How competitive is it really for international students to find jobs in the UK?

It is competitive to secure a graduate job in the UK, and your success in securing a particular job depends on a number of factors:

• the type of job and number of applicants – graduate scheme, graduate job, experienced hire etc.
• the location – whether you are applying in London, Cardiff, Glasgow or elsewhere in a less popular area.
• your ability to demonstrate your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the role and the organisation you are applying to

A challenge for international students....

One of key challenges for international students is that some UK employers are concerned about visa regulations. They worry about how visa rules affect them if they employ you and often don't understand the visa regulations very well. Many UK employers aren't clear yet about the Graduate visa which was introduced in 2021 and the new rules introduced in 2024 for the Skilled Worker Visa are complex.

It can be helpful if you understand the visa rules. 

International Student Support provide detailed information about immigration options available for working after your studies. You can contact the team directly if you're unsure about your particular situation.