Eligibility to work, visas, and passports

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and nationalities, and are committed to providing a welcoming, supportive, and flexible working environment.

Any job application submitted to us will be assessed using criteria based on the knowledge, skills and experience required for the relevant position, but applicants will need to demonstrate they have permission to work in the UK.

In this section you will find general guidance about passports, visas, and eligibility to work in the UK, as well as practical advice for people relocating from overseas to start a new role with us.

Eligibility to work in the UK

Where an individual is subject to UK immigration control, they will require a visa to work in the UK. The following individuals do not need a visa for the UK, but still must prove their right to work before employment can commence.

  • British Citizens (but not a British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) or a British Protected Person)
  • EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals resident in the UK before 31 December 2020
  • Non–EEA nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK.

The government provides employers with a that we can accept as proof of your continued right to work. You must be able to provide original documents and will need to present them in person when requested.

If you have been granted a Settled/Pre-Settled status under the you will be able to share the digital code issued to you by the Home Office for the university to check online your eligibility to work in the UK.

There are other relevant routes to having a right to work here depending on any family or ancestral links you may have with the UK. Further information can also be found on the Home Office website: , and a summary of visa types is below.

The view from Devil's Dyke in Sussex

Visa types and general immigration information

Overview

Obtaining a visa will provide the individual with the time-limited right to work in the UK. If a non-UK national is made a job offer from the university, and where they have no ties as mentioned above, the UK points-based immigration system is the most common route through which an individual can obtain the right to work in the UK.

The university recommends you consult the section on the Home Office webpages to determine your suitability for a Skilled Worker or other type of visa.

There are other relevant routes to having a right to work here depending on any family or ancestral links you may have with the UK.

Further information can also be found on the Home Office website (gov.uk), and a summary of visa types is outlined here.

Skilled Worker Visa

If you are made an offer of employment with the university and intend to seek permission to work in the UK via a , you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). A CoS is not a document, but a number allocated to the university by the UK Home Office. The HR Recruitment Team will allocate the CoS number to you, and you will need the number to apply for a visa to come to or stay in the UK.

How do I apply for a Skilled Worker Visa?

You will need to apply after we have given you the CoS number. We would strongly advise you to read the full carefully and check the application requirements in your country of residence before applying. As explained in the UKVI application guidance, you need to prove your knowledge of the English language (e.g. IELTS for UKVI test pass).

ATAS requirements – relevant international applicants (both academic and researchers) applying for a Skilled Worker Visa must obtain an ATAS certificate as part of their visa application. See the ATAS tab for more information.

A CoS for a Skilled Worker visa is valid for three months from the date of issue, and so it is essential to make your visa application during that period. After three months the CoS will lapse, and you can no longer use this to support your visa application.

What am I allowed to do as a Skilled Worker?

As a Skilled Worker, you can work up to 20 hours per week outside of your sponsored working hours. This supplementary employment must be in an occupation that is eligible under the Skilled Worker route. Further information on is available on the UKVI website.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

ATAS is run by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is designed to prevent the transfer of information or technology that could be used in programmes to develop Advanced Conventional Military Technology. Any international person who will be undertaking research activities in the UK, at PhD level or above in one of the academic subjects or fields relevant to ATAS will need to apply for government clearance by obtaining an ATAS certificate before they can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to start or continue working in the UK.

This applies to both academic and research roles. Individuals submitting a visa application where an ATAS certificate is needed should apply as early as possible. Certificates are valid for six months.

You can on the ATAS website.

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent Visa is obtained by the individual and is not related to a particular job and sponsorship is not required. This route is for individuals in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, social science, and humanities who are already recognised as a leader in their field of expertise (exceptional talent). It is also used by early career individuals who have demonstrated potential to be a leader in their field (exceptional promise).

For eligible academic