The University has a legal responsibility to ensure all employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. If you are made an offer of employment, we will need to verify this right before you start work.

Please note that all job applications are assessed based on the knowledge, skills and experience required for the relevant post. You will not be treated less favourably than another applicant on the grounds of national origin.

Proving your right to work in the UK

You can show proof of your right to work by providing original documents from List A and List B:

  • List A: Documents/statuses which denote an unrestricted and unlimited right to work in the UK
  • List B: Documents/statuses which denote a temporary and/or restricted right to work in the UK

Please visit the Employers' right to work checklist on the Government website to view the documents included under each list.

UK/Irish Citizens: If you are invited to attend an in-person interview, and you can bring a List A document with you, a copy will be taken. Otherwise, you must provide proof (an original document which must be seen in person) before you can start work.

All other nationalities: You may provide a document from either list and this must be an original document, which must be seen in person. Alternatively, if you hold 'digital’ immigration status, you will need to provide a Share Code so that your digital status can be checked. If you already have right to work in the UK, you can provide this at any time before you start work and verification can take place via video call.

Do I have the right to work in the UK?

You will not need a visa to work in the UK if you are:

  • A British or Irish citizen (but not a British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) or British Protected Person)
  • An EU/EEA/Swiss national, resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, and holding a status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • A non-EEA national with Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK.

However, if none of those apply to you, you will require a visa to work in the UK.

If you are already in the UK, your current visa may allow you to start work at the University.

What if I don’t yet have the right to work in the UK?

We encourage applications from all candidates, regardless of nationality or right to work status – but by law, you will not be able to start working for the University until you are able to provide evidence that you are allowed to do so. The two most common routes for University employees are:

Skilled Worker

This is a points-based immigration route, and you would need to score a minimum of 70 points from a number of criteria:

  • An offer of a job at an appropriate skill level (RQF level 3 and above) from an approved sponsor and supported by a Certificate of Sponsorship: 40 points.
  • Being able to prove you have a sufficient knowledge of the English language: 10 points.
  • Meeting the appropriate minimum salary level: 20 points.

The University is an approved sponsor, but we can only sponsor you if your role is at an appropriate skill level. We cannot guarantee that any role will be sponsorable, as there are a number of minimum salary levels and the correct one will depend on both the job and your circumstances (for example what type of visa you currently hold, if any, and whether you have a PhD).

Global Talent

Research and some academic roles may be eligible for a Global Talent visa. Briefly, the routes within Global Talent are:

  • Academic and research appointments: senior research/academic roles only.
  • Individual fellowships: for those awarded a fellowship on the Royal Society's Route 2: Individual fellowships list.
  • Endorsed funders: role funded from an approved source which meets the route criteria.
  • Peer review: for PhD holders or those with equivalent research experience who are not eligible for routes 1 to 3.

If you do not already have the right to work in the UK, or if your current UK visa doesn’t allow you to start work at the University, and if the job for which you wish to apply is not eligible for sponsorship, there are several options depending on your personal circumstances.