International Careers Support

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

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 on the course titles below to get started:

• 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. 

Upcoming events

International career events explore a range of topics including working in the UK, returning to your home country after your studies and country career insights. They are run in partnership with employers, alumni, other universities and external partners.

• View International career events

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.
• Read and watch the career stories of other UoB students and graduates.

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 job search strategies, CVs, cover letters, online applications, LinkedIn and interviews

Application support for jobs in the UK

Job application processes vary from country to country. If you are searching for a job in the UK, Careers Network offers the following support:

• CV, Application & Interview Support resources
• 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.

• 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.

• Read our guidance on choosing the right work experience and finding work experience.
• 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.
• 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.

How do you get experience in an ‘industry’ if employers would like you to have experience before they employ you?

The InternMatch Programme is the answer.

The University of Birmingham is working with InternMatch to match international students to UK companies for real-world work experience and skill development.  Your placement could be related to your degree discipline, in a sector or career area of interest!

The InternMatch programme offers an unpaid, short voluntary placement and employability workshops. It will take place from February to April 2024, part-time, in between your studies.

Over 50 placements are available!

Who is the InternMatch programme aimed at?

• International second year undergraduate students or international third year international students on a four year course
• With no or limited work experience
• Committed to undertaking the placement to learn and develop employability skills, gain insights, and professional networks with a UK company.

How will the programme be delivered?

• The experience is likely to be virtual.
• Maximum of 140 hours (20 days), taken flexibly around your studies, for up to 12 weeks. Ideally 2 days a week is preferred.
• You will have a company supervisor to guide you and a member from InternMatch assisting you in the process.
• Workshops are available to help you develop your CV; LinkedIn profile and to enhance relationship building skills.
• Successful applicants will start in early February 2024. To finish no later than April 2024.

What you’ll gain

• Transferable skills development
• Building of knowledge related to your areas/sector of interest.
• An insight into a real UK company and what they do
• professional networks, communicating and learning with others
• A valuable professional and personal development opportunity

Successful applicants will be matched to a company following a consultation and short interview.

Want to find out more?

There is a Zoom information session running by InternMatch on Wednesday 6 December from 14:00 – 15:00. Find out more about the event and register.

Please note, once you have booked your place on Careers Connect, you will also need to register via the link provided in the Careers Connect, InternMatch Virtual Information Session, event description.

Want to apply?

Open now for applications until 23:59 on Monday 11 December 2023.

Apply for InternMatch here

Steps to securing the short voluntary placement

• Complete the Expression of Interest. InternMatch will then get in touch.
• Provide your CV to help being matched to a host organisation
• You may be required to send a very short simple video (30 seconds) introducing yourself. This could be using zoom. It is not to test your technology skills, but your confidence, having your camera on, as the experience is very likely to be virtual.
• Consultation with InternMatch towards being matched
• Interview with a host organisation
• Successful applicants complete the short voluntary placement

Note regarding your visa

As an international student on a student visa, it is important that you understand and have an awareness of any restrictions you need to follow on your student visa. It is the responsibility of applicants on a visa to ensure they comply with their visa requirements. Visit the International Student Team (IST) website on Working during your Studies

The work experience team at Careers Network are working in collaboration with InternMatch and may be in contact with you about your experience. Do get in touch if you have any questions about this programme.

 The University of Birmingham has a data sharing agreement with InternMatch. To find out how InternMatch uses your data, please view their privacy notice on InternMatch’s website.

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.

Job Search (UK and International)

Events and Appointments

• Attend our Top Tips for Job Searching event to help you get started
• 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

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.  

Login (studentcircus.com). Register for your Student Circus account using your UoB student or alumni email address.

Finding Jobs in the UK: Specialist advice and resources

When you are considering your future career in the UK, graduate schemes or jobs in large companies aren’t your only option; small and medium sized companies (known as SMEs) are also a great option. Jobs in SMEs often allow you to gain experience in a range of different business functions and may provide opportunities to progress more quickly.  

• Working in the UK: Answers to International Students’ Frequently Asked Questions produced by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS)
• TargetJobs Guide to Job Hunting for International Students

Finding Jobs outside the UK: Specialist advice and resources

• 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

Careers Network offers information and advice to help you consider further study options.

• 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.

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. They deliver regular workshops on Graduate Route Visa and Student Route Visa (for continuing students) routes. To find out more and to book onto one of these events, visit our Events page.

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.

• Graduate Route (Formerly Post-Study Work Visa) - The Graduate route is for those who have a degree or other relevant qualification from an approved UK Higher Education provider. Applications opened on 1 July 2021. Your application does not need sponsorship or any endorsement by an employer or by your institution.
• Skilled Worker Route (Formerly Tier 2 Working Visa) - In order to apply under the Skilled Worker route you need sponsorship by a licensed employer to do a specific job that meets minimum levels of skill and salary. Ensure the employers have visa sponsor licence before you make job applications.
• Start Up and Innovator Schemes - The Start-up route is aimed at people, including those with Tier 4, Student and Graduate route permission, who wish to establish a business in the UK, and who have a business plan endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body.

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.