Higher education institutions - endorsing Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) applications

This section explains how UK higher education institutions can gain authorisation to support Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) applications.

Eligible higher education institutions (HEIs) were invited to apply to become authorised endorsing bodies in February 2013, and successful institutions were allocated places with the 2,000 limit. A copy of the letter can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.

The authorised HEIs can endorse up to their allocated number of non-EEA national graduates between now and 5 April 2014, to take part in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) scheme. The graduates must have been awarded a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or PhD in the last 12 months by the institution, unless they are currently sponsored in a post-doctoral job under Tier 2 of the points-based system. For more information about the types of qualifications we will accept for this scheme, see the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Can I apply? page.

A list of the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) authorised endorsing bodies can be downloaded from the right side of this page.

Once a HEI has identified an individual they wish to endorse, they must:

• contact us and provide details of the individual being endorsed; and
• provide the individual with a letter on the institution's headed paper confirming their endorsement.

Authorised endorsing body responsibilities

All endorsing HEIs must confirm:

• they have an established process for identifying and developing entrepreneurs amongst its undergraduate and postgraduate population;
• details of the qualification they have awarded to the individual, and ensure it meets our criteria;
• the individual has a genuine, credible and innovative business idea; and
• the individual will spend the majority of their working time on developing business ventures.

After endorsing a graduate entrepreneur, HEIs must:

• keep evidence of the selection process that resulted in them giving the above endorsement, and provide this to us if requested;
• maintain contact with the individual and assess their progress at regular intervals (at least quarterly);
• inform us if the individual does not keep contact, or misses one of their progress reviews without authorisation;
• tell us if they have evidence to suggest that a migrant is breaching the conditions of their leave; and
• let us know if migrants are no longer participating in the scheme.

Successful applicants will be granted leave for 12 months initially, which may be extended for a further 12 months.

Authorised endorsing bodies will also need to endorse any extension applications from these graduate entrepreneurs. These endorsements for extension applications will not count towards their allocation under the limit.

The endorsement must confirm that the endorsing body is satisfied with the progress the applicant has made in establishing a business.

We have eased the criteria to allow them to switch into the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route by reducing the investment they need from £200,000 to £50,000.

Applicants who are granted leave to remain in this category on the basis of their endorsement will not be permitted to work as a doctor or dentist in training, or as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.