withdrawn. Think twice before booking a winter trip home.
If you are applying for 2027. You will almost certainly get 18 months. A one-year master's plus 18 months is about two and a half years in the UK in total. That is enough time to find work, but not much to waste. Start using the careers service in your first term, not after exams.
If you plan a PhD. Nothing changes for you: 3 years after a doctorate.
For parents
The money. GOV.UK lists a £937 application fee for the Graduate visa, plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year of the stay. A shorter visa means a smaller surcharge, but also less time to earn back the cost of the degree. When you work out whether a UK master's is worth it, use 18 months, not two years.
The better question to ask universities. Rankings matter less than what happens after the course. Ask each university how many recent international graduates moved into graduate-level jobs, and what help the careers team gives in the first few months.
One more change to know. From 1 August 2028, universities in England will pay a levy of £925 a year for each international student above an allowance, which the government intends to set at 220 students per university. The government's policy paper says the universities pay it. It is not yet clear whether some will pass the cost on through fees, so keep an eye on fee notices for 2028 entry.
Keep the right papers. For a student finishing this year: the passport, the current visa details, the university's completion email, and proof of the fee paid.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2026 | Last day to apply and still get up to 2 years |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Bachelor's and master's graduates get 18 months |
| 1 Aug 2028 | England's international student levy on universities starts |
Our earlier piece on the UK student visa funds rise from 30 November covers the money you need to show before you go.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa: overview: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027, 3 years after a PhD; eligibility; £937 fee and £1,035 a year surcharge. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa: apply: decision time and travel rule. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- GOV.UK, Explanatory memorandum to HC 1333, 14 October 2025: the 18-month rule and its reason. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- Department for Education, Introducing an international student levy on higher education providers: £925 per student a year from 1 August 2028, paid by providers; and the consultation response (July 2026) on the planned 220-student allowance. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
If a calm map of the UK route would help, more on easyapply.in.
Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.