Science & Engineering

Important changes will occur to this class of UK visa application on May 1st 2007 when the new International Graduate Scheme will be brought into operation.

The present Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme or SEGS was introduced by the Home Office as a measure to combat the shortage of skilled individuals in the fields of Science and Engineering in the United Kingdom. The Science and Engineering graduate scheme in its current form is a visa for immigration to the UK, which seeks to attract overseas nationals to the United Kingdom on a UK work visa who have successfully completed one of the following.

  • A Science and Engineering course with a minimum of second class honours (2:2)
  • A recognized higher Science or Engineering degree course, or a Masters course, or a PhD at a British institution of Higher or Further Education.

With the introduction of the new International Graduate Scheme, the eligibility criteria for those completing their courses on or after 1 May 2007 will be widened. Candidates who have completed a bachelor's degree in any subject will be now eligible under the new legislation and in addition, the minimum requirement for a 2:2 classification will be removed. Finally, the scheme will be extended to include those applicants with postgraduate certificates and diplomas.

For applicants whose qualifications were completed before 1 May 2007, but who have not yet applied under the scheme, will be able to apply for the International Graduate Scheme. However, in these circumstances, their applications will be considered under the same criteria as they would have had to meet under the existing SEGS scheme.

Benefits

The Science and Engineering Graduate Visa allows an applicant to work in the country for a period of up to 12 months. Whilst in Britain on this type of visa, there is no restriction placed on the type of paid work the UK visa applicant wishes to undertake.

However, the SEGS scheme also offers the flexibility of allowing a candidate to switch their visa status once in the country to the Business Persons or Innovators category, to remain in Britain through the procurement of a work permit or the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, HSMP. As is the normal practice with UK work permits, a specific offer of employment will need to be in place from a sponsoring company in Great Britain. The Highly Skilled Migrant Program however, offers complete freedom to seek and undertake employment in Great Britain to those applicants who meet the points based criteria threshold. It is also permissible for applicants to switch to the SEGS scheme from a student visa status whilst in Great Britain. However, students who are sponsored by a Government or international agency must be able to demonstrate written evidence of the sponsorship before applying to the SEGS programme.

As a premier UK immigration consultant Global Visas can offer a complete package of UK visa service and advice to help you determine which of the various British visas and UK work permits is right for your relocation to the UK. Our immigration consultants can provide guidance and service from initial inquiry to immigration lawyer expertise and on arrival services.

Spouse and Dependent Immigration

Spouse immigration is permitted for under this type of SEGS visa for the UK and your spouse, unmarried partner and dependent children under the age of 18 to join you in the United Kingdom. You will be required to show that you are able to financially support both yourself and any dependents throughout this period. In common with a De Facto Visa, often referred to as an unmarried partner visa and a UK marriage visa your spouse or unmarried partner will be able to work in the UK upon arrival.