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 212 major schemes.

Quick answer: Of the 212 major UK graduate schemes checked (2026-08-11), 20 sponsor international students outright, 43 sponsor some tracks or offices, and 47 do not. The remaining 102 publish no sponsorship policy. A sponsor licence does not guarantee sponsorship: the Skilled Worker salary threshold and each scheme’s stated policy decide it.

20
Sponsors international grads: 43
Sponsors some tracks only: 47
Does not sponsor: 102
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

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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.

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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.