Careers Network

International Students

White circles on a purple background containing icons which represent the support offered as part of the International Futures Programme: Dedicated careers support; also listed in circles as Jobs and opportunities worldwide, Tailored events, Help with applications and interviews, Online tools and resources.

International Student Support

Loughborough University's Careers Network is well used by international students and our experienced team is available to help you explore your career options and apply for opportunities, whether in the UK or in another country. See below for useful information and resources to support your career planning.

For some great up to date information and resources for international students this summer, read a special edition of our newsletter with a spotlight on International Students.

International Futures Checklist

Work your way through your INTERNATIONAL FUTURES Checklist, to explore, investigate and learn what you can, and make the most of the support and resources out there for you. We put this checklist together to help make your journey smoother. We’re here to help!

ACCESS SUPPORT, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE: Drop in to our Careers Hubs for advice on any careers-related topic or book an individual coaching appointment for help from one of the team.

USE OUR ONLINE TOOLS: Access Student Circus and GoinGlobal to explore UK employers and job opportunities in the UK and abroad, eCareersGrad to find employers who sponsor skilled worker visas and improve interview technique, and Graduates First to practise employer tests.

ENGAGE IN PRESENTATIONS: Make the most of our International, Master’s, Early and Finalist Futures events advertised on Target Connect to inform your career planning at each stage of your journey.

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS: Use the information on our website related to employment, further study and setting up your own business with support from the Loughborough Enterprise Network.

ATTEND CAREERS FAIRS AND EVENTS: Network, meet employers and find out about graduate opportunities and internships, including roles with Loughborough’s own Talent Match scheme.

DEVELOP APPLICATION TECHNIQUES: Refine your CV, cover letters and application forms to use in the UK or other countries, to maximise your chances in the recruitment process.

IMPROVE YOUR INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE: Book interview coaching and attend Mock Assessment Centres for employer coaching and feedback.

BOOST YOUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS: Enhance your academic and study skills through group coaching and workshops. Sessions include Exam Success, Procrastination, Motivation for your Studies, Time Management 101, Juggling Priorities, and Facing Challenges.

CREATE A PLAN: Make plans for your next steps and develop your skills for the world of work. Our Profiling for Success tools can help you determine your personality type and find career areas and skills to explore.

ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS: Map out your journey by considering your end goal and working backwards, using Personal Best to help you. Keep your wellbeing in mind as you balance your studies, job applications and career planning.

Support for international students

Accessing advice and guidance from Careers Network can make you feel more confident with your career direction and more employable too. 

These pages for international students outline the online tools available to help you identify the key employers of international graduates in the UK and provide the support you need to successfully search and apply for a placement or graduate role.

  • Careers Advice – visit our drop in Careers Hubs or book a 20-minute Careers Advice appointment for help with your CV, applications, interviews or any other query. Find out more here about how to book an appointment.
  • Finding work in the UK – use the Careers toolkit to explore which companies sponsor international students and the best places to look for jobs, or look at our Find jobs and work experience pages.
  • Preparing for work – the Student Advice & Support Service can help with practical advice on setting up a bank account, National Insurance and graduate visas. 
  • Skills workshops and practice interviews - sign up for our events and workshops on Target Connect to gain insights into the skills that UK employers seek. To practice your interview skills, book an appointment for interview coaching.
  • Enterprise support – for students keen to develop their entrepreneurial skills or explore setting up their own business.

We are also part of a 'Midlands International Group,' where careers professionals from 15 university careers services work together to support international students in the region. We collaborate to provide the best advice, events and resources possible to help you explore options, develop new ideas and access key information to help secure future roles. The Midlands International Group Website  has lots of useful information about CVs, understanding graduate options and visas, and much more. 

The Working Abroad page also provides information about finding jobs in different countries, including where to find vacancies.

Events & workshops to develop professional skills and insights

We are running a series of events and workshops during the Spring Term to support you as an international student in your career journey.  Topics covered include information about our useful resources to help you prepare and apply for jobs, improve your success in finding work opportunities in the UK and globally, the best job vacancy platforms to use and visa guidance for the Graduate Route and Skilled Worker visas.

For a  list of Semester 2 events and links to sign up, see below:

12th February 

12.00-13.00

International Futures: UK etiquette and professional behaviour

As an international student, understanding UK etiquette and professional behaviour is essential to being successful in your career journey.  Book your place here

14th February

18.00-19.00

International Futures: How to create a UK-style CV

Learn how to write a UK-style CV. Book your place here

27th February 

18.15-19.15

International Futures: How to find employers that will sponsor internationals

Learn how to navigate the UK job market and find sponsoring employers.  Book your place here

5th - 7th March

 

 

 

 

 

Asia Careers Insight Series

Join these bite sized presentations from recruiting employers in Asia to discover graduate career opportunities, internships, industry sector knowledge and an insight into life inside their organisation. Pick and choose the sessions you would like to join!

NOTE: Webinars may be conducted in Madarin. 

7th March

12.00-13.00

 

International Futures: Working in the UK for international students *NEW*

Find out what to expect when working for a UK employer and know where to access resources to help you implement strategies for success.  Book your place here

11th March

16.00-19.00

International Futures: Going Global

Enhance your comprehension of the employability skills inherent to you as a student and acquire valuable insights to bolster your knowledge, crucial for navigating your job search in pursuit of international opportunities.  Book your place here

14th March

12.00-13.00

International Futures: How to unravel the UK’s hidden job market 

The UK's job market is one of the most competitive job markets in the world and as an international student this can be difficult to navigate!  Book your place here

18th March

18.00-19.00

International Futures: UK etiquette and professional behaviour (Repeat)

As an international student, understanding UK etiquette and professional behaviour is essential to being successful in your career journey.  Book your place here

20th March

12.00-13.00

International Futures: How to create a UK-style CV (Repeat)

Learn how to write a UK-style CV. Book your place here

21st May

18.00-19.30

International Futures: Understanding the Graduate Route Visa and Skilled Worker Visa (Paragon Law)

Understanding your visa. Book your place here

Working during your studies

Working part-time whilst at university is a great way to develop your skills and experience, as well as developing confidence and cultural awareness. For advice on preparing yourself for employment and finding work see our guidance below.

For practical advice on setting up a bank account, National Insurance, paying tax and graduate visas, get in touch with the Student Advice & Support Service

NOTE: Make sure you are familiar with what type of work you can do and how many hours you can work per week on your Student visa. 

Undergraduate Studies

An undergraduate course gives you plenty of time to combine studies with work and other activities to develop into a great candidate for graduate employment. 

  • Attend careers events such as careers fairs and employer presentations to speak directly to employers about current opportunities and recruitment practices. Attend presentations and workshops to help you develop your employability skills such as CV and cover letter writing, application forms and interviews. There are also events specifically for international students (see above).
  • Attend any Careers Network presentations scheduled in your timetable.
  • Search and apply for vacancies on Target Connect which is updated regularly.

First year students

  • Get involved in activities that bring you in contact with UK students and the local community in order to practise your English and become familiar with the culture.
  • Sign up for English language support during term time to develop your language skills.
  • Start to explore your interests and skills to determine your career direction. Our Explore career options section has lots of resources to help with this.
  • Prepare your CV using the advice on our Make Applications page.
  • Find opportunities to gain experience. The Get a placement page has advice for a one year placement and the Find jobs and opportunities page provides advice on how to get vacation work, internships, insight days, spring weeks, work shadowing, mentoring, part-time work, volunteering and student leadership roles.
  • Read the information about visas on our Student Advice Support services pages to learn about permission to work during your studies, with a link for applying for a National Insurance number which you will need to work in the UK.

Second/penultimate year students

  • Research what sort of graduate roles you might like and arrange a Careers Advice appointment if you need help with this. This can be arranged at phoning 01509 222765, booking online or visiting the Information Desk in the Bridgeman Building.
  • The Find jobs and work experience pages provide advice on how to get vacation work, internships, graduate roles, insight days, work shadowing, mentoring, part-time work‌, volunteering and student leadership roles.
  • Take part in any Careers Network sessions as part of your timetable to learn about CVs, application forms and interviews.
  • Ensure you understand your permission to work in the UK during your studies by visiting our Student Advice Support Service pages.

 

Master's Students

A one-year master's course is very intensive. Preparation before you arrive will give you the best chance of ensuring you have the skills and experience you need to compete successfully for graduate jobs.

Before you arrive

  • Prepare your CV so that you can start networking with employers as soon as you arrive in the UK. 
  • Set up a LinkedIn account from your home country to establish and maintain contacts with your home university, alumni networks and recruitment consultants in your home country if you are looking to return home after your studies. The Find jobs and work experience page has advice on networking to find opportunities, including Using Social Media for Job Hunting and Career Research.
  • Investigate part-time work at Loughborough using the Find Jobs and work experience page for advice on finding opportunities.  PLUS We run an exclusive Talent Match Master's Internship programme which provides short-term paid internships. To find out more Register onto the Target Connect Master's Pathway so you can apply for roles.
  • Read Visa & Immigration Advice for more details on permission to work and refer to the UK Government website for information on getting a National Insurance Number.
  • Familiarise yourself with the services offered to postgraduate students by Careers Network.

Preparing for employment after your studies

If you are in your final year of study and need support, whether you are an undergraduate or a Master's student, help is at hand. There's loads of information on this page, and elsewhere on our website, and the Careers Network team provides expert careers advice and guidance.

  • Access careers help to apply for graduate roles, with CVs, applications, assessment centres and interviews.
  • Attend careers events, presentations and workshops to help you develop your employability skills such as CV and cover letter writing, application forms and interviews.
  • Use the eCareersGrad tool to identify companies who employ international students. See more information in the 'Applying for graduate jobs in the UK’ section below for the link to eCareersGrad.
  • Access Student Circus to explore opportunities available in the UK with employers who sponsor international students. See more information in the 'Applying for graduate jobs in the UK’ section below for the link to Student Circus. NOTE: If you have already graduated, and do not have a Student Circus account with a Loughborough email, please contact the Careers Network team for information on how to access this resource. 
  • Identify companies who are on the list of organisations licensed to sponsor workers on the Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes.
  • View the Student Advice Support Service pages and the UKCISA website for further guidance on visa requirements once you graduate, .
  • Prepare documentation and ensure you are ready to meet the requirements of your visa application, e.g. have appropriate finances in your bank account over a specified time-frame.

Applying for graduate jobs in the UK

Understanding the job search ‘culture’ of a new country can take time. The advice below will help.

Target the right UK employers

As a Loughborough student you have access to two fantastic tools to help you find employers who sponsor international students.

Student Circus - pre-filtered jobs from employers willing to sponsor the Skilled Worker visa

  • Click here to access and create an account. Student Circus is an online job search platform dedicated to international students. You can gain unlimited access to thousands of filtered visa-enabled opportunities in the UK and handpicked opportunities in your home country, along with other resources on the platform.‌  

eCareersGrad - includes a resource for international students: Target the Right UK Employer

  • Click here to access the resource which will help you focus your UK job hunting for optimal results:
  • Did you know that just 300 UK employers routinely sponsor the vast majority of international students for UK graduate schemes and job opportunities?  Do you know who these employers are?
  • eCareersGrad lists the UKs biggest international student sponsoring employers, ranked, sector specific and searchable to help ‘Target the Right UK employer’ in future applications.
  • International student video testimony, case studies and interactive guides to strategies for successfully sourcing UK jobs and work experience.

NOTE: If you have already graduated, and do not have either a Student Circus OR an eCareersGrad account with a Loughborough email, please contact studentservices@lboro.ac.uk with your student number and year of graduation asking for access to this resource.

Tips for job applications

  • Apply from the UK and start early in your studies. Don’t wait until you have completed your studies before beginning job hunting. Many finance companies have November and December deadlines, while many small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) often recruit when a role is required, so keep checking relevant websites.
  • Be aware of lengthy, multi-staged application processes for UK graduate schemes. Some employers have deadlines for non-EEA applicants to allow time to apply for visas.
  • Familiarise yourself with employers on the UKVI Register of Sponsors. They are used to employing non-EEA students. This will give you the best chance and the easiest route to employment with a company in the UK. Often, they are large employers or employers requiring key skills; Engineering, Accountancy, IT, Finance, Banking etc.
  • Employers invited to Loughborough University careers fairs are asked if they employ international students, or if they are on the UKVI Register of Sponsors. Please refer to the event information to find out more.
  • Visit our Make applications pages for information and advice on how to make strong applications for opportunities in the UK.

Marketing yourself effectively to UK employers

UK employers want to recruit the best graduates from the thousands entering the job market each. They look for:

Academic Qualifications

Securing a job is about more than academic grades.  However, many graduate roles require a 2:1 for your first degree, although some employers will accept a 2:2. They may also be interested in your prior qualifications. For international qualifications, a “Letter of Comparability” will show what your grade is equivalent to in the UK. This service is provided by ENIC (which can be accessed by your School Admissions office on your behalf or at Student Enquiries in the Rutland Building).

If you are doing a Master’s qualification, you will need to clearly show how it has increased your knowledge in your chosen field of work.  However, a Master’s degree is not usually a substitute for work  experience or lower first degree grade.

If you are a doctoral researcher, see the Doctoral Researchers section for resources and guidance.

Work Experience

Work experience of any kind enables you to develop skills, gain experience and potentially the opportunity to develop your professional network. Experience relevant to your academic subject such as a one year placement or summer internship will strengthen your CV and attract employers.  Visit our Get a placement section for further information.

Vacation or part-time work can also give you the opportunity to experience UK culture, improve your English and develop various skills that can be transferred to any job. If you have no work experience or it is very limited, think about increasing this before you apply for a graduate position. The Find jobs and work experience and Make applications sections will help you to approach this.

Skills

When applying for jobs you should provide evidence of your skills gained from all your activities including work experience, academic work, volunteering, your social life and interests. Research how to develop your employment skills, particularly the section listing skills employers seek.

You can also gain experience by getting involved in university life including sports, societies and taking up positions of responsibilities on your course, in the Students’ Union or in your hall of residence.

Organising events or captaining a sports team can provide great examples of how you have used and developed your skills and shows employers you have skills outside your academic qualifications.

English Language

Whether you are looking to work in the UK or back in your home country, if you are not a native English speaker, employers are likely to expect you to have developed good quality English. Speak regularly with native English speakers on your course, in halls of residence, through part time work, volunteering, clubs and societies or other general experiences.

Support with your English is available during term time (in-sessional classes) through the Academic Language Support Service

Communicating the Benefits of Employing International Students to UK Employers

In addition to your individual skills and experience you should highlight that:

  • Knowledge of other cultures and a global awareness can be invaluable to businesses which operate internationally.
  • Living and studying overseas demonstrates independence and an ability to adapt to new cultures and take on new challenges.
  • Speaking English as well as another language is beneficial in a global market.
  • Thinking about ‘global competencies’ can be helpful when developing your CV. See this article: UK industry needs 'global graduates'. But what does that mean?
Understanding Permission to Work in the UK

Not all employers are aware of current UK immigration rules, so you should develop a good understanding of the permission required to work in the UK. Read the information in the tab below.

On application forms and CVs you could make it clear that you are eligible to work in the UK.  For example, a student could use a phrase such as “Eligible to work for 20 hours a week during term-time and full-time during vacations with Student Visa” or “Eligible to work in the UK for 2 years after studies with a Graduate Visa”.

If employers ask for your National Insurance (NI number) you can apply for one by following the instructions from Student Services.

Presenting Yourself Effectively

Understanding UK business culture is key to gaining a graduate job. Your body language, spoken language and the way you speak will all influence employers’ perceptions of you and their decision whether to hire you or not. The country guide for the UK on GoinGlobal (provides useful information, as will attending Careers Events for international students (see above).

You can find out about how UK style interviews and assessment centres work and how to best prepare in our Make applications section. You can also book interview coaching with a member of the Careers Network Team.

There is also useful advice on interviews and assessment centres on the Careers Network website.

Visas for working in the UK

Permission for international students to work in the UK, both during and after studies.

For information on rights to work during your studies and vacation times please refer to the Loughborough University Student Advice and Support Service webpage Working during your studies.

There are various visa options available for working in the UK after graduation. The UK Government website and UKCISA website provide more information on the different visa options:

Two of the popular options for students post graduation are the:

The Student Advice and Support Service ran a Graduate Visa webinar for current Loughborough University students – January 2022. This will also provide you with some further advice on the Graduate Visa Route.

Employers will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship which will enable you to apply for your Skilled Worker route, switching from a Tier 4 Student Visa. If accepted, this visa will give you ‘leave to remain’ in the UK for the period of your Skilled Worker Visa.

Further information

For advice relating to your individual circumstances we recommend that you contact:

  • Careers Network - for any careers related matter and advice on employment in the UK during your studies.

Starting your business in the UK

Innovator Founder Visa

Have an innovative business idea that you want to establish in the UK?

The Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) can help you along the way! Find more information on  the Innovator Founder Visa and its endorsing bodies. (Please note Loughborough University is not an endorsing body but can support you with business refinement in advance of applications.)

Finding a graduate job in your home country, or globally

Accessing the resources you need

As a Loughborough student, you can access many resources to help you find opportunities in your home country or elsewhere in the world. You can also attend Careers Events to develop your job-searching skills, including events specifically for international students. 

  • GradLink - An award-winning careers site for students and graduates who have or are studying in the UK, helping you find opportunities in your home country.  Countries that they cover include: India, China, Africa, and the Asean Gulf.
  • Student Circus - An online job search platform dedicated to international students, listing handpicked opportunities in your home country, along with other resources on the platform.‌  NOTE: If you have already graduated, and do not have a Student Circus account with a Loughborough email, please contact the Careers Network team for information on how to access this resource.
  • GoinGlobal (You will need to log in with your university details, making sure you are connected to the University Network, either on campus or via the VPN.)
  • Target Connect - Loughborough's own vacancy portal promoting opportunities from many global employers
  • Our Working Abroad page also has resources to for finding a job outside the UK.

Marketing Yourself to Employers in your Home Country

Understanding the Recruitment Process in your Home Country

In some countries many jobs are not even advertised so making ‘speculative applications’ directly to employers will be necessary. This usually involves writing a CV and targeted covering letter. For advice on making speculative applications see the Careers Network Make applications and book an appointment to speak to a member of the Careers Network team.

You will also need to be aware of the business and cultural norms regarding the application and interview process.  For multinational businesses application and interview processes may be very similar to those of the UK so you can take advantage of the advice and services of Careers Network and other sources such as www.prospects.ac.uk to prepare yourself for applications and interviews.

It is also worth understanding the cultural norms of the working environment. Your employer will expect you to behave in a particular way in the workplace and also will have defined views on the salary and entry position of new graduates. These may not be in line with your own expectations, however in order to be successful, you may have to have more modest goals at first.

To find out if there are differences and to investigate the employment market in your home country, view the country profiles on the Prospects website or Going Global.  See also our section on Working Abroad.

Making the Most of Your UK Experience

Coming to the UK to study means you have invested in your education. Multinational employers will require you to have developed a balance of a good academic qualification, transferable skills and work experience, particularly relevant to the job you are looking for.

You should also consider the type of employer you are applying to and the cultural expectations of these businesses.  For example, in China, multinational businesses value unpaid experience or voluntary work, whereas state owned companies prefer paid work experience and place little importance on other experience.  So you may need to be selective on the type of experience you acquire while you are here, or ensure that you get appropriate experience before you come.

 

Loughborough University London students

For our Loughborough University London students, the Future Space team offer an extensive range of support activities from careers development and business support to networking and employer engagement. 

At Future Space, students can:

All Loughborough University London students who want to access Future Space and find out more can do so by visiting the Future Space LEARN module here.