Start-Up Visa Scheme

The University of Brighton is an endorsing university for the Start-Up Visa Scheme, through UK Visas and Immigration.

This scheme is open to international graduates of the University of Brighton.

Download the endorsement request form here

Contact the beepurple team

What is the Start-Up Visa Scheme?

The scheme allows international graduates who have an idea for an innovative business to start their own business in Sussex, UK.

In the context of the Start-Up Visa Scheme, an ‘innovative business’ is defined as something that is different from anything else available on the UK market.

Advice and guidance is provided throughout the startup process by beepurple, the university’s startup team based within the Careers & Employability Team.

The University of Brighton has 10 places to endorse each year under the scheme. The places are allocated on a first-come-first served basis and involve a two-stage process. 

Endorsements are issued for two years. 

Only those ideas which fulfil the requirements of being an innovative business will be considered for endorsement. You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements listed by the Home Office.

Who can apply?

If you are an international graduate, and have been awarded a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD, from the University of Brighton within the past three years, you are eligible to apply for the scheme.

Before applying, make sure that you have read and understood the Home Office requirements and have all required documents in place, including a bank statement showing you have had at least £1270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying.

Applicants can either be in, or outside, the UK at the time of application.

Find out more about eligibility for the Start Up Visa

What is the endorsement request process?

You should provide evidence that you have a genuine and credible business idea which meets the criteria of being innovative, and that you will spend the majority of your time working on the development of your business. 

The application process is in two stages.

Stage One

Email the following documents to the beepurple team:

The beepurple team will review all entries and offer feedback on how to improve your application (if needed).

You will make final amendments to your application paperwork based on this feedback, before resubmitting it to the beepurple team.

The Business Development Manager (Entrepreneurship) will then decide whether your application can proceed to Stage Two.

Stage Two

  •  You will be invited to deliver a 10-minute pitch, presenting your Business Model Canvas.
  •  If you are outside of the UK at the time of application, you will need to deliver a video pitch via Zoom.
  • Your pitch will be followed by 10-minute question and answer session, facilitated by the beepurple team. 

The beepurple team will score each pitch, along with each Business Model Canvas and application form, and the applicants with a score of 27 or higher will be offered an endorsement letter from the University of Brighton.

The beepurple team will provide a copy of the judging criteria and pitch scoring sheets to all applicants at the beginning of Stage Two.

Download a flowchart of the endorsement request process

What are my commitments as a successful applicant?

If you are awarded a Start-Up Visa, you must commit to:

  • Developing your business within the Sussex region.
  • Complying with the UK government’s Start-Up Visa Scheme regulations.
  • Attending a minimum of five beepurple skills development workshops.
  • Accessing the beepurple one-to-one support service every three months.
  • Enter the Enterprise Team's Ideas Competition, or the Propel Award Scheme.
  • Provide regular email or phone updates on progress to the beepurple team on your progress.

Please note, your visa will also be subject to successful visa application to UK Visas and Immigration, and compliance with their other requirements.