Enterprise Support works international alumni of Oxford Brookes University to endorse them under the Home Office Start-up and Innovator post-study work visa categories.
We also work with the International Student Team (ISAT) to support international graduates from the university who hold a Graduate Visa and wish to register and start a business or become self-employed.
Each of these three visas can allow you to extend your stay in the UK to set up and grow a business or become self employed after your studies.
Our wide range of enterprise support is free and is available for up to four years after you finish your studies.
PLEASE NOTE: Enterprise Support can only endorse graduates seeking to apply for one of these visas, who are from Oxford Brookes University.
Start Up Visa
The Start-up visa replaced the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route, which closed on the 5th July 2019.
This category offers a one-off, two-year visa, during which applicants will spend the majority of their time developing their businesses. Successful applicants can bring their family members (spouses/partners and children under 18) to the UK. To apply, you don't need to have secured any investment funds in your business and you can apply from outside the UK.
Endorsement from Oxford Brookes is a selective process for early-stage, high-potential entrepreneurs with innovative and competitive business ideas who are starting a business in the UK for the first time.
You will need to be ready to register and launch your business as soon as your Start-Up Visa is approved.
Our range of training, events and programmes can help you test and develop your business idea as well as practical guidance on how to register, start and grow a business or become self-employed whilst based in the UK.
We currently only accept endorsement applications from:
- Global alumni of Oxford Brookes University who were awarded a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or PhD before 2021.*
- Have an innovative, scale-able and viable business proposition.
Innovator Visa
We currently only accept endorsement applications from:
- Current Start-Up Visa holders, who were endorsed by Oxford Brookes University.
Graduate Visa
This category offers recent graduates to stay in the UK for 2 years after they complete their degree (3 years if you have a doctoral qualification). While on a Graduate visa you may start a business or become self-employed.
You must be in the UK when you apply. Your family can apply to stay too, if they were ‘dependents’ on your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa.
You don’t need an endorsement letter from Oxford Brookes University to apply for this visa.
Please visit our International Student Advice Team webpages for guidance on the eligibility requirements, the application process and conditions of this visa.
If you have been granted this visa, we can provide guidance on how to register and start a business, become self-employed or go freelance in the UK. This is in addition to our annual calendar of programmes and workshops, free and available