International Students

As an international student studying at Aberystwyth University, you are entitled to use all the facilities of the Careers Service. We can provide help and advice to students of all subjects and nationalities about postgraduate study, choosing a career and obtaining employment and work experience.

However, it is important to be aware of the following:

• The information available is based on the UK graduate labour market, and its systems of recruitment and applications. These may differ from those in your home country.
• You will need a National Insurance Number to work in the UK, please see our leaflet for further information - How to Obtain a National Insurance Number (PDF)
• We can give you information about where you can look for a job, but the Careers Service cannot apply to employers on your behalf. In the UK, you are expected to apply for jobs yourself.
• We are happy to give advice on the structure and content of your application forms and CV, but we cannot write it for you. Neither can we do a thorough proof-reading or correct all mistakes in spelling or grammar, although we will point out any areas that need improving.
• Your application must be in your own words, and employers will expect graduates from a British university to have a good command of the English language.
• We cannot give advice about your entitlement to work in the UK - for information on this, see UKCISA and the University’s pages on visa support and advice

Plan ahead

Looking for work usually takes much longer than you expect - start as early as you can. Placements and graduate schemes are often advertised up to twelve months ahead. So if you are looking for a job or placement to begin at the end of your academic year, you will need to start looking before your academic year has even begun.

Even if it is too soon to apply to advertised opportunities, you can be identifying and researching companies in the sector you are interested in and improving your CV.

Be proactive

If you are visiting home prior to the end of your course, you might be able to organise some interviews while you are there. Most recruiters prefer to meet a potential candidate in person, if possible.

Make speculative applications in the weeks or months leading up to your visit by researching organisations that might have work in the sector you are interested in. Please see our leaflet on speculative applications for tips and advice - Speculative Applications (PDF)

To begin researching country specific information try websites such as TARGETjobs and Prospects. These also advertise placements and graduate jobs. For further useful websites have a look at our useful resources page.

Networking

If you have family and friends in your home country, make them aware of the type of work you are looking for, and where.

Some of your contacts may be in a position to offer great advice, if they have knowledge of your target sector. Even those that don't may hear of an opportunity or organisation which you could apply to.

The British Council has job clubs in many countries for people returning home after studying in the UK.