The Complete UK Career Guide for Indian Students

Step 1 · Arrival & first term

Get your National Insurance number, set up your UKVI account/eVisa, and learn the work limit (usually 20 hours a week in term time at degree level).

• Apply for a National Insurance number: GOV.UK – apply for a NI number. Employers need it to pay you.
• Check your eVisa is linked to your current passport and that you can create a share code: GOV.UK – view eVisa and get a share code.
• Student work rules: read your own visa conditions and GOV.UK – Student visa. Breaking work conditions can hurt later applications.
• Book your first careers-service CV check early. Prospects notes university careers services offer free CV help (Prospects).

Step 2 · Build the CV and LinkedIn

A UK CV is usually no longer than two A4 pages, with no photo and no date of birth. Tailor it to every job.

Full method on the UK CV guide: structure, a sample layout, the personal statement, cover letter and the mistakes we see most often from Indian applicants.

Step 3 · Apply smartly (job-hunting tricks)

Apply to licensed sponsors in roles that are eligible and pay at or above the visa salary level. Use keywords from the advert so applicant tracking systems (ATS) can match you.

All tactics are on UK job tips for Indian students: shortlisting, ATS, LinkedIn, networking, graduate schemes, timing and scams.

Step 4 · Graduate visa (optional bridge)

The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (PhD: 3 years). No sponsor needed and you can work in most jobs.

Source: GOV.UK – Graduate visa. Full details: Graduate visa page. Graduate time counts towards the 4-year maximum for the new-entrant salary rate on Skilled Worker (GOV.UK).

Step 5 · Get sponsored (Skilled Worker)

You need a job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor, an eligible occupation code, and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate, whichever is higher (new entrants: 70% of the going rate, at least £33,400).

Step-by-step: How sponsorship works. Checking employers: Sponsorship: find and check employers. Source: GOV.UK – Skilled Worker: your job.

Step 6 · Know your pay

The UK median full-time salary was £40,911 in ONS ASHE 2026 (provisional). Visa going rates are separate figures set by the Home Office for each occupation code.

See UK pay scales vs visa thresholds.

Step 7 · Settlement (ILR)

Today, Skilled Worker ILR is usually after 5 years. The 2 Nov 2026 earned-settlement plans (10-year default, faster paths for higher earners) are announced, not yet law.

See ILR rules 2026: current vs announced and the full table on Settlement (ILR).

Your course page

Each course page lists typical roles and their SOC codes, whether they are eligible for Skilled Worker, going rates, example licensed sponsors, books and visa costs.

• Computer science
• AI & machine learning
• Data science
• Robotics & automation
• Banking, finance & fintech
• MBA & management
• Food science & nutrition
• Nursing & healthcare management
• Mechanical engineering
• All 31 courses