This policy defines how international student admissions will be handled to ensure compliance with UK Home Office immigration rules. This includes instances where students will require Student route visa support, and the checks that are in place to ensure eligibility before CAS issuance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.1 The University of Gloucestershire (UoG) can only accept students who have, or are able to obtain, valid permission to study in the UK. There are various types of leave which permit study, the main category of student leave being Student route. The University is licensed to provide Student route sponsorship for students studying on-site on UoG programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.2 Eligible students requiring Student route visa sponsorship will be issued with a CAS number when they are made an unconditional offer and after all necessary CAS documentation checks have been satisfied. The CAS will be issued to the student no longer than 6 months before the start of the course, and cannot be used as part of a visa application until 6 months before the course start date, as per Home Office guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.3 Eligible continuing students requiring a visa extension should complete a CAS Request form and submit this to the International Student Services Team. In all cases, the student must attend a visa extension workshop and have their application checked for validity prior to the CAS being issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.4 Students who intend to enrol under another visa category will need to provide evidence that they hold a visa which permits study at the admissions stage. This must then be verified in person at enrolment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.5 Students who have evidenced that they have leave under another visa category will not be subject to the various checks listed in this policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
| <\/th> | Action<\/th> | Person Responsible<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1<\/td> | Student submits an application and supporting documents<\/td> | Student<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 2<\/td> | Application record created If Student route visa support is needed, the student is contacted to provide additional information and documentation required to determine Student route visa eligibility. Some initial checks are of eligibility are conducted at this stage. If Short-Term-Student visa support is needed, the student is contacted to provide additional information and documentation required to determine eligibility for an STS visa support letter.<\/td> | Administrator (Admissions) Secondary checks made by International Student Services Team<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 3<\/td> | English language certification verified online where possible. All English language documentation must be in accord with the University\u2019s English Language Policy for International Student Admission<\/td> | Administrator (Admissions)<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 4<\/td> | Application referred to Admissions tutor as necessary. Some courses require interview or submission of portfolio<\/td> | Admissions Tutor (in Faculty)<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 5<\/td> | Conditional offer issued, or application rejected<\/td> | Administrator (Admissions)<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 6<\/td> | Student satisfies conditions of academic offer<\/td> | Student<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 7<\/td> | Unconditional offer issued Conditions of enrolment are published online via the Applicant Portal<\/td> | Administrator (Admissions)<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 8<\/td> | Student pays a \u00a34,000 deposit for a CAS<\/td> | Student<\/td><\/tr> |
| Step 9<\/td> | Full Student route\/STS support eligibility checked and CAS\/STS letter issued if successful<\/td> | International Student Services Team<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Course Eligibility for Student Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n3.1 Students requiring a Student route visa can only be admitted onto courses which satisfy the following criteria: 3.2 Student route visa sponsorship will only be given to students admitted onto UoG validated programmes and taught on a UoG site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Admissions Documentation for Student Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n4.1 Copies of the following documents are required prior to an unconditional offer being issued for Student route students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Academic Qualifications 4.2 Student route visa sponsorship will only be given to students who have satisfied UoG Admissions entry criteria. Students must be able to show final, conferred results and must have a copy of the official final certificate or transcript when applying for Student route. Provisional results will not be accepted, per UK Home Office immigration rules. At the University\u2019s discretion, a portfolio of work, previous work experience, references and interviews may be used to assess academic capability on the course. All admission documentation, including academic certificates, transcripts and English language qualifications must be provided for verification during enrolment. Failure to supply this documentation within a reasonable timeframe, or any indication of fraud, may result in withdrawal from the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. English Language Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n5.1 Students must demonstrate that their English language ability is sufficient to successfully complete the intended course of study. Student route applicants must be at CEFR B2 or above (unless studying a pre-sessional English course or a foundation level programme, where the requirement is CEFR B1). A list of acceptable English language qualifications and the level that must be obtained is published on the University\u2019s Visa\u2019s and Immigration webpage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Deposit and Fees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n6.1 In all cases, students must pay international fees, except where there is documented proof that they are entitled to pay the home fee rate. Student route students will be expected to pay a \u00a34,000 deposit prior to CAS issuance. 50% of the remaining fee (what is left after the CAS deposit payment) will be due at enrolment. The second half of the fee must be paid when due part way through the academic year. The University does not generally allow payment plans. It is expected that Student route students will be using the finances evidenced for their CAS to pay for their tuition and maintenance in the UK. Failure to pay tuition fees when due may result in being blocked from enrolment and\/or withdrawal from the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6.2 Students must clear all debts to the university before any new of further visa sponsorship is given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Academic Progression for Student Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n7.1 Students who have already studied in the UK can only be admitted onto a new course when academic progression (as defined by the UK Home Office Student Route sponsor guidance) can be demonstrated. Academic progression is normally shown where the new course is at a higher NQF Level than the previous course e.g. Bachelors degree (NQF 6) to Masters degree (NQF 7). Study at the same level may in some instances be allowed, but only at the discretion of the International Student Services Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7.2 Students who have failed to complete the previous course for which they were granted Student route leave are required to return home and apply to the University of Gloucestershire International Student Services Team for a CAS. The International Student Services Team will then make a credibility assessment of the student\u2019s application to ensure the student would not be refused on credibility grounds. To satisfy the credibility assessment, the student should adhere to the previously mentioned academic progression rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7.3 A CAS will not be issued when: 7.4 Ultimately it is the Home Office\u2019s decision as to whether the progression justification given on a CAS statement is sufficient for the approval of a Student route student visa. The University of Gloucestershire does not have control over these decisions. This means that any application where the course is at the same level of study poses a risk of visa refusal which would be detrimental to the student, as well as a risk to the University\u2019s status as a registered Student route sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Previous Study in the UK for Student Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n8.1 The amount of time that Student route students can spend studying in the UK is limited. Admission cannot be offered to any student who would exceed this limit by the end of the normal duration of the course. Students are required to provide evidence of all previous study in the UK in order for the permitted duration of study to be assessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Intent to Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n9.1 Students must demonstrate that they have a genuine intent to study. This is normally assessed via the personal statement contained within the application form. Students should detail their interest in the course and why they wish to study in the UK. Generic statements will not be accepted. This assessment will be ongoing throughout the students Student route sponsorship. If the University have reason to believe that a student does not have a genuine intent to study, then Student route visa sponsorship may be withdrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n10.1 Any students who require ATAS will be identified by Admissions during their initial application. Any students who need to extend their visa to study in the UK will be identified as requiring ATAS when CAS\/Immigration checks are being conducted. The University will not issue a CAS to any student who requires ATAS and is unable to provide a valid clearance certificate. ATAS for non-Student route students are also being monitored and kept on file. More information on ATAS can be found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. Length of Student Route Visa Sponsorship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n11.1 Students will be issued with a CAS Statement up to 6 months prior to, and no later than 3 weeks before the start date of their course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11.2 Visa sponsorship will be given as follows: 11.3 This length of leave assumes the student will be starting at the beginning of the course. Applications starting part-way through the course 12. Latest CAS Request Receipt Dates for Student Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n12.1 The University must ensure that CAS are only issued to students who are reasonably able to submit a Student route application in time for the student to arrive before the latest permitted enrolment date for the course. To ensure this, the University must consider CAS request processing times (up to five working days), visa application submission, appointment booking (when applicable), document submission, visa application processing times, time for documentation and entry clearance vignette to be received and travel. Considering these areas, the University must receive notification that a CAS is being requested for an overseas visa application generally five weeks prior to the latest acceptance date. View the list of latest dates for receipt of a CAS request<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12.2 The student must submit a CAS Request Form (via the CAS Shield system), as well as ALL necessary supporting documentation and have an unconditional offer which is firmly accepted, before the latest date of CAS request receipt. If any necessary documentation is not submitted at this time, then a CAS request may not be issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12.3 Students who are willing to submit a priority Student route visa application (where possible) will be permitted to submit all of the above up to four weeks prior to the course start date. A priority visa application is expected to have a decision within 10 days. Students who are willing to submit a super-priority may be permitted further time to submit the above at the discretion of the International Student Services Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12.4 Students submitting visa applications from within the UK must do so via an appointment with the University\u2019s Visa Advice Service. To ensure availability before the latest course start date, this appointment (and CAS request submission) should be made at least two weeks before the latest enrolment date for the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12.5 In cases where a chargeback of any payments is initiated after a CAS has been issued, the University will immediately withdraw the CAS and its visa sponsorship. This behaviour is considered to be deceptive, and seriously undermines student credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13.1 Before assigning and issuing a CAS, the University must be satisfied that: 14.1 All international students will be blocked from completing enrolment until their passport and visa has been checked by a member of the International Student Services Team. New students holding a visa valid to study at the university will be permitted to enrol after their documents have been checked and copied. The enrolment block will only be removed once the legal right to study in the UK can be established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 14.2 The following visa categories are valid for full-time study at UoG: 14.3 Students who have submitted a Student route visa extension application under University of Gloucestershire sponsorship, or an application under another category valid for study, prior to the start of the course will be permitted to enrol providing they show copies of their passport and previous visa and the original letter from the Home Office confirming receipt of the application. The student must show the original visa to the International Student Services Team within 10 days of it being issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 14.4 Students who fail to produce their original passport and valid visa will not be permitted to enrol (except where these documents are with the Home Office as above). Such students will not be permitted to attend their course, and will be reported to the Home Office where appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n |