Which UK graduate schemes actually sponsor a visa?

Nearly every big employer holds a sponsor licence, so the licence is not the question. The question is whether a specific scheme clears the salary threshold and whether the firm will sponsor it. Here is the honest, sourced answer for 1621 major schemes.

Quick answer: Of the 1621 major UK graduate schemes checked (2026-08-11), 41 sponsor international students outright, 102 sponsor some tracks or offices, and 242 do not. The remaining 1236 publish no sponsorship policy. A sponsor licence does not guarantee sponsorship: the Skilled Worker salary threshold and each scheme’s stated policy decide it.

41
Sponsors international grads: 102
Sponsors some tracks only: 242
Does not sponsor: 1236
No published policy

A licence is not a promise

PwC sponsors its Graduate Strategy track but not its general Consulting track, from the same published list. KPMG sponsors graduates in London only. Mars pays 33,000 pounds, just under the sponsorship floor. Lidl says no outright despite paying 40,000 pounds. That is why the register alone cannot tell you the answer, and why this page exists.

Answer

Sector

Showing 1621 of 1621 schemes

Sort

Browse by sector

Get scheme openings and sponsor updates weekly

One free email a week: grad schemes opening and closing soon, new visa sponsors on the Home Office register, and practical application advice.

Graduate visa sponsorship: the basics

Do UK graduate schemes sponsor international students?

Some do, many do not, and it varies scheme by scheme even within one employer. Almost every large employer holds a sponsor licence, so the licence is not the deciding factor. The real gate is whether the specific scheme pays above the Skilled Worker salary threshold and whether the employer chooses to sponsor that route.

Why does a company hold a sponsor licence but still not sponsor its graduate scheme?

Holding a licence means the employer can sponsor eligible roles, not that every role qualifies. A graduate role can only be sponsored if it pays at least the Skilled Worker threshold and the going rate for its occupation. Most graduate schemes pay below that, so a licensed employer often still cannot sponsor its own graduate programme.

What is the salary threshold to sponsor a graduate in 2027?

The general Skilled Worker threshold is 41,700 pounds, with a reduced new-entrant rate of 33,400 pounds for recent graduates and under-26s. On top of that, each occupation has its own going rate, and the higher figure applies. For software roles, for example, the new-entrant rate works out around 38,300 pounds, not 33,400 pounds.

Do internships and vacation schemes get sponsored?

Almost never, even at firms that sponsor the full graduate scheme. Short placements generally cannot be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route. International students usually do them under their existing Student visa work rights instead, which is a different basis from employer sponsorship.

How is this list sourced?

Every verdict is taken from the employer’s own early-careers, international-student or visa pages, quoted where possible, and cross-checked against the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Where an employer publishes no policy, we say so rather than guess. Policies change, so confirm for the exact role and cycle before you apply.

Target the schemes that can actually hire you

Searching this list stays free and needs no account. An account is for when you want to keep a shortlist of the schemes that can sponsor you, and work through it.

✓Save schemes to a board and move them as you apply
✓Filter your board down to sponsors only
✓The full UK visa sponsor register, searchable
✓Two free ATS scans a month, against any job ad

Create a free account Or run a free ATS scan

Free forever. No card.

Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.