Guide
Your Student visa after completing your studies
This guide covers some questions that you may have once you have completed your studies with us
Updated on 8 August 2025
When must you leave the UK?
The Home Office expects you to leave the UK on or before your visa expiry date. You must apply to extend your stay or to switch to another visa type before your current visa expires.
The length of your Student visa depends on the length of your course. This is stated in the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which was issued to you by our Admissions team. The Home Office will add a small wrap up period to your visa after your course end date, the length of this period depends on your course length.
| Course length | Extra time granted at end of course |
| 12 months or longer | 4 months after course end date |
| 6 - 12 months | 2 months after course end date |
| Pre-sessional course | 1 month after course end date |
| Less than 6 months | 7 days after course end date |
Your course end date will be stated on your CAS and will not necessarily include your graduation ceremony.
Cancelling your Student visa
In certain circumstances, your Student visa may be cancelled. This means you will be given a new visa expiry date sooner than your visa was originally due to expire. If you leave or are outside the UK after receiving a cancellation notice from UKVI your visa is no longer valid.
If you complete your course early
If you complete your studies with more than four months remaining on your visa the University will contact you about changes to your visa expiry date.
The Home Office requires the University to inform them if a student completes their course earlier than expected. The Home Office normally limits your permission to the standard wrap up period for your course. Advice will be given on an individual basis.
Departing the UK before course completion
Some students may have the option to leave the UK before their course is complete and submit outstanding coursework online. If the departure is more than two weeks before final course submission date students will be required to give up the remaining time on their visa. This requires school approval and means that you are no longer limited by Student visa restrictions. There will be no impact on your final award if your school approve your early departure.
Early cancellation of your Student visa removes eligibility for the Graduate Route visa.
Overstaying by even one day is a criminal offence
You must leave the UK by the expiry date of your visa unless you have submitted a visa application to extend your permission in the UK. There is no ‘grace period’ following the expiry date of your visa.
The University will not allow you to continue your studies as an ‘overstayer’. You would also need to declare this on any future visa application to the UK and many other countries.
If your visa is expiring and you have applied for a new visa you must provide the university with evidence of your application before your visa expiry date. Failure to do so may result you being placed on a break in studies until we have evidence of your permission to study in the UK.
If you enter the UK as a visitor, you cannot switch from a visitor to Student visa within the UK. You would need to leave the UK to re-enter as a visitor. Entry to the UK is at the discretion of Border Force officials.
Working after your course ends
The options for working in the UK after study depend on your immigration status
Visas for graduation
If your graduation takes place after your existing Student visa expires, and you do not plan to apply for another visa to remain in the UK, you will need to leave the UK to apply for a Standard Visitor visa or an ETA. You must apply for this visa from outside the UK.
Continuing to a further degree at Dundee
If you will be studying another course at Dundee, you will be asked to provide evidence you have submitted your Student visa application for your new course to be permitted to matriculate and start your studies.
If you are in the UK on a Student visa, you can only apply to extend your visa from inside the UK if:
- You have obtained the qualification for which your current immigration permission was granted. If you have not obtained the qualification, you will need to apply for your new visa from outside the UK
- Your new course start date is less than 28 days after your current visa expiry date