Transport for Wales: does its future leaders graduate scheme sponsor a UK visa?

NoFuture Leaders Graduate Scheme

No. Transport for Wales does not sponsor its future leaders graduate scheme for international students who need a visa. Transport for Wales runs a two year Future Leaders graduate scheme built on rotations, development workshops and webinars, with structured mentorship and financial support towards professional qualifications. Pay is published, which is unusual for the sector: £27,000 in year one and £28,000 in year two, plus a pension, healthcare benefits, cycle to work, gym membership and retail discounts. Roles cover areas including station adoption and resource planning, and transport planning work evaluating solutions to transport problems and delivering value for Welsh public money. At the end of the scheme graduates can apply for permanent roles. The right to work section is the most useful part for an international candidate, because it is specific rather than vague: it names British citizenship, EU Settlement Scheme settled or pre settled status, indefinite leave to remain and the Graduate visa as acceptable, and then closes the door on sponsorship.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
graduate scheme
Pay
£27,000 a year, increasing to £28,000 in your second year
2027 cycle
Please apply as early as possible. We get lots of interest and may close an application early if we receive a high number of applicants.
Confidence
high
TfW does not sponsor visas.
Transport for Wales, from its own careers pages
The catch: The Graduate visa is accepted for the scheme itself, but the right to work must cover the full two years, and a permanent role afterwards needs a permanent right to work. A two year Graduate visa starting at the same time as the scheme leaves no runway.

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Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-23.

Common questions

Does Transport for Wales sponsor visas for its future leaders graduate scheme?

No. Transport for Wales does not sponsor its future leaders graduate scheme for international students who need a visa. Transport for Wales runs a two year Future Leaders graduate scheme built on rotations, development workshops and webinars, with structured mentorship and financial support towards professional qualifications. Pay is published, which is unusual for the sector: £27,000 in year one and £28,000 in year two, plus a pension, healthcare benefits, cycle to work, gym membership and retail discounts. Roles cover areas including station adoption and resource planning, and transport planning work evaluating solutions to transport problems and delivering value for Welsh public money. At the end of the scheme graduates can apply for permanent roles. The right to work section is the most useful part for an international candidate, because it is specific rather than vague: it names British citizenship, EU Settlement Scheme settled or pre settled status, indefinite leave to remain and the Graduate visa as acceptable, and then closes the door on sponsorship.

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 Transport for Wales?

The Graduate visa is accepted for the scheme itself, but the right to work must cover the full two years, and a permanent role afterwards needs a permanent right to work. A two year Graduate visa starting at the same time as the scheme leaves no runway.

How should I confirm Transport for Wales's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Transport for Wales'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.

Other public sector schemes

Before you apply

Scan your CV against UK applicant tracking systems for free, then tailor it to the schemes that can actually sponsor you.

Other public sector schemes we track

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.