International Careers Support

Our online career courses for international students are a fantastic way to learn about career opportunities in the UK and internationally. These online courses will provide you with information on work experience and graduate opportunities in the UK, advice on making great applications, and guidance on researching international job opportunities. 

You can work through the courses at your own pace. If you don't have time to complete them all, just select the topics that are most relevant to you.

Click here to get started. Our course titles include:

• UK Careers and Beyond: A guide for international students (Introductory course)
• Understand what UK employers want
• Find and apply for work experience in the UK
• How to shine throughout the recruitment process
• Positive Conversations: How to talk to employers about visas 
• Returning to your home country to work after your studies

If you have any difficulties accessing these courses, please email careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk. 

International career events cover a range of topics including searching for work in the UK, writing CVs and job applications, UK and international graduate opportunities, and the Graduate Route Visa. They are run in partnership with employers, alumni and other UoB departments.

Event recordings

Missed an event or workshop? Catch-up on what you missed.

• View event recordings

Resources

• Our ‘Careers Talk’ Podcast is designed to be of particular interest to international students and graduates. Each podcast features alumni and employers sharing their careers advice and experiences. You can listen to Careers Talk on our website, Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 
• Find out about our specialist Career support for Postgraduate Taught Students and Postgraduate Researchers. 
• Join University of Birmingham on LinkedIn to network with students and alumni. This could be a good resource for you to share your experience and get advice for seeking jobs in the UK.

Careers Network provide support with all stages of a job application process including CVs, LinkedIn, application forms, interviews and assessment centres.

Application support

• CV, Application & Interview Support resources
• Top Tips Events for advice on CVs, cover letters, online applications, LinkedIn and interviews
• Complete our online course on How to shine throughout the recruitment process 
• Get feedback on your CV using our virtual CV Checker
• Email your CV for review

Application support for jobs outside the UK

If you are applying for jobs outside of the UK, the following resources will help you understand application processes and CV formats for a range of countries.

• Complete our online course on Returning to your home country to work after your studies which includes advice on researching international job opportunities.
• Take a look at our country guides  on China, India and Nigeria.
• Student Circus Country Guides – to access the full version of these guides, register for a Student Circus account using your UoB student or alumni email address.
• Prospects Country Guides
• Target Jobs Working Abroad - Country Guides
• Midlands International Group videos and resources
• Guide to Tailoring Your CV for the Chinese Labour Market. 

Work Experience

Gaining work experience during your degree puts you in a stronger position for finding graduate work. Careers Network can support you to find and apply for work experience opportunities in the UK.

• Complete our online course on Find and apply for work experience in the UK
• Find out about our B-Experienced Internship Programme, exclusively for UoB students and recent graduates. 
• Source your own work experience opportunity by making a speculative application to a company.
• Apply for work experience opportunities on jobs board such as Rate My Placement, TargetJobs, Bright Network, Employment 4 Students (e4s), Student Circus and LinkedIn.
• Consider alternative forms of work experience such as Mentoring, B:Enterprising projects, Part-time jobs, The Birmingham Project and Volunteering.

• If you are an undergraduate first year, second year or third year international student in your fourth year, and have no formal work experience (such as a 12 month placement) join the InternMatch employability programme this January!   You’ll gain a short voluntary placement with a small to medium sized UK company. Receive CV and LinkedIN profile guidance, assisting your learning development. If you are unsure of career direction and want to get UK business insights, this for you. Complete the expression of interest form by deadline: 5^th January 2025. Enquiries to workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk

• Don’t forget to network with companies to find out about their opportunities. Careers Network run a range of employer-led events that you can get involved with. 

Funding work experience

If you’re worried about money affecting your work experience options, find out about possible sources of work experience funding.

Further guidance

If you would like to talk with an adviser about work experience, you can book an informal 1:1 appointment with an Internships Officer via Careers Connect. Alternatively, email your query to careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk. 

Important considerations

International students who hold a Student Route Visa to study in the UK are subject to working restrictions imposed by UKVI (UK Visas & Immigration). However, most international students should still be able to undertake work experience. We recommend you read the guidance written by the International Student Team before applying for any work experience. If you have any questions about working rights and visas, please contact the International Student Team.

Mentoring

Careers Network offer various mentoring schemes where we connect you with industry professionals who can support you with your career development. Our mentors are from a wide range of sectors and job roles. Many are based in the UK but we also have international mentors from China, USA, India, Singapore, Australia and many more. They can share with you their experiences of living and working abroad and their tips for finding and applying for work experience.   

Find out more about our mentoring programmes here. 

Part-time work

Working part-time alongside your studies is a fantastic way to gain new skills, develop your English language skills and learn about UK working culture. Here are some resources to help you search for part-time work:

• Worklink: The University of Birmingham’s casual recruitment agency, dedicated to helping students find flexible, part-time work on campus.
• Guild of Students: Student Work Opportunities: Student part-time work opportunities at the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students.

We recommend you read the ‘Working during your studies‘ guidance by the International Student Team before applying for part-time work. If you have any questions about working rights and visas, please contact the International Student Team.

International students have a great skillset to offer employers. Using Careers Network support will help you plan and prepare for finding a graduate role in the UK or internationally.

Online Courses and Resources

• Take a look at our online career courses for international students to learn about career opportunities in the UK and internationally. 
• Take a look at our country guides on China, India and Nigeria

Job Search (UK and International)

Events and Appointments

• Visit our University of Birmingham Career Fairs run throughout the academic year to meet employers and find out about their graduate roles
• Attend Careers events for International students run in partnership with international alumni and employers for a range of career insights
• Attend Careers Network events to gain insights into UK job sectors and employers
• Book an appointment with your College Careers Team who may have insights into job searching in sectors related to your study programme.

Jobs Boards (UK and International)

• University of Birmingham Careers Connect (see Opportunities section)
• International Jobs Boards
• Student Circus  
• Prospects 
• TargetJobs 
• Milkround 
• Gradcracker
• Graduate-Jobs 
• Graduate Recruitment Bureau 
• Inside Careers 
• LinkedIn Student Jobs 
• Indeed 

Student Circus is a fantastic careers resource for international students and graduates. The platform enables you to:

• Search for jobs with Skilled Worker Visa employers in the UK
• Search for jobs with handpicked employers in 30+ countries that value the global experience of international students
• Access a range of employability resources including country guides and career blogs. 

Using Student Circus is easy and it’s available to University of Birmingham students and graduates any time of the day from a mobile or desktop device.  

Register for your Student Circus account using your UoB student or alumni email address.

If you are considering further study in the UK, we recommend watching the International Student Team’s video on making a Student Route Visa extension application.

• Further study support

If you are considering further study in the UK, you may find it helpful to attend an event on the Student Route Visa for continuing students, delivered by the International Student Team. To find out more visit our Events page.

Careers Network is not authorised to give advice on work permit or visa applications. Please contact the services and resources below for support.

Complete our online course: Positive Conversations: How to talk to employers which provides an overview of working visas and advice on talking to UK employers about visas.

The UoB International Student Team (IST) provide support and advice for prospective and current international students. Their expertise covers immigration, visas and how to adapt to life in the UK.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provide information and advice for international students studying in the UK through online resources and a telephone advice line. UKCISA provide the following information on visa routes for international students planning to stay in the UK after their studies.

We strongly recommend you consult UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and ensure you understand the government visa regulations before you start to apply for jobs in the UK.