UK Publishes the 2026 HPI Visa University List: Learn eligible, qualification and switch to

News date: 1 November 2026｜English level: B1–B2｜Topics: study abroad, visas, working overseas

The UK has published its 2026 university list for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. Check the date your degree was awarded, then check the list: the “2026 list” applies to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027. If you graduated earlier, check the official list for the period when your degree was awarded, not the year you apply.

The HPI visa gives eligible graduates of overseas universities a chance to look for work and work in the UK without first getting a job offer. Below, an original short English text teaches eligible, qualification and switch to — words you will meet whenever you read visa information — with example sentences and a quiz to practise them.

Three key points first:

• The 2026 list applies to qualifications awarded from 1 Nov 2026 to 31 Oct 2027, not to every application made in 2026.
• Applicants must have been awarded a qualifying degree within the last five years; the visa usually lasts 2 years, or 3 years for a PhD or other doctoral qualification.
• The HPI visa cannot be extended, but holders may be able to switch to another visa before it expires; they must still meet that visa's requirements.

Sources: UK government 2026 HPI university list, eligibility guidance and cost guidance. The totals of 82 universities and 34 in the US were counted entry by entry from the official list.

Start with the audio player and listen once without reading. Try to catch three key points: How many universities are on the list? What conditions must applicants meet? What can holders do when the visa ends? Then read the English text below in full, and finally compare it with the plain-English summary in the next section.

English level: Intermediate (B1–B2)｜Topic: Study Abroad, Visas and Careers

UK Updates Its List of Top Universities for a Graduate Work Visa

On 1 November 2026, the UK Home Office published its new list of universities for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. The route lets recent graduates of top universities outside the UK move to Britain for two years without a job offer. People with a PhD can stay for three years.

The 2026 list includes 82 universities. It applies to qualifications awarded between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027. American schools make up the largest group, with 34 universities. Universities from China, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and several European countries also appear, but no African or Taiwanese universities are on the list.

To be eligible, applicants must have received a qualifying degree within the last five years and usually need to prove their English ability. They generally need to show at least £1,270 in savings. The application fee is £880, and applicants also pay a healthcare surcharge.

The visa cannot be extended, and it does not lead to permanent residence. However, holders may be able to switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, before it expires. For ambitious graduates, it offers a flexible way to test a career in the UK.

The English text above is an original learning text written from information in the UK government publication. It is not a word-for-word copy of any official notice or news report.

On 1 November 2026, the UK Home Office (the government department in charge of immigration) released a new list of universities for the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. This visa allows people who recently graduated from top universities outside the UK to live in the UK for two years, even if they do not have a job yet. People with a PhD can stay for three years.

There are 82 universities on the 2026 list. The list is for degrees awarded between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027; people who got their degree earlier should check the list for that earlier period. The biggest group is from the United States, with 34 universities. There are also universities from China, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and several European countries, but none from Africa or Taiwan.

To qualify, applicants need a degree from a listed university, awarded in the last five years, and most of them must show that their English is good enough. They usually also need to show they have at least £1,270 in savings. The application costs £880, and there is also a healthcare surcharge (an extra fee for using the UK's public health service). Some people do not need to prove their English or their savings — see the official English language requirement and cost guidance.

You cannot extend this visa, and it does not lead to permanent residence. However, before it runs out, holders may be able to change to a different visa, for example the Skilled Worker visa. For graduates with big plans, it is a flexible way to try building a career in the UK.

After reading the text, here are 6 words and phrases you will meet again and again when checking visa rules, applying to schools or looking for a job.

1. eligible (adj.) meeting the requirements

Pronunciation: /ˈelɪdʒəbl/

be eligible for + noun; be eligible to + base verb. The opposite is ineligible (not meeting the requirements).

In the news: To be eligible, applicants must have received a qualifying degree.
= To meet the requirements, applicants need a degree that counts.

Example: Only full-time employees are eligible for the company's English training subsidy.
= Only full-time staff can receive the company's money for English lessons.

Common collocations:

• be eligible for a visa / scholarship: able to apply for or receive a visa / scholarship
• be eligible to apply: allowed to apply
• check if you are eligible: find out whether you meet the requirements

2. qualification (n.) a degree; a certificate

Pronunciation: /ˌkwɑːlɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/

In visa and job documents it usually means a degree, diploma or professional certificate. The adjective qualifying means “meeting the conditions”, as in a qualifying degree.

In the news: qualifications awarded between 1 November 2026 and 31 October 2027
= degrees given to students between those two dates

Example: Please bring copies of your academic qualifications to the interview.
= Bring copies of your degree certificates to the interview.

Common collocations:

• academic qualifications: degrees and diplomas
• professional qualifications: work-related certificates or licences
• a qualifying degree: a degree that meets the conditions

3. switch to (phr. v.) change to

switch from A to B means “change from A to B”. You can use it for visas, jobs, plans, apps and more.

In the news: holders may be able to switch to another visa
= people who hold the visa might be allowed to change to a different visa

Example: She switched to a different visa after getting a job offer.
= After a company offered her a job, she changed to another type of visa.

4. job offer (n.) an offer of employment

get / receive / accept a job offer = be offered / agree to take a job; turn down a job offer = say no to a job.

In the news: without a job offer
= without a company having offered you a job first

Example: He received a job offer from a London company.
= A company in London offered him a job.

5. applicant (n.) a person who applies

Pronunciation: /ˈæplɪkənt/

Verb: apply; noun: application (the act of applying; the form you send). An application fee is the money you pay to apply.

In the news: applicants must have received a qualifying degree
= people applying must already have a degree that counts

Example: Each applicant needs to upload the required documents.
= Everyone who applies must upload the documents asked for.

6. surcharge (n.) an extra charge

Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːrtʃɑːrdʒ/

Money added on top of the normal price. The UK visa healthcare surcharge is the fee that lets visa holders use the UK's public health service.

In the news: applicants also pay a healthcare surcharge
= applicants must also pay an extra fee for healthcare

Example: The airline added a fuel surcharge to the ticket price.
= The airline made the ticket more expensive to cover fuel costs.

All three patterns come from the text. They are useful both for reading official rules and for explaining conditions in an email.

Pattern 1: S + let(s) + someone + base verb (allow someone to do something)

Original: The route lets recent graduates move to Britain.

Key point: after let, use “object + base verb”, without to.

Try it: This app lets you practice English speaking anytime.
= With this app, you can practise speaking English whenever you like.

Pattern 2: To be + adj., S + must… (to reach a certain state, someone must…)

Original: To be eligible, applicants must have received a qualifying degree within the last five years.

Key point: To be eligible at the start of the sentence means “in order to meet the requirements”; the main clause then gives the condition.

Try it: To be ready for the interview, you must practice your self-introduction out loud.
= If you want to be prepared for the interview, practise introducing yourself aloud.

Pattern 3: S + cannot…; however, S + can… before… (something is not possible, but there is another option before a deadline)

Original: The visa cannot be extended … However, holders may be able to switch to another visa before it expires.

Key point: State the limit first, then use However to introduce an alternative. This structure works well in emails that say no politely or explain a rule.

Try it: We cannot change the class time; however, you can book a make-up lesson before Friday.
= The class time is fixed, but you can book an extra lesson to make up for it by Friday.

Situation: Amy and Ben are talking about the UK's newly updated HPI visa list.

English Conversation

• Amy: Did you see the news? The UK just updated its list for the HPI visa.
• Ben: Yes! But I don't think my university is eligible.
• Amy: Right, you need a qualification from one of the 82 schools on the list.
• Ben: Too bad. I was hoping to work in London without a job offer.
• Amy: You could still apply for a Skilled Worker visa if a company hires you.
• Ben: True. And I'd need English at B2 level anyway, so I should keep practicing.
• Amy: Good idea. Many applicants spend months preparing for English tests.
• Ben: Then I'll start this week. Wish me luck!

Plain-English meaning

• Amy: Have you heard? The UK has just updated the HPI visa list.
• Ben: Yes! But I think my university isn't on it.
• Amy: That's right — your degree has to come from one of the 82 listed schools.
• Ben: What a shame. I wanted to work in London without needing a company to hire me first.
• Amy: If a company employs you, you can still apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
• Ben: Good point. I'll need B2-level English either way, so I should keep practising.
• Amy: Sounds smart. Lots of applicants study for English exams for months.
• Ben: Then I'll begin this week. Wish me luck!

Now test how well you understood the text. Try not to look back at the article — choose an answer and press confirm to see the explanation.

If you are preparing to work overseas, it helps to practise English interviews and workplace communication early — not just to understand visa information.

Ambitious Learner's one-on-one online Business English course plans practice around your interview or career goals, from self-introductions and behavioural interview questions to workplace emails. You can also start with Common English Interview Questions and How to Prepare.

To talk about the right way for you to prepare, book a consultation through our LINE account.

• The Complete IELTS Guide: test format, band scores and how to prepare — read this before proving B2-level English.
• Common English Interview Questions and How to Prepare: 12 sample answers, from self-introductions to STAR behavioural questions.
• Australia's Student Visa Refusal Rate Hits a 10-Year High: another visa story — learn crackdown, refusal and genuine.

• UK government: High Potential Individual visa: global universities list 2026
• UK government: HPI visa eligibility and lists for each year
• UK government: HPI visa costs
• UK government: HPI English language requirement
• UK government: HPI visa overview (length of stay, extensions and switching)

Facts checked on 3 November 2026. Visa rules and fees may change, so check the official website again before applying. The English reading text, example sentences, dialogue and quiz in this article are original teaching content by Ambitious Learner and are not a word-for-word translation of any official notice.