International Students

The Careers Service offers tailored careers support for international students. In addition to the guidance below, international students are encouraged to explore the Staying in the UK to Work pathway on CareerConnect, if you are considering working in the UK after your studies. You can also book to see a Careers Adviser. Careers advisers at the University of Oxford Careers Service can support you to make competitive applications for jobs in the UK and abroad, but we are not legally able to advise you on individual visa questions.

Careers support for international students

Staying in the UK to work pathway

This pathway will help you access support and resources specifically on navigating the UK job market. Intended for international students, we hope this pathway will provide you with the essentials; information on CVs, understanding the UK job market, interview technique, and visa information too.

Staying in the UK to work pathway

Dedicated events

The Careers Service runs a range of events each term that are relevant to international students. You can register for these sessions via CareerConnect:

• Visas for Staying to Work in the UK: co-delivered with expert advisers from the Oxford Student Immigration office. It covers visa options including the Graduate Route visa (allowing graduates to stay in the UK for 2 years or 3 years if you're undertaking a PhD). 
• How to Find Employment in the UK: explores the UK job market, employment terms and job search strategy.
• How to Find Employment in your Home Country: explores ways to find out about the job market in your home country, what recruiters are looking for and practical advice on applications.
• CV and Cover Letter Sessions: in addition to our online guidance on CVs and cover letters, we hold sessions which look at how to structure effective CVs and application forms, and how to convey your skills and experience to catch the attention of employers and institutions.
• Interview Sessions: alongside our interview guidance, we run dedicated sessions on interview technique and preparation.
• Sector specific sessions: we cover a range of introductions to various sectors to help you find out more about the options that interest you most.

Advice appointments

Our careers advisers offer careers guidance based on your individual needs. While we can provide comprehensive careers education, information and guidance in relation to the UK graduate labour market, we are not able to provide the same level of information about all other labour markets and practices, or permitted by UK legislation to advise on immigration/visa matters. However, we can help you find relevant sources of information.

Working in the UK and UK Visas

The rules about working in the UK are complex and subject to change. Read our ‘UK Visas’ webpage for a guide to some of the options. Note that the Careers Service cannot legally advise you on individual visa questions. The University’s Student Immigration team is best served to answer your visa queries with their detailed resources online and over email.

Explore the Staying in the UK to Work Pathway for guidance on the UK job search, read our sector pages for specific information on different occupations and browse our term planner for events.

The British Council Study UK team run free online courses for international students.‘Study UK: Preparing for work’, is specifically aimed at international final-year students, graduates and alumni of UK universities who are preparing to enter the job market or wish to develop and expand upon their careers. It is designed to help participants present their UK education, skills and knowledge to prospective employers and navigate the global employment market. ‘Managing Your Wellbeing When Studying in the UK’ is relevant to incoming students who have never lived or studied in the UK, and more broadly to students throughout their academic careers. The course is designed to offer support and guidance to help students manage stress and adjust to UK culture and education upon arrival.

Returning to your home country

After graduation, you may be considering returning to your home country. If so UKCISA has some practical considerations that you may like to reflect on. Here are some further considerations related to your job search:

Research your home country's job market

• GoinGlobal has over 120 location-specific career guides featuring insider advice on top job search techniques and resources, with more than 500 employment resources per guide and country specific vacancies.
• Prospects and targetjobs country guides.
• Our Understanding the Job and Employment Market webpage includes a global overview.
• Recruitment timelines vary so it is important to plan early so you are aware of deadlines.
• There are many job search sites that allow you to filter by location, including CareerConnect. Our Finding Jobs Outside the UK webpage includes country specific search sites.

Maintain and grow your network

• Stay connected to contacts in your home country and use LinkedIn, regional alumni groups and international networks such as the British Council Alumni UK. Read our guidance on networking.
• Make a list of contacts you have made in the UK. You may need to contact academics or previous employers for future references and staying in contact can help.

Hear from international students

Start thinking early, figure out a field that interests you but also keep an open mind while applying:

I knew that since I was on a one-year master's, I had to start thinking about my career afterwards early on. As I talked to more people who were on the course doing a PhD, they recommended that I take advantage of the Careers Service resources. I mainly used one-on-one appointments, as I needed specified advice as my situation was unique. Being new to the UK as well as its job market, at first, I had no idea where to start. But luckily, these sessions guided me through step by step. In particular, I found the personalised feedback on my cover letter and CV super useful. Advisers were also very encouraging - even when I was feeling down from consecutive rejections, they were very sympathetic and helped me keep going. Although at first I thought that an international student status would be a setback due to unfamiliarity with culture and language, I came to realise that my unique experience, perspectives, skillsets and knowledge I gained in my journey were rather my strengths and selling points. Career advisors helped me better package that.

My advice would be to think about not only how to show your competence in generic ways, but also how you can really demonstrate your uniqueness as a selling point. Though it might take a little while, I think there’s always a perfect post for you somewhere, and rejections really are only redirections. I would say just start thinking early, figure out a field that interests you but also keep an open mind while applying, because good ones will eventually find you. These resources are amazing and are really there for you to take advantage, so go use them!

MSc Comparative Social Policy alum, 2024

The Careers Service guidance has boosted my confidence throughout the application process and has made the prospect of applying for permanent positions next year far less daunting.

On a friend’s recommendation, I booked one-on-one sessions with Careers Advisors to assist with applications for summer internships during my DPhil. These sessions provided valuable feedback on my CV and application materials, as well as interview preparation. I also participated in a Careers Fair, which included an engaging networking workshop that helped me refine my networking skills and connect with several industry professionals.

As an American studying in the UK and applying for internships in the US, the Careers Service has been instrumental in helping me present my qualifications effectively to American hiring managers. Their guidance has boosted my confidence throughout the application process and has made the prospect of applying for permanent positions next year far less daunting.

My advice to other students is to engage with the Careers Service early. The expertise and support I received have been invaluable, and I am truly grateful for the advice and encouragement of their Advisors.

DPhil Materials student

Reach out to alumni or even just "random" people in the sectors you're aiming for through a cold email or message. Sometimes a "random" connection goes a long way.

I first heard about the careers support by browsing the Career Services website and found the free 1:1 appointments with a career counsel extremely valuable. I had a number of meetings with an Advisor who gave useful and practical advice on tailoring my resume and preparing for interviews. I also visited the career fairs which were relatively useful, though more so for undergraduates.

As an international student in the current economy, it's not easy to secure employment after your studies. Many companies hesitate to sponsor international candidates because of time and cost. It's good to be clear on whether companies in your field tend to offer sponsorship at your level. I found that the most useful thing for me was to reach out to alumni or even just "random" people in the sectors you're aiming for through a cold email or message. Sometimes a "random" connection goes a long way.

MSc Social Science of the Internet alum, 2024 

For international students, [Careers Service] resources are invaluable in understanding the UK job market and gaining insights that might otherwise be hard to come by.

As an international student, I’ve had the chance to reflect on my experiences with the University’s Careers Service and wanted to share a few thoughts that might help others in a similar situation. Overall, I found the Careers Service to be incredibly supportive, especially in ways that are particularly valuable for students from abroad.

One of the highlights for me was attending the Careers Fair, which turned out to be a fantastic opportunity. I went with a group of friends from three different countries, and together we connected with recruiters from a variety of organisations. It was so insightful, and we learned so much that we wouldn’t have found on company websites. I think the most valuable part of the event was engaging with recruiters face-to-face—having the chance to ask questions, get to know different organisations, and really understand what they’re looking for in potential candidates. It was interesting to see how some employers really prioritise diversity, while others had more specific preferences regarding academic programmes (major) or even nationalities. This kind of information is really useful before diving into the application process and can save time, especially for international students.

Another aspect of the Careers Service that I found especially helpful was the ability to book appointments with career advisors. This is such a great resource, particularly for international students who may not be familiar with UK job application norms. Your supervisors may not have worked outside of academia, so they’re not always familiar with the ins and outs of job markets outside of university life. For students who are thinking about transitioning to industry, it’s important to get advice from people who have experience in those sectors. Career advisors who’ve worked in various industries can offer guidance that's just not available elsewhere, and that can be a huge help when navigating a new job market.

Even for those who want to stay in academia, it’s not always easy to get career advice from supervisors. While some professors are incredibly supportive and help with career planning, others might be too focused on their own research and publication to offer much guidance. If you’re in a situation where your supervisor isn’t able to help, don’t hesitate to reach out to other academics. There are always people in the academic community who are willing to support you, and it’s worth seeking out those mentors who genuinely care about your career progress.

I highly recommend taking full advantage of the events and services offered by the Careers Service. For international students, in particular, these resources are invaluable in understanding the UK job market and gaining insights that might otherwise be hard to come by.”

DPhil Social Sciences student