91¶¶Òõ

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
91¶¶Òõ
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Get to know us
    • Why choose 91¶¶Òõ?
    • Explore our prospectus
    • Chat to our students
    • Ask us a question
    • Meet us
    • Open days and visits
    • Virtual tours
    • Applicant days
    • Meet us in your country
    • Campuses
    • Our campuses
    • Our city
    • Accommodation options
    • Our halls
    • Helping you find a home
    • What you can study
    • Find a course
    • Full A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Our academic departments
    • How to apply
    • Undergraduate application process
    • Postgraduate application process
    • International student application process
    • Apprenticeships
    • Transfer from another university
    • International students
    • Clearing
    • Funding your time at uni
    • Fees and financial support
    • What's included in your fees
    • 91¶¶Òõ Boost – extra financial help
    • Advice and guidance
    • Advice for students
    • Guide for offer holders
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and colleges
    • Supporting you
    • Your academic experience
    • Your wellbeing
    • Your career and employability
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Checkland Building on the Falmer campus
About us
  • About us
  • Your university
  • Governance and structure
  • Working with us
  • Statistics and legal
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • Working with us
  • Jobs
  • Eligibility to work, visas, and passports

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 academics and researchers there are four routes available to obtain endorsement for a Global Talent Visa.

  1. Academic and research appointments
    If you have accepted a position at an approved UK higher education institution and will hold responsibility for either academic, research or innovation leadership and development, or for directing/leading an individual/team in a research or innovation project or programme of work. At the 91¶¶Òõ, this is likely to be a Principal Lecturer and above. You will need a statement of guarantee from the university certain recruitment requirements were met.
  2. Individual fellowships
    If you have been offered an individual fellowship on the list approved by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Society. The fellowship must be held currently or within the last 12 months.
  3. Endorsed funders
    If you are working on a research grant issued by an endorsed funder. fast-track endorsement for researchers and specialists whose name or job title included in a successful grant application from an endorsed funder approved by UKRI. To be eligible, researchers must be hosted or employed by an eligible institution approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  4. Peer review
    Standard endorsement for individuals who apply for full peer review by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering or Royal Society.

These routes are overseen by four endorsing bodies engaged by the Home Office:

There are two parts to the application process:

  1. First the , called Stage 1, (administered by the endorsing bodies on behalf of the Home Office)
  2. Then the called Stage 2.

Stage 1 and 2 can be conducted at the same time if the applicant wishes.

The UKVI website provides an and details of how to apply.

Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) Visa

The GAE visa is for individuals coming to the UK through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience, and best practice. The university can use the GAE route to sponsor ‘researchers’ (which includes academics, research, scientists, or other skilled research technology specialists), for a maximum duration of two years.

Individuals may undertake the following activities in a supernumerary role:

  • A formal research project or collaboration
  • A period of work-based training/work experience/placement
  • Skill development/knowledge transfer
  • A series of lectures, which does not amount to a formal teaching post.

Graduate Visa

A Graduate Visa route provides an opportunity for international students, who have been awarded their degree, to stay in the UK and work, or look for work, at any skill level for 2 years, or 3 years for doctoral students.

International students can apply for a Graduate Visa if they are in the UK, their current visa is a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4), they studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree, or other eligible course for a minimum period and they have successfully completed their course.

and how long you need to have studied in the UK.

If you are not eligible for a Graduate Visa, you may be eligible for .

Visa costs and the NHS surcharge

You can using the interactive tool on the gov.uk website.

Biometric Residence Permits (BRP)

BRPs are credit-card sized plastic visa cards issued to those applying overseas for permission to stay in the UK for more than six months, and if you are applying to extend your visa or settle within the UK. BRPs are currently being phased out and will stop being issued after 31 December 2024. This will be replaced with a new online service which is currently in production. 

Relocation procedure

The university supports staff in relocating within or to the UK. The university's relocation procedure supports staff with the cost of moving up to £8,000. Expenses that qualify as relocation can be found on the HMRC website.

You can see the here (pdf).

Moving to the UK

Accommodation

There is information about on 91¶¶Òõ and Hove Council’s website, from renting to buying a home.

The gov.uk website also has useful information about .

For longer-term lets, you may find the following websites helpful:

In addition, the university has an information board where staff and students can post their available or required accommodation needs.

UK bank account

You will need to open a UK bank or building society account, as your salary will be paid into your account directly. You may open an account with any UK bank.

Tax

There is information on the HMRC website about .

You will also be asked to complete a Starter Checklist when you arrive which helps the university work out your correct tax code. 

National Insurance

You will need to pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) whilst you work for the 91¶¶Òõ. You will need to obtain a National Insurance Number and let the People Department know your number as soon as you have it. This number is a unique identifier for you, and will allow any social security benefits that you may be entitled to, to accrue against your record. The gov.uk website has information on .

If you have a Biometric Residents Permit (BRP), you might have a National Insurance number already - it will be printed on the back of your BRP if you do.

If you do not have a National Insurance number, you must apply for one if you plan to work. You can only apply when you are in the UK.

Health services

The National Health Service (NHS) provides a range of healthcare services, including finding a GP and dentist. More information can be found on the .

Local council information

Local councils provide a range of education and training related services plus information on a wide range of childcare, services for parents and young people, as well as a broad range of practical information for people moving into the area.

91¶¶Òõ
Back to top

Contact us

91¶¶Òõ
Mithras House
Lewes Road
91¶¶Òõ
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Explore our prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • The Student Contract

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents