University support for you and your family

Your Recruiting Manager or local School Department Administrator (SDA) will request the assessment for you.  They will complete the necessary form which will automatically be sent to the Global Mobility team.  The Global Mobility Team will then use the information to assess whether you meet the criteria for documentation for the Global Talent visa route or the Sponsored Skilled Worker Route.

When the assessment has been completed support is available from the University's Staff Immigration Service for additional information on the visa route and making your application.

The Global Talent Route

This route is for leaders/potential leaders who are active researchers in academic, industry or government research institutions in a range of disciplines. They apply to be endorsed by a specific body under specific sector criteria.  

There are 4 pathways to this visa route:

• Appointment
• Individual Fellowship
• Endorsed Funder
• Peer assessment

The Global Talent visa is a non-sponsored route, but the University provides supporting documentation, known as a ‘statement of guarantee’ for the Appointment and Endorsed Funder pathways.  A statement of guarantee is a letter signed by the Head of HR for the individual’s College.  The Individual Fellowship and Peer assessment pathways are subject to individual circumstances and no specific input is required from the University.

Appointment and Endorsed funder pathways

If the recruitment and appointment of an academic meets the criteria for these pathways, the Global Mobility Team will advise the Recruiting Manager/School Department Administrator (SDA), who should then confirm if the individual wishes to go ahead with the suggested route.  Once it's confirmed we will then provide them (via the Recruiting Manager or SDA) with a ‘statement of guarantee’ from the University to support their endorsement/visa application.

The Skilled Worker route is a points based system and to qualify: 

• You must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor;
• Generally, the job must be at or above the minimum skill level, i.e UK Degree level or above.  However, there are still some A Level/Higher level roles that can be sponsored. For example, for a new start who has been continuously on a Skilled Worker Visa at this level before 22/7/25, or the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) is on the Temporary Shortage List.
• You must meet the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)’s English Language requirement.
• The job must have a salary that meets the appropriate threshold.
• Points can be traded against the salary threshold for instance where the role is considered a new entrant or you  hold a PhD in a subject relevant to the role or a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject  relevant to the job. 

If you meet the criteria for this route we will provide you (via the Recruiting Manager or SDA) with a Certificate of Sponsorship from the University which you can then use to apply for your visa.

The University’s Student Immigration Service webpages provide information on switching to a visa route that enables you to work after your studies:

The University offers financial assistance in the form of an interest free loan to applicants who have a job offer and are applying for a Global Talent or Skilled Worker visa. On commencing employment the standard fees for you and your dependants will be reimbursed. Fees incurred for using the enhanced UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service will not be reimbursed.

As an international worker your family members will also need to apply for a visa to accompany you to the UK.  Further information can be found in this section.

Please note that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) introduced a new immigration system for all non-UK nationals entering the UK on or after 1 January 2021.

Information is available for individuals applying for a Global Talent, Skilled Worker or Sponsored Researcher visa at:

If there are any issues with securing your visa or you are not going to be able to start work on your agreed start date, please keep in touch with your School/Department admin contact and the HR Helpline.