Can You Apply Without a Degree in 2025?

Can You Apply Without a Degree in 2025? The answer is more encouraging than it might seem. While the landscape has shifted, the journey is not closed to those without a university degree. Instead, it has grown to recognise that achievement comes in many forms. Professional qualifications, industry-recognised certifications, or even years of dedicated work experience can all stand as valuable proof of your skills.

This approach means that applicants who have carved out their expertise in practical ways still have a chance to shine. It highlights that success isn’t limited to a classroom or a degree scroll—it can be reflected in the skills you’ve mastered, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the professional recognition you’ve earned along the way.

Far from shutting doors, these changes encourage a broader view of talent. They invite applicants to think about the paths they’ve taken, and to step forward with confidence, knowing that determination, skill, and experience can carry just as much weight as formal study.

What’s Changing in 2025?

On 22 July 2025, the UK government raised the skill threshold for the Skilled Worker visa from RQF Level 3–5 (roughly A-level or diploma level) to RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree). This shift means that many roles previously eligible for sponsorship are now off-limits—even if you have relevant experience—unless they’re on the newly introduced Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

1. From 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker roles must generally be at RQF Level 6 (graduate level); jobs below that level may still qualify only if they are included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or the Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

2. If a role is included on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or the Immigration Salary List (ISL) and is classed as ‘medium-skilled’, new applicants in those jobs are subject to dependant restrictions — in short, partners and children cannot usually apply to join a lead applicant in those medium-skilled roles unless narrow transitional conditions apply.

3. These changes represent a tightening of the Skilled Worker route compared with the pre-July 2025 position, when jobs from RQF Level 3 upwards were more widely eligible for sponsorship; the current framework narrows general eligibility to RQF6 unless a job appears on the ISL/TSL.

Can You Apply Without a Degree?

Yes, you possibly can—but only if you can demonstrate that you meet the RQF Level 6 requirement via alternative, legitimate means, such as:

• Professional qualifications (e.g., industry-recognised certifications equivalent to a degree),
• Graduate-level certifications or diplomas.
• Work experience assessed as equivalent to Degree-level competencies,
• Or, if your job appears on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL).

These options are now subject to stricter scrutiny than before and must convincingly align with the degree-level benchmark required under the 2025 rules.

Alternative Routes to Meet the RQF Level 6 Requirement

a) Professional Qualifications & Industry Certification

Certain professional qualifications are considered equivalent to a degree under UK immigration rules—for example:

• Chartered or recognised body certifications (e.g., in accounting, engineering, IT).
• Graduate diplomas or certificates.
• Qualifications assessed by UK ENIC (formerly NARIC).

These can sometimes substitute for a university degree if they meet or surpass the academic content and rigour of RQF 6.

b) Graduate Diplomas, Certificates, & Vocational Qualifications

Qualifications such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or equivalent UK-based postgraduate-level certifications are, by definition, at RQF 6.

Vocational qualifications that reach degree level are rarer but recognised—especially if they correspond to professional or technical standards.

c) Work Experience Evaluated as Degree-Level

In exceptional cases, extensive job-specific experience, when well-documented, can be considered degree equivalent if endorsed by a recognised professional body or through assessment by the employer or via UK ENIC.

However, these routes are far from guaranteed and typically require:

• Robust documentation of tasks, responsibilities, and achievements.
• A clear mapping to degree-level learning outcomes.
• Professional endorsement or validation.

d) Temporary Shortage List (TSL) Exception

If your job appears on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), you’ll benefit from a temporary exemption from the degree-level requirement. However, dependants generally cannot join you under this route, and all occupations on the TSL are set to expire on 31 December 2026, unless the Migration Advisory Committee recommends their extension.

These roles are officially confirmed as part of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) as of July 2025:

• HR officers (Human resources and industrial relations officers)
• IT technicians, including IT operations and IT user-support technicians
• Mortgage administrators (under financial-administrative occupations)
• Creative industry professionals, such as writers, set designers, photographers, and makeup artists
• Technical roles, like lab technicians, architectural/CAD technicians, and various engineering technician positions

How This Differs from the Pre-2025 Landscape?

Before July 2025:

• Roles at RQF Level 3–5 were valid for sponsorship.
• Applicants with diplomas or lower-level qualifications could apply.
• Less rigorous documentation was required.

As of 22 July 2025:

• Only RQF Level 6 or above jobs are eligible, unless on the TSL.
• Higher salary thresholds (often around £41,700) now apply.
• The system is geared to attract higher-skilled applicants only.

Practical Steps If You Don’t Have a degree

1. Audit your qualifications: Do you hold graduate-level or professional qualifications (e.g., from chartered bodies) that can be equated to a degree?
2. Request a UK ENIC assessment: This can officially evaluate whether your credentials meet RQF Level 6.
3. Document your work experience thoroughly: If your expertise is relevant and substantial, frame it as degree-equivalent learning outcomes.
4. Check if your occupation is on the TSL: If yes, short-term eligibility may exist—but note the restrictions and impending expiry.
5. Seek professional immigration advice: Particularly if you’re using non-traditional routes, documentation must be airtight.

Why These Changes Matter?

• Stricter eligibility: Without a degree, your path is narrower and more documentation-heavy.
• Higher competition: Degree-backed candidates will increasingly dominate Skilled Worker sponsorships.
• Transition pressure: With TSL limited and expiring soon, time may be of the essence for non-degree applicants.

Conclusion!

Sometimes doors open in ways you might not expect. For some, it’s about showing the value of experience and professional growth—because the impact you’ve made can often speak louder than a degree on paper. For others, opportunities arise through temporary pathways that recognise skills needed in the moment, offering a chance to step forward when it matters most. While the process today may feel more focused and demanding, it also creates space for genuine talent, resilience, and determination to shine through. And if you’d like to keep drawing inspiration while navigating this journey, make sure to follow Skilled Worker Mag—your guide to turning challenges into opportunities.