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International student entrepreneurs
Are you an international (non-European) student entrepreneur? Then read on to find out about staying in the UK to run your business after you graduate.
The UK Government has recently launched the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category to allow recent international (non-European) graduates, identified by UK higher education institutions as having developed world class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish a business in the UK.
The University of Exeter can recommend to the UK Border Agency up to 10 of its recent international graduates for a visa under the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route. Visas are valid for 12 months, with the possibility of renewal for a further 12 months.
The University of Exeter expects any student applying to obtain for a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa to be able to demonstrate engagement with an appropriate range of activities during the period in which the candidate is registered as a student.
In order to be able to demonstrate a sustainable interest in becoming an entrepreneur, a student must have engaged with at least four of the following activities and be able to reflect upon how these have influenced their development as an entrepreneur:
1) Engagement in extra-curricular activities:
a. Attending a business strategy competition (XING game) or other business game
b. Participation in a business competition (e.g. IBM Universities Business Challenge)
c. Being mentored by an entrepreneurial mentor as part of the Career Mentor Scheme
d. Attending an enterprise skills workshop:
i. Introduction to entrepreneurship
ii. The Business Plan
iii. Strategic Marketing for a new business
iv. Social Entrepreneurship
v. HMRC or Companies House sessions
vi. IP and Commercialisation
e. Attending a talk by an Entrepreneurial Guest Speaker
f. Active engagement with one of the following enterprising societies:
i. Exeter Entrepreneurs
ii. ENACTUS
iii. Bright Futures
iv. Be the change
g. Drop-in sessions with the University's Entrepreneur in Residence OR Work-Related Learning Officer (Enterprise)
h. Researcher Development Programme:
i. Could you be an entrepreneur?
ii. Could you be a social entrepreneur?
i. Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme
j. SETsquared partnership activities
k. Innovation Club workshops
2) Undertaking entrepreneurship modules for academic credit (largely, but not exclusively, based in the Business School):
a. Undergraduate modules focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship (e.g. Could You be an Entrepreneur? (BEM2010); Co-operative Enterprise (BEM3038)); Law and Business Enterprise (LAW2003))
b. Undergraduate dissertation focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship
c. Masters Level modules focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship (e.g. Entrepreneurship: Genesis and Growth of the New Enterprise (BEMM715); The Creative Organisation (BEMM162); Entrepreneurship: New Venture Development (BEMM108))
d. Masters Level dissertation focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship
e. PhD focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship
f. One Planet MBA modules focussed on enterprise and entrepreneurship (e.g. Entrepreneurship: Starting Successful New Ventures (MBAM815); Strategic and Responsible Innovation Management MBAM809))
This list is not exhaustive; other relevant activities will be taken into consideration if you can articulate why they support your thinking as an entrepreneur.
Please note that before you apply, you must read the full details of UKBA Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) policy guidance on the UKBA website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier1/graduate-entrepreneur/.
For visa advice, including Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, students should get in touch with International Student Support: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/internationalstudents/
