High Potential Individual (HPI) Visas in the UK: American University Graduates
The UK government publishes a list of globally recognized Universities each year, and if you graduated from one of those institutions during the time period specified, you are eligible to apply for a High Potential Individual Visa (HPI).
An HPI Visa is pretty killer for entrepreneurs, nomads, or just those figuring things out with a little bit of savings built up because they:
- are valid for 2 years (3 years if you have a PhD)
- allow you to look for work
- allow you to travel abroad as you like
- allow you to be self-employed
Here's the list of American Universities that qualify (if you graduated between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025):
| Institution | Country |
|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | USA |
| Columbia University | USA |
| Cornell University | USA |
| Duke University | USA |
| Harvard University | USA |
| Johns Hopkins University | USA |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA |
| New York University | USA |
| Northwestern University | USA |
| Princeton University | USA |
| Stanford University | USA |
| University of California, Berkeley | USA |
| University of California, Los Angeles | USA |
| University of California, San Diego | USA |
| University of Chicago | USA |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | USA |
| University of Pennsylvania | USA |
| University of Texas at Austin | USA |
| University of Washington | USA |
| Yale University | USA |
To note, the government (at link above) has published a list each year for the past 5 years. You must have graduated from a University from the list for that year to be eligible.