Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme 

If you graduate from Stirling with an undergraduate degree, Master’s degree or PhD, you are entitled to apply to stay on to work in Scotland for up to two years, without a work permit.

Students graduating with a Higher National Certificate, postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma are not eligible to apply. Students who have lived outside Scotland while studying are not eligible to apply.

Master's Degree and PhD students who started their course on or after 01 May 2006

This scheme allows these students to apply to remain in the UK to work for one year after successful completion of their studies.

Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS)

Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk click on ‘schemes and programmes’ then ‘Science and engineering graduate students’ at the left of the page.

Work Permit Scheme

It is the employer who applies for a work permit, not the student. If the employer is successful in obtaining a work permit to offer you the job, you need to make a separate application to the Home Office to change your immigration status in the UK. You must do this before your current leave expires. Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk. You do not need a work permit if you apply to stay in Scotland to work under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme.

Training and Wok Experience Scheme (TWES)

It is the employer who applies for a TWES permit, not the student. After the employer obtains the TWES permit, you need to apply to change your immigration status in the UK. Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk

Innovators Scheme

Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk click on ‘Schemes and programmes’ and then ‘Innovators’

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)

Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk click on ‘Schemes and programmes’ then ‘Highly skilled migrant programme’.

Student Union Sabbatical Officer

Go to www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk click on ‘Law and policy’ and then ‘Immigration rules’ paragraphs 87A – 87F.

Voluntary Workers

www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk click on ‘law and policy’ then ‘policy instructions’ – choose IDIs and chapter 17 section 9.

UK Ancestry

Applies to Commonwealth citizens. You cannot switch into this category from within the UK. Go to www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk click on ‘applying’ go to ‘general caseworking’ and then choose leaflet on ‘UK ancestry’. You can telephone the Home office and ask them to send you a leaflet by post – the telephone number is 0870 241 0645.

Working Holidaymakers

To be eligible you must be a citizen of one of a number of Commonwealth countries specified by the Home Office and meet the required criteria. You cannot switch into this category from the UK. Go to www.workingintheuk.gov.uk click on ‘Schemes and programmes’ then ‘Working Holidaymakers’. From your home country go to www.ukvisas.gov.uk go to ‘how to apply’ then ‘application forms and guidance’ and scroll down to ‘Working Holidaymakers’.

EU Association Agreements

Turkish Nationals can set up in self employment. Students can apply to switch into this immigration category from the UK. You can email the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) for an information booklet at [email protected] or go to www.airecentre.org

For information on all of these schemes look at the guidance note ‘Working in the UK after your studies’ at www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/guidenote.htm

National Insurance Number

When you start working in the UK you will need a National Insurance Number. The number is allocated specifically to you. It is allocated to you so that if you need to contact the Inland Revenue they can check your tax record, using your number. Your employer needs your National Insurance Number to send a record of the tax you have paid to the Inland Revenue.

To obtain a National Insurance number you must telephone 0845 6000 643. You will be given an appointment time to attend an interview. The interview is called ‘Evidence of Identification Interview’. This will be in Edinburgh or Glasgow. The person you speak to on the phone will explain the documentation you need to take with you to the interview. You need to give this person your address. A letter confirming your appointment time, where you need to go and what documentation you need to take with you, will be posted out to you.

Note: If you apply for your National Insurance Number before you start working, you need to provide evidence that you have been looking for work. Keep any letters from employers you have applied to. This can be letters arranging a job interview or rejection letters. Keep evidence of your home address where you are living in the UK.