Tier 4 Visa
information
Immigration:
Immigration control in the UK affects everyone who is not a British subject. The UK Border Agency is the Government department responsible for determining who may enter UK and for how long.
Hartpury College is a UK Border Agency Highly Trusted Sponsor
Visas:
If you are coming to study at Hartpury College and from outside the European Union you are likely to have to apply for a General Student Visa or Child Student Visa (if aged 16/17) under Tier 4, before you come to the UK. From 31 March 2009 the visa system for entry into the UK changed as part of the introduction of the Points Based Immigration System by the United Kingdom Border Agency.
Hartpury College is registered and licensed with the UK Border Agency to recruit international students.
If you apply to Hartpury/UWE to study a full time course or programme, accepted and pay 50% of your tuition fees and first installment of your accommodation fee (if applicable), then we will request a CAS number from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), (not required if British National passport holder). This is a unique number and it will be sent to you, the applicant, via a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) Certificate raised by the sponsoring institute (Hartpury/UWE). The CAS Certificate has to be used as supporting evidence when applying for a student visa (if applicable) and is worth 30 points.
Applicants wishing to study at an institute outside of London (includes Hartpury/UWE) will have to show evidence that they have £600pm (maintenance fee, which includes accommodation and other living expenses such as food, leisure activities etc.), in their or their parents Bank Account, prior to application for a visa, that will cover their first year of study.
Please visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk for further information on the change of entry requirements under the new points based system in the UK (40 points are required to be considered for a visa).
Download Advice for Student Visa
Information about working in the UK if studying for less than 6 months is available here [links to the UKCISA website]
Information on studying abroad is available here [links to the UK Visas website]
Studying up to 6 months:
A student coming to Hartpury College to study on a programme for less than 6 months, do not have to apply under Tier 4. You can enter as a Student Visitor and non-visa nationals such as USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, can simply arrive in the UK and make an immigration application as a student visitor but you will still need to show confirmation that you have been offered a place of study in UK.
With this route there are some disadvantages:
Students are not able to work whilst in the UK, paid or unpaid and will not be able to switch visa categories; for example from student visitor to a general student visa under Tier 4. You would have to return home and make a new application. It will not be possible for anyone to be admitted as the dependant of a student visitor.
Entering the UK - Immigration Control:
At passport control you should have your immigration documents available. These documents include:
- Passport
- Visa
- Letter of acceptance from Hartpury College (i.e. unconditional offer letter etc.)
Passport control have the right to ask you about Hartpury College and your course, so again be prepared to answer questions if asked. These documents will be checked and stamped by the immigration officer. After passport control, proceed to the baggage collection point for your luggage.
Medical Check:
If you were not required to have a medical before you left your home country, you could be stopped at random and asked to have an x-ray. Please be prepared for this eventuality.
On Arrival - Further Information:
When you arrive at a British airport you will probably pass through with no delays. However there are four points where it is possible for you to be detained:
- At immigration control re your passport.
- For a medical check.
- Waiting for your luggage.
At customs control they may check your baggage/luggage, if you are meeting a Hartpury College (or personal) representative, it is not always possible for them to check accurately if you have been delayed at any of these points, or even if you have been on the flight. Therefore it is essential that you inform us if you are delayed longer than the majority of other passengers. This can be done by asking the airport authorities to put out a message on the loudspeaker system in the arrival area. If the representative knows you have arrived and been delayed, he/she will wait until your hold-up has been cleared and meet you as arranged.
Our representative will wait at the arrivals exit with a Hartpury College sign.
If you should miss our representative, please go to the information desk or Meeting Point and wait there. You can ask for a message to be announced over the loudspeaker system.
Visa responsibilities:
Under this new immigration system, you the student, must submit your passport and personal identity cards to the International Manager on arrival to College or at enrolment. Hartpury College, under its UKBA licence has to take and maintain records of all international students studying with them. A record of students attendance/absence also has to be monitored and records maintained. You the student, have a responsibility to ensure you regularly attend lectures etc., as failure to comply to the requirements under your student visa will result in reporting non-compliance and your visa to remain in the UK would be cancelled.
Depending on your nationality and the immigration controls imposed upon you, once you have enrolled onto your study programme you may need to:
You do not need to register with the Police if you are on a course lasting less than six months and from a Commonwealth country, or if you are an EU/EEA national. If you are in any doubt, your passport will confirm if you need to register or not. It will be stamped quite clearly if registration is required. If you do need to register, a member of the International Team will arrange for you to do this at the local Police Headquarters. This must be done within 7 days of arrival in the UK and you will need to produce your passport and two passport photographs. The registration fee is currently £34. You are asked to carry the registration card with you at all times and you must notify Hartpury and the Police of any change of address.
- extend your 'leave to remain' in the UK
When your student visa is due to expire and you are still in study in the UK, you will need to reapply to the UK Border Agency to renew. You will not be able to renew your visa in your home country if you are still in the UK. If however, your visa expires during the summer holidays, for example, and you have returned home, then you could reapply in country during this period.
- get a visa for visiting Europe
A Schengen visa is a “visitor visa”, it is issued to citizens of countries who are required to obtain a visa before entering Europe (in addition to your UK visa). Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip.
- part-time or vacation work
International students are able to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week whilst in full time study. This is unlimited during UK holiday periods in December, April and in the summer.
The conditions covering the hours and type of work you can do, are:
- the student should not work for more than 20 hours per week during term time, except where the placement is a necessary part of their studies with the agreement of the education institution.
- the student should not engage in business, self-employment or the provision of services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer.
- the student should not pursue a career by filling a permanent, full-time vacancy.
Similarly, you are able to undertake work placements that are part of a 'sandwich course' or to undertake internship placements without the need to obtain permission.
As an overseas student you will not be able to claim Government help such as Housing Benefit, Income Support, Child Benefit, etc.
Married Couples
You can bring your husband or wife and any children under 18 to the United Kingdom during your studies as long as you can support and accommodate them without help from public funds.
Your husband or wife will also be eligible to work if you were given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for 12 months or more.
Additional Information - Drugs and Smoking
It is illegal to bring drugs into the UK. However, you may carry small amounts of prescribed medicines for your own use.
There is a smoking ban in all public indoor spaces in the UK. You must obey no-smoking signs in cafes, restaurants and on public transport. In company it is now considered rude to start smoking without asking the people you are with if they would mind. Smoking in all indoor public places is also banned such as; cinemas, public transport, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. All buildings at Hartpury campus have a non-smoking policy - you must use the designated smoking areas. The smoking of any illegal substances such as marijuana etc. will not be tolerated.
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