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HS2: does its apprenticeship programme sponsor a UK visa?

NoHS2 Apprenticeship Programme (Project Controls and Commercial schemes, Level 3 and Level 4)

No. HS2 does not sponsor its apprenticeship programme for international students who need a visa. HS2 states that applicants must already hold ongoing Right to Work that is not time-bound, that it cannot accept Post Study Work visa holders, and that it cannot sponsor any application.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
apprenticeship
Pay
Level 4, Year 1: London £21,542 basic plus 10% flexible allowance (£23,696); outside London £20,133 plus allowance (£22,146). Level 3, Year 1: London £23,234, outside London £21,687 including allowance
2027 cycle
The September 2026 intake closed on 22 March 2026; no 2027 dates published as of 12 October 2026, and the applicant system shows no apprentice vacancies.
Confidence
medium

HS2 Apprenticeship Programme: at a glance

Degree requirement
Minimum 5 GCSEs at A* to C (or 4 and above) including English and Maths; graduates may also apply“We require a minimum of 5 GCSE’s (A*- C) including English and Maths (or 4 and above/or equivalent).”Source
“HS2 are not able to sponsor any applications as we do not hold the required sponsorship license from the UK Home Office and candidates are not allowed to sponsor themselves.”
HS2, from its own careers pages
The catch: The Graduate (Post Study Work) visa does not count: HS2 says it is unable to accept any applicants who hold it, because the visa is time-bound. Having a degree does not stop you applying.
HS2 early careersVerify on gov.uk

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What HS2 publishes about this programme

Checked against HS2's own careers pages on 2026-10-12. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: not published
  • Duration and start date: not published
  • Who can apply: not published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: not published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: not published

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-10-12. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does HS2 sponsor visas for its apprenticeship programme?

No. HS2 does not sponsor its apprenticeship programme for international students who need a visa. HS2 Ltd's own apprenticeship FAQ describes a two year programme with Project Controls and Commercial schemes, paid at Level 3 and Level 4 rates, with learning days every six months, placements of at least three months, a mentor and a team buddy. Roles are spread along the line of route, most typically around Birmingham, and the minimum entry requirement is 5 GCSEs at A* to C (4 or above) including English and Maths. The most recent cycle started in September 2026 with applications closing 22 March 2026. HS2 states that applicants must already hold ongoing Right to Work that is not time-bound, that it cannot accept Post Study Work visa holders, and that it cannot sponsor any application.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with HS2?

The Graduate (Post Study Work) visa does not count: HS2 says it is unable to accept any applicants who hold it, because the visa is time-bound. Having a degree does not stop you applying.

When do applications open for the HS2 apprenticeship programme?

The September 2026 intake closed on 22 March 2026; no 2027 dates published as of 12 October 2026, and the applicant system shows no apprentice vacancies.. Checked on 2026-10-12 against HS2's own site.

What degree do you need for the HS2 apprenticeship programme?

Minimum 5 GCSEs at A* to C (or 4 and above) including English and Maths; graduates may also apply, according to HS2's own careers information.

How should I confirm HS2's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on HS2's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

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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. How we check this data.