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

Got any questions? Contact the Enterprise team (beepurple)

What is the Start-Up Visa Scheme?

The scheme allows those with an innovative, viable and scalable business idea to develop a new business in Sussex.

Advice and guidance is provided during business development by beepurple, the university’s entrepreneurship support service.

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

Endorsements are issued for two years. Only those ideas which fulfil the requirements of being innovative, viable and scalable will be considered for endorsement. 

The Home Office has provided the following descriptions to help you to ensure that your business idea meets their criteria:

Innovation - the applicant has a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage.

Viability - the applicant has or is actively developing the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run the business.

Scalability - there is evidence of structured planning and potential for job creation and growth into national markets.

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 £945 in savings in your bank account for 90 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, viable and scalable 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 Enterprise 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 Enterprise 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 Skype.
  • Your pitch will be followed by 10-minute question and answer session, facilitated by the Enterprise Team. 

The Enterprise 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 Enterprise 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.