Immigration Rules Appendix Government Authorised Exchange schemes
The Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange route is for a person who wishes to come to the UK on one of the approved schemes listed below.
The Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange route is for a person who wishes to come to the UK on one of the approved schemes listed below.
The Immigration Rules governing Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange applications can be found at Appendix Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange.
| Name of scheme | Scheme summary | Sponsor | Type of scheme and maximum period of time permitted | Area of UK covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIESEC internships | The scheme is part of AIESEC’s global exchange programme in which 4,000 graduates participate every year. It develops the leadership skills of recent graduates from overseas, with typically at least a years’ experience in management (marketing, finance, sales), technical (IT, engineering) and development (charity) through work with UK companies and organisations. | AIESEC | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| BAE Systems Training, Intern and Graduate Programme | Programme designed to allow individuals to train alongside BAE Systems in the UK. | BAE systems | Research and training programme. Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Bar Council | The scheme is an umbrella for three types of programmes involving overseas law, overseas students and lawyers undertaking pupillages (both funded and unfunded) and mini pupillages within barristers chambers and other legal training programmes. | Bar Council | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| BNSC Satellite KHTT Programme | A secondment programme for employees of foreign space agencies to undertake practical training and work experience working alongside specialist UK staff | British National Space Centre (DBIS) | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| BUNAC Blue Card Internships – ‘Intern in Britain’ | The BUNAC Blue Card Internships scheme provides a well-controlled pathway for a wide range of organisations in the UK to offer and to benefit from work experience opportunities (internships) for eligible students and recent graduates. | BUNAC | Work experience programme. Maximum 12 months. | All UK |
| Chatham House Fellowship | The scheme provides opportunities for overseas government and non-government experts, drawn from policy communities, the private sector, academia and civil society, to participate in and undertake research at Chatham House relevant to their government or non-government area(s) of expertise. | The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) | Research & Training Programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Chevening and Marshall Sherfield Fellowships Programmes | This scheme accommodates two separate scholarship programmes: 1) Chevening Programme – used by scholars and researchers attending the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and the Clore Leadership programme and 2) The Marshall Sherfield Fellowships Programme – an annual scheme whereby the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission awards Marshall Sherfield Fellowships to Scientists and Engineers from the United States of America, in order for them to undertake post-doctoral research at a British Research Institute or University for a period of one to two years. | British Council | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| China-UK Mandarin teachers scheme | The scheme is part of the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation’s global exchange programme through which it sponsors volunteer and professional Mandarin teachers to undertake placements at Confucius institutes and classrooms in the UK, and at institutions in the UK which are covered by China-UK’s teaching exchange programme. It is also used to sponsor co-directors to manage the programme in the UK and undertake some language teaching if needed. These roles are not filling vacancies. The scheme aims to build and/or enhance foreign language skills and foster good cultural relations between the UK and China. | The Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, UK | Overseas Government language programme. Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan | This is an annual scheme made available to developing Commonwealth countries by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission. Participants undertake academic, medical or professional research fellowships. | Association of Commonwealth Universities | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Defence Academy | Research and training programme. | Defence Academy | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Diplomatic Missions Interns Scheme | The scheme provides opportunities for nationals of countries that have a Memorandum of Understanding currently in place with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to complete a short-term work experience placement in a UK-based diplomatic mission or consular post or (only where the sending state is also a member state of the European Union) the headquarters of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. | Diplomatic missions or consular posts, or the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that has a Memorandum of Understanding currently in place with the FCDO regarding their participation in this scheme | Work experience programme, Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| Engineering work placement scheme | This scheme offers overseas engineering students (both undergraduates and graduates) short work experience opportunities with engineering companies in the UK. | Twin Training International | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | UK |
| Finance Ministries and Central Banks scheme | This scheme accommodates three secondment programmes from finance ministries and central banks. 1) The Central Banks and Finance Ministries Exchange Programme – enabling employees of other central banks, financial institutions and finance ministries to undertake a work placement at the Bank of England or His Majesty’s Treasury; 2) The Bank of England PhD Internships Programme – enabling economists to undertake research placements; 3) the Houblon-Norman and George Fellowships Programme – enabling fellows to undertake research placements on economic or financial topics. | HM Treasury | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Foreign Language Assistants Programme | Working with partner organisations overseas to provide opportunities for young people to work as language assistants in the UK, the programme aims to improve both the language ability of the assistants and students in addition to expanding their cultural awareness. | British Council Wales British Council Scotland British Council British Council Northern Ireland | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| Future technology research and innovation scheme | Supporting the development of the critical technologies specified in the UK’s Science & Technology Framework and delivery of the AI Futures programme, this scheme allows research interns and sponsored researchers to come to the UK to work on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, engineering biology, semiconductors, or future telecommunications in eligible organisations. The scheme covers both the research and training and the work experience programmes – the programme type must be specified by the licenced organisation as part of the visa application. |
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the organisations that meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria | Research and training programme. Maximum 24 months Work experience programme Maximum 12 months |
All UK |
| Glasgow Caledonian University International exchange programme | To offer students, through the exchange programme, work experience, cultural diversity and personal development to strengthen their employability. | Glasgow Caledonian University | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | Scotland |
| GTI intern scheme | Designed for employers, the GTI Intern programme is a government approved scheme which allows graduates and undergraduates to gain intern experience working within UK industry. It provides organisations with the scope to include the brightest and best global talent on their internship programmes in the UK | GTI Recruiting Solutions | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| International Horticulture Scheme | This is an international horticultural and education skills development and exchange scheme designed to develop practical skills and to further academic studies within the designated establishments of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Royal Horticultural Society. | Lantra | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | Gardens or establishments linked to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens. |
| International Internship Scheme | A scheme for young people and future business leaders to experience working for a UK company which, as they develop in their careers, may encourage investment into the UK and the forging of international partnerships with multinational companies in the UK and abroad. | Fragomen LLP | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| International Optometrists Scheme | Scheme for registration for optometry graduates with a 2.2 degree or above. The scheme ensures they have the knowledge and skills to enter the General Optical Council’s (GOC) Register and practise optometry without supervision. | College of Optometrists | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Khebrat Leadership for Change Programme | This scheme enables Saudi Arabian educational professionals to undertake professional learning experience in the UK, through the Saudi national Khebrat programme. | British Council | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| Law Society GAE scheme for migrant lawyers | This scheme for overseas lawyers is open to law firms based in England and Wales. It covers placements, internships and secondments offered to lawyers and law students from other countries coming to the UK for primarily non-economic purposes for limited periods to share knowledge, experience and best practice. | The Law Society of England and Wales | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | England and Wales |
| Medical Training Initiative | The scheme allows post-graduate medical graduates to undertake a fixed period of training or development in the UK, normally within the NHS. It covers all schemes and arrangements sponsored or administered by the medical royal colleges and similar organisations for the training of overseas doctors. MTI placements are temporary and require the approval of the employer and the local postgraduate dean of the relevant medical royal college. | Academy of Medical Royal Colleges | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| Medical Training Initiative for Dentistry | International Training Fellows: the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) of the Royal College of Surgeons of England is able to sponsor suitably qualified postgraduate dentists to come to the UK for clinical training in an approved hospital training post. | The Royal College of Surgeons of England | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | England |
| Mountbatten Programme | Provides work experience to help people build their business networks. | Mountbatten Institute | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| NIM China Secondee Programme | Secondment scheme for staff from the National Institute of Metrology (China) to work in the UK | LGC Ltd | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | All UK |
| NPL Guest Worker and Secondment Scheme | This reciprocal scheme aims to encourage closer collaboration between UK and overseas organisations interested in metrology by allowing scientists, industrial experts and students to undertake placements with the NPL. | National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Management Limited | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | England |
| The Ofgem International Staff Exchange Scheme | A scheme to promote cooperation and mutual understanding between Ofgem and similar regulatory agencies overseas | Office of Gas & Electricity Markets (Ofgem) | Work experience programme Maximum 12 months | England |
| Serious Fraud Office | This is an exchange programme between the Serious fraud Office and law enforcement partners in overseas jurisdictions. The programme will help to promote greater co-operation with investigations, and to share and develop investigative techniques and approaches in the fight against fraud and corruption in the UK and overseas. | Serious Fraud Office | Work experience Maximum 12 months | UK |
| Sponsored Researchers | A scheme to enable higher education institutions to engage with sponsored researchers. Sponsored researchers include academics, researchers, scientists, research engineers or other skilled research technology specialists who will be hosted at the sponsoring higher education institution in a supernumerary role. The sponsored researcher may give lectures (which does not amount to a formal teaching post), act as an examiner, undertake skill development/knowledge transfer, undertake a period of work-based training/work experience/internship/placement or work on research collaborations. Institutions do not need individual support from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy or the Department for Education to operate this scheme. | Higher education institutions | Research and training programme. Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| UK Research and Innovation – Science, Research and Academia | A scheme to enable UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to engage with sponsored researchers within its own organisation as well as endorsing Independent Research Organisations and Public Sector Research Establishments who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria | UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the organisations that meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria | Research & Training Programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |
| US-UK Education Commission (also known as the US-UK Fulbright Commission) | To foster mutual understanding between the US and the UK through academic exchange by the awarding of merit based scholarships. | US-UK Education Commission (also known as the US-UK Fulbright Commission) | Research and training programmes Maximum 24 months | All UK |