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Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur)

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Qualification

This page explains how you can score points for having an acceptable qualification when you make an application under the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category of the points-based system.

Before you apply, you must read the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) policy guidance, which you can find on the right side of this page. The policy guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules.

To be awarded 25 points you must have a letter of endorsement from an endorsing body which states that you have been awarded a UK recognised Bachelor's degree, Master's degree or PhD. Your qualification must have been awarded no more than 12 months before the date of your endorsement.

If you are currently sponsored in a post-doctoral job under Tier 2 of the points-based system, your qualification must have been awarded more than 12 months before the date of your endorsement.

If endorsed by UK Trade and Investment, the endorsement must state that you have been awarded a degree qualification (not a qualification of equivalent level which is not a degree) which is deemed by UK National Recognition Information Centre (UKNARIC) to meet or exceed the recognised standard of a Bachelor's degree. This may be a qualification from overseas.

The date of award is the date on which you were first notified, in writing, by the awarding institution that your qualification was awarded.

United Kingdom recognised degree at Bachelor's Master's or PhD level

To score points, your degree must have been awarded by a 'UK recognised body'. This is an institution that has been granted degree-awarding powers by a Royal Charter, an Act of Parliament or the Privy Council.

The UK government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills maintains a full list of UK recognised bodies. All UK universities and some higher education colleges are UK recognised bodies.

Qualifications that are not acceptable as UK recognised qualifications

You will not score points for:

  • foundation degrees;
  • honorary degrees;
  • qualifications awarded in the UK by overseas awarding bodies;
  • qualifications undertaken in overseas campuses of UK institutions;
  • professional and vocational qualifications; and
  • postgraduate certificates or diplomas.

Overseas qualifications

If you have an endorsement from UK Trade and Investment your qualification must be:

  • a degree qualification (not a qualification of equivalent level which is not a degree); and
  • deemed by UK NARIC to be at the recognised standard of a UK Bachelor's degree or higher.

You can check your qualification on the points based calculator on the right side of this page.

The points-based calculator contains information from UK NARIC on the equivalency of overseas qualifications. We will use the calculator to assess the qualifications you use.

If you cannot find your academic qualifications on the points-based calculator, you may still wish to claim points for it. If so, you should contact UK NARIC directly for an assessment of the level of the qualification and, if UK NARIC confirms it is of the required level, obtain a letter and/or confirmation certificate from UK NARIC. You can find a link to the UK NARIC website on the right of this page. It is an independent website, for which we are not responsible. It may charge a fee for confirming qualifications.
If UK NARIC cannot confirm the equivalence of your qualification, we will not award points for it. In this case, you may wish to use an alternative qualification if you have one.

Application forms

Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur)

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