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Skilled Worker Visa - sponsorable roles guidance for applicants

Guidance for applicants relating to eligibility for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Visa route.

Eligibility to work in the UK

Do I need a visa to work at the University?

The University is obliged to ensure that all workers are eligible to work in the UK. It is vital that the appropriate checks are completed prior to any work being undertaken, ideally at interview stage.

Further guidance on the new Points-Based Immigration System and routes to work in the UK can be found on the Government website.

Advice and guidance by nationality

EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are no longer able to evidence their right to work here using their passport or national identity card. From 1 July 2021 onwards, EU, EEA or Swiss citizens will be required to evidence they hold either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or other valid immigration status.

EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who arrive in the UK for the very first time on or after 1 January 2021 i.e. not resident in the UK will need to secure an appropriate work visa in advance of travel to the UK.

Irish citizens will continue to be able to enter, work and live in the UK as they do now.

Non-EEA citizens

Those citizens who are seeking to enter the UK to work or who are already in the UK on a visa and do not have a valid UK Ancestry Visa, Family Visa, Dependant Visa, Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement or other valid immigration status, will require a visa to work at the University. Typical work visas include the Skilled Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa and Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa.

How will I know if the role is sponsorable and if I will meet the skill and salary requirements?

Applicants should refer to our guidance on the Skilled Worker Visa before reading the guidance below and embarking on a job application to ensure that they understand the requirements for sponsorship.

Only those roles in Tables 1 and 2 of the Government’s Appendix Skilled Occupations will be eligible for sponsorship at the University under the Skilled Worker route.

To assist applicants, we have developed the following guidance on sponsorable roles which outlines those roles which are typically sponsorable at the University, taking into account the minimum skill and salary threshold requirements by job family and grade and other tradeable characteristics.

When a vacancy is advertised, it will normally include the following criteria which will enable you to check against the Government’s Skilled Worker Points Calculator to see if you are likely to be successful if you apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for a role at the University:

  • grade of the role
  • salary range (you will need to enter the bottom salary point of the grade range into the calculator)
  • role requirements i.e. the skills, qualifications and experience needed for the role
  • role ‘Occupation Code’ (often referred to as the SOC code) – you will need to use this to check against Tables 1 and 2 of the Government’s Appendix Skilled Occupations to see the ‘going rate’ for the role (see below).

Please note the ‘going rates’ in Table 1 are per year and based on a 39-hour working week so will need to be pro-rated according to the University’s normal contractual working hours which are 36.5 hours per week. For example, the starting salary of a Research Associate (SOC code 2119), Grade 7, is £34,304 based on a 36.5 hour working week. The ‘going rate’ for SOC code 2119 at 39 hours per week is £33,000, so the going rate for SOC code 2119 at 36.5 hours per week is £30,885 (£33,000 ÷ 39 x 36.5 = £30,885). When asked on the calculator, as below, ‘What is the going rate for your job?’, you will need to input the pro-rated salary figure (e.g. £30,885, using the example above).

The calculator will ask you the following questions:

  • Do you have a job offer from an approved sponsor? Click ‘yes’ to this (assuming you will receive sponsorship)
  • Is your job on the list of eligible jobs? Click ‘yes’ to this as the SOC code identified in the advert should be listed under Table 1
  • Do you meet English language requirements? After you have identified how you meet this requirement from the list provided, you will need to click ‘yes’ (you will be asked to provide evidence of this requirement if you are successful following the interview process)
  • How much will you be paid by your employer each year? You will need to enter the bottom salary point of the grade range to determine this (the salary you get paid if successful may or may not be higher than this)
  • Is your job in healthcare or education? Click ‘no’ to this unless the role falls under Table 2 (few, if any, roles at the University are likely to meet this requirement)
  • What is the going rate for your job? You will need to enter the ‘going rate’ for the role based on the guidance above. If the salary for the role meets the higher of the general salary threshold (i.e. £25,600) or the ‘going rate’ for the role and you meet the mandatory criteria, you will automatically meet the points required for sponsorship. If the salary for the role does not meet the general salary threshold or the ‘going rate’ for the role, please see guidance below.

The salary does not meet the general salary threshold or ‘going rate’ for the role?

If the ‘going rate’ you have entered on the calculator (‘What is the going rate for your job?’) does not meet the general salary threshold (i.e. £25,600) or the ‘going rate’ for the role automatically, the calculator will go on to ask whether you meet the criteria based on other criteria i.e. having a relevant PhD qualification (you gain more points if this is in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) subject), being sponsored to work in a shortage occupation, or because you are a ‘new entrant’ to the UK’s labour market. You will need to answer based on your specific circumstances.

The Government’s Skilled Worker Visa guidance provides an overview of how you may be able to meet this criteria.

If you are looking to use a PhD qualification as a ‘tradeable point’ for any role listed as being eligible for PhD points under the Government’s Appendix Skilled Occupations, unless the job description specifically states this as an essential criterion, it will be up to the recruiting manager to provide a credible explanation of how your PhD qualification is relevant to the role you are being sponsored for via the recruitment process. If successful, you will be asked to provide evidence of this qualification following the interview process. Further guidance on what evidence will be required can be found here.

If you’re a research or academic leader, you may also be eligible to apply for the Global Talent Visa which has a number of benefits over the Skilled Worker Visa. This visa has no language or minimum salary requirements.

If you are unsure or need any help, please contact the relevant HR Recruitment Co-ordinator for the vacancy you are applying for.

Application process for a Skilled Worker Visa

Full details on the application process can be found here.