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Visa Informations

VISA INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The new Points Based immigration system went live on the 31st March 2009. The system has 5 Tiers under which individuals can apply for a visa. From April 2009 international (non European Economic Area - EEA) students need to apply for a student visa under Tier 4. For further information, please visit the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) website.

Tier 4 Immigration Information for International Students is also available in our guidance note (PDF).

TIER 4: WHAT DOES THE POINTS BASED SYSTEM MEAN FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

Any international student planning to study full-time in the UK with a start date after March 2009 will need to apply for their visa under Tier 4.

The information below is based on details of the Points Based System currently published by UKBA. The information will continue to be updated as more details become available, so it is important that you visit this page and the UKBA website at regular intervals to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

Applying for a Visa under Tier 4

To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a student after the end of March 2009, you must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points before being given a visa. You score:

  1. 30 points for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from an immigration sponsor; and
  2. 10 points if you can show you have enough finances to cover your course fees and monthly living expenses for up to 12 months (known as maintenance).

What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS?

Gemini College will issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once you have completed the following:

  1. Met any conditions attached to your offer (as detailed in your offer letter)
  2. Returned your financial guarantee form
  3. Returned your acceptance form
  4. Paid any deposit if applicable (this will be detailed in your offer letter)



Please note the College will not issue any student with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for programmes starting in September 2009 until the week of 8th June 2009, to ensure that the documentation issued by the College complies with new UKBA requirements.

How Much Money Do I Need to Have?

The finances you need to pass the points-based assessment if you are coming to study at Gemini College are:

LENGTH OF COURSE WHERE YOU WILL STUDY MAINTENANCE (FUNDS) NEEDED
9 months or less Outside London Course fees + £600 for each calendar month of the course
More than 9 months Outside London First year of fees + £5400 to cover nine months of living costs in the United Kingdom

For information on course fees please go to: Tuition Fees

How Long Can I Apply to Stay For?

If you are studying at degree level or above, you can stay for the full duration of your course, click here for full details.

What do I need to apply?

You will need to complete the application form, pay your fee and include:

  1. a current passport or travel document;
  2. a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from an immigration sponsor (this would be the University you are planning to study at);
  3. documents to show you have the finances required (tuition fees and maintenance) available;
  4. original documents used by your immigration sponsor (the College you are planning to study at) when they accepted you on to the course;
  5. your biometric identity card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom (please note not all students will have this);
  6. your biometric details if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom.

How much will it cost?

The visa application fee is currently £145 if you are applying from outside of the UK . Please note the cost for a visa extension will be higher.

Can I work?

Generally speaking you should be granted permission to work part-time (no more than 20 hours a week) during term-time while studying and full-time during vacations, in line with previous visa rules. (Note: postgraduate students are not permitted to work full-time during the summer vacation if they have not completed their writing-up or submitted their dissertation or any aspect of their course of study).

Key Differences for Students

  1. All international students will require an immigration sponsor under the new Points Based System. A student's immigration sponsor is the institution they are studying at, therefore if you are coming to study at Gemini College, we will be your immigration sponsor.
  2. Your visa will be linked to your immigration sponsor, therefore if you are studying at Gemini College your visa will be granted to study at Gemini College only. If you decide to switch institution your visa would no longer be valid and you would be required to apply for a new visa.
  3. The maintenance required for students wishing to bring dependants with them has changed. Please see the UKBA website for the latest guidance.
  4. All UK universities will be required to monitor students' attendance under the new Points Based Systems. It is therefore very important that you ensure you arrive and register at the University on the dates as written in your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and attend classes in accordance with University regulations. Failure to register by the given deadline or attend classes may result in you being reported to the UKBA.

Study Abroad and Exchange Students

All international (non European Economic Area - EEA) students will be required to apply for a visa. If you are studying for less than 6 months you can either apply for ''Student Visitors' entry clearance, which is aimed at those short term students who wish to undertake a short course of up to six months and have no interest in full student visa entitlements (i.e. the ability to work part-time, extend their stay whilst in the UK, or provide the opportunity for multiple entry) or for a full student visa under Tier 4. For more details including eligibility and restrictions please see the Student Visitor pages of the UKBA website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/student-visitors

The College would recommend any international student coming on a Study Abroad or Exchange programme to apply for the full student visa under Tier 4.

Language Students

If you have an unconditional offer: If you have an unconditional offer, you will be given a visa for both your pre-sessional English course provided it is no longer than 1 month before the start of your degree and your degree course if you are studying at the same institution for both courses.

If you have a conditional offer:If you only have a conditional offer to do your full-time course, you will need to apply for a visa to do the pre-sessional course first. If you successfully finish that course, as long as you had a student visa under Tier 4, you can apply for a visa extension from within the UK to continue with your full-time degree course.

Foundation English Course

You are advised to apply for a full student visa under Tier 4. When you have successfully completed your Foundation English Course, you can then apply for a visa from within the UK to do a full-time degree course.

How will PBS affect me when I arrive in the UK?

When you arrive, it is important that you register with the College at the designated time. Registration staff will ensure that you have undertaken electronic registration (eRegistration), including that you have entered a term time address (i.e. a local address in Milton Keynes), that you have met with your academic Adviser, or equivalent person, and you will also be asked to provide photocopies of your passport pages. Each page will be checked against your original passport. If all is in order the copies of your passport pages will be stamped, dated, signed by the Registry official and retained on file. You will then be issued with a College ID card (as long as you have previously mailed in your photograph). Under the new Points Based immigration system, the College is obliged to keep copies of your passport and you must ensure that your contact details in the UK are up-to-date at all times. After you have registered as a student you will be able to change your address through your Student Portal.

If you fail to register with the college during the normal registration period, or if you are found not to be at an address you have provided, we are obliged to report you to the UK immigration authorities - the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

You should expect to register in this way at the beginning of each academic year of your studies (in September each year). It is important that you register promptly each year so that the college knows that you are present and attending and will not report you to the UK Border Agency.

Before you travel it is important that you read the information contained in the New Students Website New Students. It will contain the most up-to-date information available.

How will PBS affect me during my studies?

The immigration authorities now require us to report you to them if you do not comply with the terms of your student visa. To avoid us having to do this:

  1. You must let the Admissions Office know if you are deferring the start date of your studies.
  2. You must inform the Admissions Office if you want to transfer your studies to another college or university.
  3. You must keep good attendance.
  4. You must ensure that you have written permission to take any time off from your studies.
  5. You must keep your address up to date: keep it correct through your Student Portal.
  6. You must let us know immediately if you shorten the duration of your studies
  7. You must not change your status from full-time student to part-time student


Make every effort to pass each stage of your studies, and progress well. If you need an immigration extension because you have spent longer than usual finishing your studies this will be expensive for you and the UK Border Agency will require an explanation as to why you were unable to complete your studies during the expected registration period.

If you need to discuss your immigration status please go to Admissions Office and make an appointment to speak with an Registrar.

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