Move to the UK Without Sponsorship: The HPI Visa for NUS & NTU Graduates

If you graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) or Nanyang Technological University (NTU) within the last five years, you may already be eligible to live and work in the UK — without a job offer.

This is one of the most underutilised UK immigration routes among Singapore-based applicants.

See the requirements

What is the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa?

The HPI visa is a UK immigration route that allows recent graduates from top-ranked global universities to live and work freely in the UK — without needing an employer, a job offer, or any form of sponsorship.

Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, where a UK employer must sponsor you before you can apply, the HPI visa puts you in control. You can arrive in the UK, enter the job market, and build your career on your own terms.

  1. Graduate in Singapore
    NUS or NTU degree
  2. Apply for HPI visa
    No job offer needed
  3. Arrive in the UK
    Unrestricted work rights
  4. Build your career
    Transition to Skilled Worker

Why this route is particularly valuable for Singapore graduates

The UK Government publishes a limited global list of approved universities for the HPI visa each year. The list is selective — and very few Asian universities appear on it.

Both National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) are currently recognised on the UK HPI Global Universities List.

This places Singapore graduates in a strategically advantageous position compared to the vast majority of applicants across Asia — most of whom have no equivalent direct route to the UK.

Note: eligibility is strictly tied to the year your degree was awarded. The list applicable to your application must match your award date — this is one of the most common sources of error in HPI applications.

Do you qualify? The five requirements

All five of the following criteria must be met. Passportia will assess each in detail before advising you to proceed.

  1. Eligible qualification
    You must hold a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree awarded within the last five years.
  2. Eligible university — the critical requirement
    Your university must appear on the UK HPI Global Universities List for the year your degree was awarded. For Singapore applicants, this typically means NUS or NTU.
    Being an NUS or NTU graduate alone is not sufficient — the list year must match your award date.
  3. Ecctis verification
    You must obtain a statement from Ecctis confirming your qualification is equivalent to a UK degree and, where applicable, that it satisfies English language requirements. This is a mandatory evidential step in most cases.
  4. English language requirement
    You must meet the UKVI English language standard. This is usually satisfied through:
    • A degree taught in English (confirmed via Ecctis), or
    • An approved English language test, where required
  5. Financial requirement
    You must demonstrate that you hold at least £1,270 in accessible funds, maintained for 28 consecutive days. Funds must be held in your name (or a joint account where applicable).

 

How long does the HPI visa last?

The visa is granted for a fixed period depending on your level of qualification.

  • 2 years
    Bachelor's or Master's degree
    Full work rights throughout. No restrictions on employment type or sector.
  • 3 years
    PhD or Doctorate
    Extended period reflecting the higher qualification level.

End-to-end support from Passportia

Our approach is strategic, not transactional. We assess your full immigration pathway — not just the immediate application — so that every step supports your long-term goals in the UK.

  1. 01
    Eligibility assessment
    We verify whether your degree year aligns with the correct HPI list and confirm all five eligibility criteria are met.
  2. 02
    English language review
    We assess whether Ecctis verification covers your English language requirement or whether a test is needed.
  3. 03
    Financial evidence
    We ensure your maintenance funds are correctly evidenced and meet the 28-day requirement in full.
  4. 04
    Application preparation
    We prepare and submit your complete visa application, including any dependant applications.
  5. 05
    Long-term strategy
    We advise on your next immigration step — typically transitioning to the Skilled Worker visa and the route to settlement.
  6. 06
    Dependant applications
    We support applications for eligible family members to accompany or join you in the UK.

I wanted my children to have British passports, which have arrived. After years of frustration and bad advice I came across Passportia. They presented a legal opinion to the UK Home Office who eventually accepted my children were British citizens. I can really recommend Passportia.

H.R. - Botswana