Tier 1 (Post-study work) - closed to new applicants
Date of award of your qualification
This page explains how you can score points for the date when your qualification was awarded, when you make an application under Tier 1 (Post-study work) of the points-based system.
Before you apply, you must read the Tier 1 (Post-study work) 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.
You can score 15 points if your UK qualification was awarded no more than 12 months before the date when you apply for permission to enter or stay in the UK under Tier 1 (Post-study work).
If you are a graduate of a UK medical school, you can score 15 points if you completed the NHS Foundation Programme no more than 12 months before you apply.
How we define the date of award
The 'date of award' is the date when you were first notified in writing, by the awarding institution, that your qualification had been awarded.
The date of award is not the date of graduation.
If you have started another course after finishing the course that led to the qualification you are claiming points for, you do not need to finish this subsequent course. However, the date of award of the qualification you are claiming points for must be no more than 12 months before your application date.
More information
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What is the date of your application if you are applying from outside the UK?
The date of your application is the date when your application fee is paid to us. This will be the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on how you paid for your visa application - for example, at a visa application centre or online.
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What is the date of your application? (Applying by post or courier from inside the UK)
If you send your application form and application fee by post, the date of application is the date of posting. This is decided by the postmark. If the postmark is illegible or missing, the date of postage is taken as being at least 1 day before it is received by us.
If you send your application form and application fee by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to our payment handling service.
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What is the date of your application? (Applying in person inside the UK)
If you are applying in person at one of our public enquiry offices, your application date will be the date when you attend the public enquiry office to make your application and pay your application fee.
Application forms
Tier 1 (Post-study work) guidance
- Tier 1 (Post-study work) policy guidancePDF 347KB opens in a new window