Research and analysis

High Potential Individual (HPI) route evaluation

Results from a Home Office commissioned evaluation exploring the experiences and future plans of HPI visa-holders and their dependants.

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Details

The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa route is designed to attract graduates from top-rated international universities to come to the UK to drive economic growth. The route is open to those who, in the 5 years before their application, completed a qualification equivalent to a UK undergraduate or postgraduate degree at an institution listed on the government’s Global Universities List (GUL).

To understand how the route is working, the Home Office commissioned IFF Research to conduct mixed-methods research with successful HPI visa holders and their dependants. This consisted of a (mostly online) survey completed by 656 HPI visa holders and 44 qualitative interviews with HPI main visa holders and adult dependant partners. The evaluation explores why they came to the UK, their experiences of the application process, what they are doing in the UK and their plans for the future.

Updates to this page

Published 12 May 2025

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