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Academic and Research roles

All following job categories/roles are eligible for a Skilled Worker visa.

The terminology for each job role used below is taken from the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, developed by the Office for National Statistics. The SOC Codes are used to determine eligibility for a Skilled Worker Visa.

For University purposes, please choose a job category below to see specific examples of equivalent job roles/job titles at the University, and receive guidance on whether those roles would meet minimum salary requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa. 

  • Where a role below is denoted as meeting minimum salary requirements, the individual applying for the Skilled Worker Visa will be able to score the required 20 points based on salary.
  • Alternatively, where a minimum salary figure is specifically stated you must check if the salary offered to the individual would meet this minimum amount in order for the individual to score 20 points for salary.
  • In some cases, certain roles can benefit from a lower salary due to the individual holding a STEM or non-STEM PhD relevant to the job. This is only relevant for jobs in certain SOC Codes. Where this is applicable, it is for you as the recruiting department to determine if the PhD is relevant to the job, by way of the recruitment process.
  • Where any given role will be undertaken part-time, please contact the HR Compliance Team to verify if the pro-rata salary will meet minimum requirements for a Skilled worker Visa.

 

All 'generic' postdoctoral research roles (SOC 2119)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?
  • Research Assistant
  • Research Associate/Fellow
  • Research Nurse
  • Senior Research Associate
  • Any postdoc holding an individual fellowship (e.g. Marie Curie, Leverhulme, Smuts etc.)

(Alternatively, you may wish to use SOC Codes 2111-2114 for postdoc roles according to their specific research discipline/field, as below).

2119

Grades 7 and 9, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

Grade 5, on a 37 hour per week contract: minimum salary would have to be £34,139, unless:

  • The “new entrant” salary rules apply, in which case all salary spine points of Grade 5 would meet minimum salary requirements; or
  • The individual holds a STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £27,311; or
  • The individual holds a non-STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £30,725.

 

Chemical Scientists (SOC 2111)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?

Any research field-specific Research Assistant, Research Associate/Fellow or Senior Research Associate role can be classified under this code, where code 2119 is not used.

2111

Grades 5, 7 and 9, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

 

Biological Scientists and Biochemists (SOC 2112)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?

Any research field-specific Research Assistant, Research Associate/Fellow or Senior Research Associate role can be classified under this code, where code 2119 is not used.

2112

Shortage occupation role

All roles defined under this SOC code are classed as "Shortage Occupation".

Grades 5, 7 and 9, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements on account of being classed as a shortage occupation. 'New entrant' salary rules are not applicable.

 

Physical Scientists (SOC 2113)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?

Any research field-specific Research Assistant, Research Associate/Fellow or Senior Research Associate role can be classified under this code, where code 2119 is not used.

2113

Grade 9, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

Grades 5 and 7, on a 37 hour per week contract: minimum salary would have to be £32,166, unless:

  • The “new entrant” salary rules apply, in which case all salary spine points of Grade 5 would meet minimum salary requirements; or
  • The individual holds a STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £25,733; or
  • The individual holds a non-STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £28,949.

 

Social and Humanities Scientists (SOC 2114)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?

Any research field-specific Research Assistant, Research Associate/Fellow or Senior Research Associate role can be classified under this code, where code 2119 is not used.

2114

Grades 5, 7 and 9, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

 

Higher Education Teaching Professionals (SOC 2311)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?
  • Teaching Associate
  • Senior Teaching Associate
  • University Lecturer
  • University Senior Lecturer
  • Reader*
  • Professor*

* Please consider Global Talent in the first instance.

2311

Grades 9, 11 and 12, on a 37 hour per week contract: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

Grades 5 and 7, on a 37 hour per week contract: minimum salary would have to be £40,651, unless:

  • The “new entrant” salary rules apply, in which case all salary spine points of Grades 5 and 7 would meet minimum salary requirements; or
  • The individual holds a STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £32,521; or
  • The individual holds a non-STEM PhD relevant to the job; the minimum payable salary would be £36,586.

 

Research and Development Managers (SOC 2150)
Example job roles SOC code Can the role meet minimum salary requirements?
  • Research Facility Manager/Director
  • Research Training Network Manager

2150

Grade 8 and above, on a contract of either 36.5 or 37 hours per week: all salary spine points will automatically meet minimum salary requirements without the need to 'trade' salary points.

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