Graduates of the top 50 foreign universities can apply to come to the UK through a new visa scheme.
The government said it expects the “high-potential individual route”, which was launched on Monday, to attract the “brightest and best” at the start of its career to work in the UK.
Successful undergraduate or master’s degree applicants will receive a two-year work visa, while doctoral students may apply for a three-year visa.
They will then be able to “switch to other long-term work visas, if they meet the eligibility requirements”.
Graduates must be over 17 years of age and have obtained a degree, equivalent to a UK undergraduate or postgraduate degree, no more than five years prior to the date of application.
It is understood that the visa regime has no number limit and applicants do not need a prior job offer. Dependent people will be able to accompany them.
Only graduates of the top 50 universities in the world outside the UK can apply.
The scheme is part of a series of visa offers to attract talent after Brexit.
Universities must appear in the top 50 rankings of at least two of these lists: Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, or The Academic Ranking of World Universities.
In a list published by the government, the universities eligible from 2021 include 20 US institutions, as well as universities in Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Germany, Australia, Singapore, France, Sweden and Switzerland.
The top five on the Times list are currently all in the United States: California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Princeton.
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Candidates must also pass a security and criminal check, and be able to speak, read, listen and write English at least up to level B1 (intermediate), which means they can communicate effortlessly with native speakers.
The visa will cost £ 715 and selected applicants will have to pay the immigration surcharge to use the NHS.
Applicants must have a maintenance fund of at least £ 1,270.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This new visa offer means that the UK can continue to attract the best and brightest people in the world.
“The roadmap means the UK will grow as a leading international hub for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
“We want the companies of tomorrow to be built here today, and that’s why I’m asking students to take this incredible opportunity to forge their careers here.”