UKVI have confirmed that students will normally be expected to undertake their studies in the UK to be eligible for the Graduate route. However there is a concession at this time, to allow students to remain eligible for the Route even if they have spent some time studying outside the UK as a result of the pandemic.
Students who started a 12 month course in 2020 or Spring 2021
Students who began a course of 12 months or less in 2020 or Spring 2021 via distance learning, and who had not previously entered the UK to study that course would be able to make a Graduate application if they made a successful Student visa application and arrived in the UK by 27 September 2021, or before their visa expired if this was sooner.
If you already came to the UK under your current Student route permission but then you switched to distance learning from home, you just need to return to the UK before the end date of your Student permission in order to be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route.
Students who start a 12 month course in Autumn 2021 or Spring 2022
Students who begin a course of 12 months or less in Autumn 2021 or Spring 2022 via distance learning from overseas must enter the UK no later than 6 April 2022, and complete that course of study with permission as a Student to be eligible for the Graduate Route
Students who started a course at any time that is longer than 12 months:
Students sponsored for a course lasting longer than 12 months will not be prevented from being eligible for the Graduate route as a result of any distance learning that took place either in the UK or overseas between the period of 24 January 2020 and 27 September 2021, or overseas between 27 September 2021 and 6 April 2022. Remember that you must be in the UK with Student or Tier 4 immigration permission at the time of application. If your Student visa expires before 6 April 2022, you must enter the UK before your visa expires rather than 6 April 2022.
In all cases, you must meet all other eligibility criteria of the route in order to be able to apply.