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Most students who want a career abroad plan around two things: a work placement during the course and a post-study permit after it. This guide compares the post-study routes in seven countries, with the conditions that decide whether you qualify and worked examples of how the timing plays out.
Post-study routes at a glance
| Country | Permit | How long | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Graduate Route | 2 years for applications made by 31 December 2026. 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates from 1 January 2027. PhD graduates keep 3 years | Degree-level UK study and a valid student visa when you apply |
| United States | Optional Practical Training (OPT) | 12 months, plus a 24-month extension for eligible STEM degrees | F-1 status and work related to your degree. The STEM extension needs a qualifying employer |
| Canada | Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) | Up to 3 years, tied to programme length | English or French at CLB 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates |
| Germany | Job-search residence permit | Up to 18 months | Qualification completed in Germany |
| Ireland | Stamp 1G graduate permission | 12 months for a Level 8 degree, up to 24 months for Level 9 or above | Award earned in Ireland. Up to 40 hours of work a week |
| Australia | Temporary Graduate visa, subclass 485 | Depends on the qualification | Generally under 36 when you apply, with exceptions, plus an English test |
| New Zealand | Post-study work visa | Depends on the qualification | Qualification level and study in New Zealand |
Country details
United Kingdom
The Graduate Route lets you stay and work without a job offer. Applications made on or before 31 December 2026 still receive two years. For applications made on or after 1 January 2027, bachelor’s and master’s graduates receive 18 months, and doctoral graduates keep three years. You must apply while you still hold a student visa, so your course end date largely decides which rule applies to you. A one-year placement in a sandwich course gives industry experience inside the degree.
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United States
Standard post-completion OPT lasts 12 months. Students with a qualifying STEM degree can apply for a further 24 months, but only while they are still inside the initial 12 months. The STEM extension needs an employer enrolled in E-Verify, a training plan on Form I-983 and at least 20 hours of work a week. Self-employment and agency arrangements do not qualify for the extension. You are allowed 90 days of unemployment during the first 12 months and 60 more during the extension, which is 150 days in total across the 36 months. Weekends, holidays and days spent outside the US count as unemployed days. Check your school’s international office for the timing of each filing.
Canada
Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates have no field-of-study requirement for the PGWP. College and other non-university graduates must have studied in an eligible field, in areas such as agriculture and agri-food, education, health care, STEM, trades and transport. The list is revised over time, so check the version in force on the day you apply. Programmes of eight months to under two years earn a permit as long as the programme, and programmes of two years or more can earn up to three years. You must apply within 180 days of receiving written confirmation that you completed the programme. Graduates can later apply through Express Entry or a provincial nominee programme.
If your programme has a required work placement, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op permit from 1 April 2026. Your school must confirm the placement is part of the programme, and it must be no more than 50% of the course. See our PGWP programme list guide.
Germany
After graduating from a German university you can receive a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job that fits your degree. During the search you can work without an hour limit. During study you can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year, and student assistant jobs and jobs closely related to your studies have no hour limit. Your student health insurance ends with your enrolment, so arrange your own cover for the search period. Graduates who find a qualifying job can move to a work permit such as the EU Blue Card.
Ireland
Graduates with an Irish Level 8 degree can receive a 12-month extension on Stamp 1G, and graduates with a Level 9 or Level 10 award can receive up to 24 months, in two 12-month blocks. The total time on the student pathway has limits, so check your own count with the Irish immigration service. You can work up to 40 hours a week while you look for graduate-level work and an employment permit. Extensions are generally not given to allow a late employment permit application.
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Australia
Degree-level graduates apply for the Temporary Graduate visa through the Post-Higher Education Work stream. You generally must be under 36 when you apply, with exceptions for some passport holders and for people who completed a research master’s or doctoral degree. You also need a recognised English test result. Stay periods and age settings have changed since the reforms of July 2024 and higher degrees generally receive longer periods, so confirm the period for your exact qualification on the Department of Home Affairs website before you choose a course.
New Zealand
Post-study work visa length depends on the qualification you complete. From 16 November 2026, eligibility is extended to some graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor’s degree, and to postgraduate diploma and master’s students who meet the study-time rules. Reported lengths are one year for a postgraduate diploma and three years for a master’s. A graduate diploma holder who does not qualify can apply for a six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa instead. Each person can receive only one post-study work visa. Students on visas granted from 3 November 2025 can work up to 25 hours a week during study. Check Immigration New Zealand for the current conditions that apply to you.
Singapore
Singapore has no open post-study work permit. Graduates usually need a job offer that meets the minimum qualifying salary for the Employment Pass, and that salary rises with age. Check the Ministry of Manpower for the current figure.
Worked Examples
UK: the 2027 change
Hypothetical example: two students finish the same master’s course. One finishes in December 2026 and applies for the Graduate Route that month. The other finishes in February 2027 and applies after that. Under the announced change, the first receives the current 2-year permission and the second receives 18 months, because the shorter period applies to applications made on or after 1 January 2027. A PhD graduate keeps 3 years either way.
US: counting unemployment days
| Period (hypothetical) | Situation | Unemployment days used |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1 to 2 of OPT | Job search after graduation | 60 |
| Months 3 to 12 | Employed in a STEM role, with a short gap between contracts | 20 more, so 80 of 90 days used |
| Months 13 to 36 | STEM extension with an E-Verify employer | Up to 60 more days allowed, 150 in total |
The point of the example is to plan your search so that the 90-day allowance in the first 12 months is not used up before the extension starts.
Germany: using the 18 months well
| Month | Activity (hypothetical) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Apply for the job-search permit and arrange health insurance. Update your CV in German and English |
| 1 to 6 | Apply in your field and use university career services and alumni networks |
| 6 to 12 | Widen the search by region and company size. Consider a related role as a bridge |
| 12 to 18 | Confirm a qualifying contract. Ask the foreigners’ office about switching to a work permit such as the EU Blue Card |
Canada: from graduation to PGWP
A student completes a two-year master’s, takes the language test at CLB 7 or higher, receives the school’s completion letter, and applies for the PGWP within 180 days of that letter. She then works under the permit and builds Canadian work experience, which counts toward later applications through Express Entry or a provincial nominee programme. A college student on the same path needs a programme on the eligible list and CLB 5.
Choosing by What Matters to You
| Your priority | Look first at | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Longest time after study | US (up to 36 months for STEM) and Canada (up to 3 years) | Field of study, employer rules and language tests |
| No job offer needed to stay | UK Graduate Route, Germany job search, Canada PGWP, Ireland Stamp 1G | The UK period is shortening from 2027 |
| Lower tuition | Germany | Proof of funds and, outside campus work, German skills |
| A path to a skilled work permit | Germany (EU Blue Card), Canada (Express Entry), Ireland (employment permit) | You still need a qualifying job or points |
Making a Placement Count
- Treat the placement as a long interview: ask for feedback and a reference before it ends.
- Pick a placement in the sector where you want a job, not only the one that pays the most.
- Keep your placement contract, hours log and pay records.
- Check your visa or permit allows the placement, as rules differ between work during study and a placement that is part of the course.
Steps to plan your route
- Pick the post-study route you want first, then choose a course that qualifies.
- Check the permit rules on the government site, not an agent page.
- Choose a course with a placement, co-op or industry year if one exists.
- Build a CV and LinkedIn profile during your first term.
- Keep records of every job and placement, because you may be asked for them later.
Our guide to student work rules by country covers how many hours you can work while you study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the longest post-study stay?
The US can reach 36 months for eligible STEM graduates and Canada can reach three years, depending on your programme length. Other countries vary by qualification.
Do I need a job offer?
Not for the UK Graduate Route, Germany’s job-search permit, Ireland’s Stamp 1G or the Canadian PGWP. A job offer becomes important when you switch to a longer work permit, and the US STEM extension needs a qualifying employer.
Can I work while I look for a job after graduating?
Yes under most of these routes. Germany allows work without an hour limit during the job search, Ireland allows up to 40 hours a week, and the UK, Canada and US permissions are work permissions in their own right. The US limits the days you can be unemployed.
What about employer-sponsored work visas?
See our guide to work visas for new graduates.
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