UK's Graduate Route is shrinking from 2 years to 18 months, here's exactly who it hits

The UK Home Office has confirmed the long-rumored cut to the Graduate Route (the UK's post-study work visa), and it's not a small trim.

For students starting courses that lead to visa applications made on or after January 1, 2027, the standard post-study work window drops from 2 years to 18 months for Bachelor's and Master's graduates.

The breakdown:

• Bachelor's/Master's grads: 2 years → 18 months
• PhD grads: unchanged, still 3 years
• Route still can't be extended, you switch to another visa (like Skilled Worker) or leave
• Comes alongside a tightened B2 English requirement (up from B1) for several transition routes from January 2026

What this means: if you're starting a 1-year Master's in the UK in 2026, you're landing right in this new window, you'll have 6 fewer months to convert the Graduate Route into a sponsored job than students just one intake ahead of you.

If you're already in the UK on the old 2-year route, does this change how you're planning your job search timeline, or are you not worried about it?