International Students

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International Students

The College welcomes applications from candidates educated in other countries onto our Further and Higher Education Courses.

We would like to offer the following information/advice in relation to courses, fees, visas and qualifications as you will need to provide us with further information about yourself to support your visa application and to begin/continue your studies at the college.

Points-Based Immigration arrangements

The UK Government is reviewing its immigration arrangements for students and a new system of "Points Based Immigration" will apply to students from outside the European Economic Area wishing to study in the UK from April 2009. The government has published many details of the planned changes but some areas of the process are still to be decided. The final arrangements for applying for Entry Clearance will be very different to those that are currently in operation. The University will use this web page to keep prospective students informed of the new arrangements as soon as they are known. Please check this page regularly as you follow the admission process for 2009 and prepare for study in the UK.

What will the new arrangements mean for me?
Where can I find more information?
I'm already a student at the College, does this affect me?

What will the new arrangements mean for me?

From early 2009:

All Institutions will be licensed by the government as "registered sponsors" for their students for immigration purposes and will have a more prominent role in the immigration process for their students.
Students will have to demonstrate that they can meet a minimum number of points required for a student visa. Points will be awarded for existing academic qualifications and for meeting a "maintenance and funds" requirement.
It is likely that students will need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents for the first year of their studies, or for the whole course if it is less than 12 months.

The visa must be tied to the Institution in which the student intends to study. If the student subsequently wishes to change to a different Institution, s/he will have to apply for a new visa for the new Institution. A significant fee is likely to be payable.

For students entering after October 2009, the arrangements are likely to change further:

The College will be required to issue a unique "Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies" to each student who has confirmed their place, which will be needed to gain a visa and which will contribute to the number of points required for a visa.
The College will be responsible for notifying the UK Border Agency of students' registration at the University and their continued attendance on the course.

Do the new arrangements apply to English language courses?

Yes. Although students following courses under six months long could apply for a Student Visitor visa, no extensions to stay will be permitted on this type of visa and there is no permission for part-time work. If a student intends to progress to a degree course having completed English language studies, they will need to apply for a General Student visa, for which extensions can be granted.

I'm already a student at the College, does this affect me?

Yes, especially if you wish to extend your visa to remain in the UK or alter your student status. UKCISA have produced an information note which we recommend all international students read. It is entitled "What students need to do to get ready for the points-based immigration system". For our existing students, the Visa Letter request form can be found on the Student Intranet.

Identity Cards for foreign nationals

The identity card for foreign nationals is the first part of the national identity scheme and will be phased in over the next three years for all those coming to the UK for more than six months or extending their stay in the UK. Initially the card will be issued along with a sticker (vignette) in your passport.

For students already in the UK

It is planned that anyone making applications for student visa extensions from the 25th November 2008 will be required to attend centres where fingerprints and an image of their face will be taken as part of the application process. Due to the need for training of Home Office staff we have been advised that, with immediate effect, the processing times of applications to extend a student visa will be significantly longer than usual.

Visa Information:

As a prospective student you will only qualify for a ‘General Student’ visa when you are studying full time in the UK. In order to be accepted as a full-time student, you will need to be enrolled on one of the following:

A full time UK degree level course, or above,in a Publicly funded Higher Education Institution (HEI); or
An Overseas HE course which is recognised as being equivalant to a UK He qualification at an overseas HEI; or
On a course of study involving a minimum of 15 hours per week organised daytime study; or
A course of study which includes a work placement element which is no more than 50% of the full course length and is at a minimum of level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or its equivalant (or at the equivalant of a UK degree level or above if an overseas qualification)

The UK Immigration System is making siginficant changes in 2009 with the introduction of a new points based system coming into affect in March 2009. For further information on the points based system and information on how you can apply for a visa and the requirements please visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/

Where can I find more information?

This web page will be updated with new information and more detailed guidance as the government’s implementation proposals become clearer.

As your application progresses, we may email our applicants from time to time with important information relating to their admission and the new visa arrangements or we may post information on the website for applicants.

The United Kingdom Council for International Student Affairs (UKICSA) publishes a range of information for international students, including immigration advice.

More information can be found on the UK Border Agency website.

For a detailed description of UK immigration procedures, you may also wish to read the British Council Guide.

If you are unsure if your Qualifications are accepted in the UK, please contact UK NARIC to check the equivalence of your country’s qualifications with those in the UK. Further information is available online at www.naric.org.uk.

Courses:

Information on our Further and Higher Education courses at our Southend Campus can be found on our website at www.southend.ac.uk.

Information on our Further Education courses at our Grays Campus can be found on our website www.thurrockcampus.ac.uk.

Fees:

As an Overseas Student you would be liable for Overseas Fees which are currently:

Further Education /Access Courses	£4,600.00 for each year of study
Higher Education Courses	£6,580.00 for each year of study
English as a Foreign Language Course (Full-time 15 hours a week)	£2,040 per year (course offered in two, 5-month semesters)

All fees are payable, in full, at enrolment and we are unable to offer any instalment or payment plans.

Length of Course	Maintenance (funds) needed
12 months or less	Course Fees + £600 for each month of the course*
More than 12 months	First year of Fees + £7,200 to cover the first year in the UK*

*Amount subject to change, for up to date information please visit the UK Border Agency website www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.

How to proceed with your application:

Please return to us the following:

Application Form (if you are applying for a Higher Education course please apply via UCAS)
Completed Fee Status Questionnaire
Certified Copy* of Passport
Certified Copy* of Qualifications

*A certified copy is a copy (which can be a photocopy) of a document in its entirety (everything within a staple) that is sworn to be a true copy by a court clerk or solicitor. If the staple is removed then the copy loses its certified status. At our discretion we will randomly verify certified documentation.

For all Higher Education courses we require the following:

All students are expected to be able to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English. If English is not your first language you will be required to have met the English language requirement (for first-year entry onto an undergraduate degree, all students must have an IELTS score of 6.0 or above. The College will not accept students onto undergraduate degrees with less than this).

English Language Requirements

The following standards are required:

IELTS
6.0 (for first year entry onto Undergraduate programmes)
TOEFL
540 (or 207 on Computer-based test, 76 on IBT) for all degrees

Other tests including the following:

Cambridge Proficiency Exam (CPE)
Test in English for Educational Purposes (TEEP)
GCE O-level or GCSE English Language
Hong Kong Certificate of English Education

English as a Foreign Language Course (full-time)

The College offers courses from level A2 and above of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students should be able to produce evidence that they have studied at level A1 or the equivalent of the CEF.

International Baccalaureate English B Syllabus (Standard Level)

Applicants who are applying to enter directly into the second year of a degree scheme will be required to demonstrate a higher level of English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 (TOEFL 600, 250 or 100).