If you are interested in applying for a Tier 1 (General) visa (previously HSMP), use our Tier 1 visa points calculator to see how many points you might score.
Qualifications
Applicants can claim points for the educational qualifications which are considered equivalent to UK standards. Points are awarded according to the level of the qualification obtained and are as follows for most scenarios:
| Qualification | Points |
| Bachelor's Degree or equivalent | 30 |
| Master's Degree or equivalent | 35 |
| PhD | 45 |
The followng points in the table below will apply to your qualifications if you are currently on:
- HSMP and you need an extension under Tier 1 (General),
- a Self-employed Lawyer visa,
- a Writers visa,
- a Composers visa,
- an Artists visa, or
- Tier 1 (General) and need an extension, where you applied for your initial Tier 1 (General) visa before 6 April 2010.
| Qualification | Points |
| Bachelor's Degree or equivalent | 30 |
| Master's Degree or equivalent | 35 |
| PhD | 50 |
If you are currently on Tier 1 (General) and you need an extension, and you applied for your initial Tier 1 (General) visa between 31 March 2009 and 5 April 2010, then you will not receive any points for a Bachelors degree at extension time.
Qualifications gained in the UK
In addition to these points, applicants may be eligible for a further 5 points where they can show proof of a qualification gained whilst in the United Kingdom. The qualification must be at the level of a UK degree. The course undertaken would have to be a full time course, lasting at least one full academic year.
Note that if 5 points are gained in the earnings section, for UK earnings, then the applicant cannot claim an additional 5 points for UK education experience.
English language
The Language requirement requires a pass mark of ten and skilled migrants applying in this category must be able to demonstrate one of the following:
- The applicant has passed a test in the English equivalent to level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework for Language Learning (equivalent to a grade C or above at GCSE level);
- The applicant comes from a majority English speaking country (Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA);
- The applicant has obtained an academic qualification (not a professional or vocational qualification) that is equivalent to either a UK Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD level qualification, from an educational establishment in a majority English speaking country (Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA); or
- Have completed a degree taught in English, in any country in the world.
