From 4 November the UK Home Office has doubled the list of eligible global universities for its High Potential Individual (HPI) visa and introduced an annual cap of 8,000 places. The move opens the door for a broader pool of recent Australian graduates to live and work in Britain for two years without employer sponsorship.
Australian institutions already on the list—such as the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University—retain their status, while additional universities ranked in global top-100 tables may now qualify their alumni. The HPI route has become popular with tech start-ups seeking agile hiring; more than 12 % of the 2024 cohort were Australian nationals.
![UK High Potential Individual Visa Expands on 4 November, Creating New Path for Australian Graduates]()
Immigration advisers note the new cap could create a rush: applications will close once the quota is met, so graduates finishing in December should prepare documents early. Applicants must apply within five years of graduation and show at least £1,270 in maintenance funds.
For Australian employers, the expansion offers a cost-effective expatriation alternative to Tier 2 sponsorship: staff can enter on an HPI visa and switch to a Skilled Worker visa after securing a role, delaying sponsorship costs.
Australian institutions already on the list—such as the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University—retain their status, while additional universities ranked in global top-100 tables may now qualify their alumni. The HPI route has become popular with tech start-ups seeking agile hiring; more than 12 % of the 2024 cohort were Australian nationals.
Immigration advisers note the new cap could create a rush: applications will close once the quota is met, so graduates finishing in December should prepare documents early. Applicants must apply within five years of graduation and show at least £1,270 in maintenance funds.
For Australian employers, the expansion offers a cost-effective expatriation alternative to Tier 2 sponsorship: staff can enter on an HPI visa and switch to a Skilled Worker visa after securing a role, delaying sponsorship costs.
