How to study in the UK (PBS TIER 4) according to the new immigration policy of the UK for 2021?
The UK is likely to receive more international students in the coming years according to the latest announced visa rules.
How the new immigration policy will impact the study permits?
Points-based system will remain intact for international students too. Having an approved education provider, English knowledge, and financial means will be key to get it done. There will be no limit on the number of international students who can come to the UK to study. The new student visa application system allows them to apply six months before they are due to start a course if they are applying from outside the UK. International students will also get an immigration route if they pass their education program in 2021 by having work permission for two years (even for looking for work) and for those having Ph.D. graduates 3 years.
The United Kingdom is an island nation in northwestern Europe, alongside England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Eire. its capital is London, an influential center of finance and culture worldwide. England is also domestic to the Neolithic Stonehenge, lavatory spa, and centuries-antique universities in Oxford and Cambridge.
Introduction to Study in the UK
The UK offers you a world-class education system with UK qualifications that can make a real difference in your career. For studying in the UK, you must:
- Have received an offer letter on a course by an authorized student sponsor
- Have enough financial funds to support you and your study expenses the amount depends on your selected course
- Have enough command on your English speaking, reading, writing, and understanding
- Get consent from your parents if you are 16 or 17 years old – you will need proof when you apply
If you are 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a child student visa instead.
In a recent survey of “Navitas Insights” (September 2020), the UK and the rest of the developed world can be viewed in two ways, depending on the classification of agents:
- Safe and stable
- Open and welcoming
While the UK lags behind New Zealand, Canada, and Australia in the ‘safe and stable’ initiative. But it is significantly better than others in terms of ‘openness and reception’. In the survey, 71% of agents agree that the UK has improved its reputation by being open and welcoming to global students. That compares to Canada at 57%, 2nd solely to Australia and New Zealand, where much less than 1/2 of surveyed agents agree. In Australia in particular, an excessive percentage of agents disagrees with the sentiment (24%)
UK study permit system
How you apply for the UK’s study permit mainly known as TIER 4 General student visa system can be categorized into the following:
- UK student visa for EU nationals
- UK student visa for non-EU nationals
1- UK student visa for those who are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. The deadline is 30 June 2021. Otherwise, you need a visa to study in the UK. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.
2- UK student visa for non-EU nationals
You can apply for the UK’s students visa as an international student under the TIER 4 general student visa stream. You can apply as soon as three months before your course starts.
Your Fees and when you can travel to the UK
If you are living outside the UK and want to apply the fees will be £348, in case you are in the UK and you want to switch your visa to a Student visa or you want to extend your visa, the cost will £ 475. You can arrive in the UK before your course starts. Read the following 2 points for when you can travel to the UK:
- If your course lasts 6 months or less, up to 1 week before that
- If your course complete longer than 6 months up to 1 month ago
How long you can live in the UK?
It depends on the course range of your curriculum and what you were studying in recent times. If you are 18 or up to 18 years of age and intend to study degree-level course, you normally you can live up to 5 years in the UK. On the other hand, if you study below degree level, you can stay up to 2 years.
Visa extension
If you want to expand your studies in the UK. You should be eligible for a visa extension. You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of the expiration of your current visa, you usually obtain the decision in 56 days approximately.
Health care charges
You have to pay health care charges with your application. How much you have to pay for the health surcharge depends on many factors such as where are you applying for your visa, your age, nationality, or applying alone or with family, etc. You can calculate here the total amount depending on your conditions. In case your PBS Tier 4 visa application is refused, the health surcharge is refunded.
As an international student in the UK under the TIER 4 stream, you cannot claim public funds (benefits) and pensions. You can’t work in some jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. You cannot be self-employed. You cannot Study in an academy or local authority funded school (also called a caring school).
Studies course
You must have an unconditional offer of placement in a course with a licensed student sponsor. To prove this, your education provider will send you a reference number (called a confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)). Once they have offered you a place along the way. you will need a CAS before applying for your visa. You need enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to prove you have this money for your visa application.
Courses level and distribution
For studying in the UK for different levels of qualification, the following are the courses in which you can take admission in:
- A part-time course leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RQF level 7 or above)
- A full-time course directing to a qualification that’s below degree level (RQF 3,4 or 5)with a minimum of 15 hours a week of standardized daytime study
- A full-time course directing to a qualification that’s degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8)
- A full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8)
- That’s equal to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as a part of a longer course overseas
- A program is designed for postgraduate doctors or dentists (A recognized foundation program)
- A language course especially an English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
If you are studying or researching sensitive topics at RQF Level 7 or above, you may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate.
- Achieve a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sub-Officer
- Applying for an extension of your stay in the Doctoral Extension Scheme – You must currently be allowed to reside in the UK on a student visa (or Tier 4 (general) student visa) and your course must include a Ph.D.
You can apply for a program that is designed for postgraduate doctors or dentists (A recognized foundation program) for this visa if you are sponsored by a recognized foundation program and you:
- Completed UK recognized degree in Medicine or dentistry and have received your degree from a registered student sponsor
- You only studied last year and at least the second year which led to this degree in the UK
What is CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)?
Once your intended institution has offered you a place in the course, they will send you a reference number that has been approved for studies in the UK. You have to enter this reference number on your visa application and you have to apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
The money you need to show (so-called bank statement)
You must have enough money to study in the UK. How much you need to show to satisfy the entry clearance officer depends on where you are staying in the UK. In this case, you will need:
- £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
- For courses outside London per applicant £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months)
If you are applying for a doctoral extension scheme, and you have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you will need to prove that you pay a total of £ 2,668 for courses in London, or a total of £2,046 for outside London If you are in a boarding a residential independent school, you will need to pay a boarding fee instead. The amount you need to pay will be on your CAS. London refers to the city of London and 32 boroughs in it. You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The 28-day deadline must be within 31 days of applying for your visa. If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you will need to provide proof from your loan or sponsorship company. Note: You do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you’re a British national overseas or from one of the following countries or territories:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
English proficiency requirements
Knowledge of English is required officially to study in the UK for TIER 4 General student visa. You must prove your knowledge of the English language when applying. You must pass the “Secure English Language Test” (SELT) in order to show your competence in the language. It must be from an approved provider. You can read, write, speak, and understand English at a certain level on the “Common European Framework of References” (CEFR) scale. For a degree level or above you need a score equivalent to CEFR level B2 and for below degree level, you need CEFR level B1. If you are studying for a degree or higher, your higher education provider (English) can self-assess your English level. They may ask you to do different tests and this attested CEFR level should be equal to B2.
People who are exempt from English language tests
You do not need to show your English proficiency levels in case:
- You are a Canadian citizen
- You are applying to come to the UK to study abroad as part of a university degree course in the United States
- You have proved your English level in the previous visa application
And if you are from the country mentioned below, you are exempt from English language requirements:
- USA
- UK
- Trinidad and Tobago
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- St Lucia
- St Kitts and Nevis
- New Zeeland
- Malta
- Jamaica
- Ireland
- Guyana
- Grenada
- Dominica
- Belize
- Barbados
- The Bahamas
- Australia
- Antigua and Barbuda
Bringing your family with you
You may be able to bring your partner and children (dependents). For doing so, you must have one of the following:
- Postgraduate Level Course (RQF Level 7 or above) full-time student lasting 9 months or more
- A government-sponsored new student with a course lasting more than 6 months
- Student of Doctoral Extension Scheme
i- Who is included in your family “Relationship description”
The dependant partner or child is one of them:
- Your spouse or civil partner
- Your unmarried partner
Your children under 18, this includes if they were born in the UK during your stay when you apply, you will need to provide evidence of your relationship such as
- Marriage or citizenship
- Certificate of your spouse
- Birth certificate of your child
ii- Financial criteria to support them
How much money they need depends on where they study. They must also have £845 per month for courses in London (up to 9 months) or £680 per month (up to 9 months) for courses outside of London. If your spouse or child is applying for you at different times (they are applying separately) they only need to prove that they have the money to support themselves. You (or your spouse or child) must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The 28-day deadline must be within 31 days of applying for your visa. If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you will need to provide proof from your loan or sponsorship company. If your debt does not fall on your spouse or child, you will need to prove that you have the money to support them. Simply is that you have to prove that you have enough extra money to support you and your dependent in the UK If your child is 16 or 17 years old at the time of your application, you have to provide evidence that they are not living an independent life, such as they are not married or in a civil partnership. You will provide evidence of where they live if they do not live with you. Furthermore, you will need to explain how they pay rent or maintenance every month. If your child lives with you, you will need to the following
- There address proof
- A bank statement credit card bills
- Driving license NHS registration document
- A formal letter from their university or college
Read more here about
Chevening Scholarships in the UK