We are also part of a 'Midlands International Group,' where Career Representatives from 15 University Careers Services work together to support International Students. We work together 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  had lots of useful information about CVs, understanding Graduate options and visas, and much more. 

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 finding work see our guides below:

• Marketing yourself effectively to UK employers‌
• Part time work‌

Our Find jobs and work experience page also has advice on finding work while you are a student.

Careers Online

Careers Online is the University’s own vacancy system. On this we advertise over 7000 graduate jobs, placements, internships, part-time work and voluntary roles a year; this includes vacancies from over 70 countries across a range of sectors.

*PLEASE NOTE - whilst we do our utmost to evaluate each role advertised via Careers Online please assess each opportunity carefully and consider whether or not your personal circumstances will be affected by taking up said opportunity. Whilst we have made every effort to check the roles advertised, we cannot always guarantee their authenticity*

• Log in to Careers Online

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.
• Attend Careers Network presentations scheduled in your timetable each year.
• Search and apply for vacancies on Careers Online 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 practice your English and become familiar with the culture.
• Sign up for English language supportduring 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 - Make Applications page has guidance on this, while the International Students page has examples specifically for international students.
• Find opportunities to gain experience. The Get a placement page has advice on this, including on-year placements, vacation work, internships, insight days, spring weeks, work shadowing, mentoring, part-time work, volunteering, student leadership roles.
• Read the information about visas on ourInternational Studentspage 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 Career Consultation with a Careers Consultant to analyse more specifically which roles you might be suited to. This can be arranged at phoning 01509 222039 or visiting the Information Desk in the Bridgeman Building.
• Find opportunities to gain experience. The Get a placementpage has advice on this, including one-year placements, vacation work, internships, work shadowing, mentoring, part-time work, volunteering, student leadership roles.
• Take part in Careers Networksessions as part of your scheduled timetable to learn about CVs, application forms and interviews.
• Ensure you understand your permission to work in the UK during your studies which you can find on our International Studentspage.

Finalists

• Access careers help in applying for graduate roles such as 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.
• Identify companies who are onthe list of organisations licensed to sponsor workers on the Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes.
• See the PDF resources on the International Studentspage to find out which immigration scheme might suit you if you want to stay on to work in the UK.
• 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.

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. The International Students page has examples of CVs you can use as a guide. 
• 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 Opportunities page has advice on Networking to find opportunities, including Using Social Media for Job Hunting and Career Research.
• Investigate part-time working at Loughborough – see the Find Jobs and Opportunitiespage for advice on different ways to find opportunities.
  • 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 postgraduates by Careers Network.

During your studies

• See above.

As a Loughborough student, there are resources that can help you find opportunities in your home country, including Careers Online which has opportunities from many employers internationally. For more information, read the PDF below:

• Marketing yourself to employers in your home country

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:

• UKCISA(United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs) – Working after studies
• UK Government work visas

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

• Skilled Worker Route (formerly Tier 2)
• Graduate Route (post-study work)

UKCISA have also put together a Webinar which explains who is eligible, how to apply, and what the new Graduate Route allows you to do. 

This webinar recording for students will provide you with some questions and answers on the new Graduate Route. 

The Student Advice and Support Service also 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. 

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 Graduate and Placement Fairs are asked if they employ international students, or if they are on the UKVI Register of Sponsors. Please refer to the fair brochures on the Attend Events section of the Careers Network website.

• 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:

• Student Advice and Support Service - for support with student visa enquiries, including post-doctoral extensions and general immigration advice.

• Loughborough Enterprise Network - for Tier 1/Start Up visa enquiries and advice on self employment.

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

• United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs - for advice, guidance and information about all aspects of the international student experience.

Start-Up Visa

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

The Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) can help you! Follow this link to find a brief guide to the Start-Up Visa endorsement from Loughborough University: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/len/visa/

The Future Space team at Loughborough University London works exclusively with a hand-picked group of employers looking to recruit its students.  As part of this programme, it delivers workshops and events to prepare International Student for applying to work in the UK.  These workshops and events can be booked through the Future Space LEARN page LLP700.  As part of this programme a special mock assessment centre is held in June.  This assessment centre features the employers on the scheme.  Currently they include, Tech Mahindra, Sports Interactive, Plexal, One Plan, 4Global amongst others.