Next set of changes to student visa rules is announced-UK

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Next set of changes to student visa rules is announced

13 June 2011

The next set of changes to the Immigration Rules affecting Tier 4 - the student tier - of the points-based system has been laid in Parliament today. The changes will come into effect on 4 July 2011.

The Home Secretary announced changes to the Immigration Rules in a statement to Parliament on 22 March, following a major public consultation on reforming Tier 4. The first set of changes came into effect on 21 April.

The aim of the revised Immigration Rules is to deliver a strong migration system which tackles immigration abuse, while allowing genuine students to study at genuine colleges.

From 4 July we will:

• restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges only;
• restrict the sponsorship of dependants to those studying at postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months;
• require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic progression;
• ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a declaration on the visa application form;
• commit to publish a list of financial institutions that we consider, on the basis of experience, do not verify financial statements to our satisfaction in more than 50 per cent of a sample of cases;
• introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors;
• extend the list of courses for which students must receive ATAS clearance;
• restrict the ability to deliver accountancy courses accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to those sponsors accorded platinum or gold status by ACCA; and
• clarify the position of overseas universities with campuses in the UK.

These changes were announced by Immigration Minister Damian Green in a written ministerial statement this morning. You can download this statement, and the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 1148) from the right side of this page.

A revised version of our policy guidance document for Tier 4 migrants, and a statement of intent summarising the new student visa policy, can also be downloaded from the right side of this page. You can find our revised guidance for Tier 4 sponsors in theSponsor guidance section.

We have published an impact assessment for these changes in our Policy and lawsection.

We are also announcing today that the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) will extend their activities to cover privately funded providers, in line with our commitment that all privately funded sponsors would be inspected or reviewed by one of the publicly recognised bodies by the end of 2012.

There are also a small number of changes being made to bring into effect:

• a new provision for other family members of refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian protection;
• a minor correction to the Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) provisions and clarify a requirement of the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) and Tier 1 (Investor) Rules; and
• a small number of minor corrections and technical changes to the Rules relating to English language requirements for partners and spouses.
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The University of Central Lancashire

Our next open day is on Saturday 11 June from 9am-3pm What can you expect from postgraduate study at UCLan? If you've never been to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), you might be surprised to know that we can compete with the best. For instance, did you know that we offer world-leading research in 11 different areas? Or that we offer 17 areas that are of international excellence? We also have a well-established international reputation, including links with over 100 countries and 120 institutions worldwide. Whether you are continuing your study after you've obtained your degree, looking for a course which enhances your existing career prospects or even looking for a complete change of career, as a postgraduate student at UCLan you can benefit from and contribute to our international reputation for 'real world', practical research. Visit our website for further information about postgraduate Study International Research Excellence We continue to build on our existing strengths and invest in new research areas - in this way we can confirm our status as one of the country's leading universities for practical research and teaching. To prove this we're setting up some new research centres, all in areas where we have established ourselves as experts. We've also got an active body of research within different subject disciplines and welcome enquiries from students wanting to study for a research degree. The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) carried out by the Government measures the research quality in UK Higher Education institutions against international standards of excellence so that funding for research can be awarded on the basis of quality. The most recent exercise judged us to have 11 areas of world leading research and 17 areas of international excellence. We believe in preparing you for work in the real world - UCLan's links with industry include working with internationally renowned companies such as BAE Systems, who use our Applied Digital Signal and Image Processing (ADSIP) Centre, for aerospace non-destructive testing. Visit our website For further details about our innovative research opportunities. If you're thinking of postgraduate taught courses Think of UCLan. We're offering around 200 taught postgraduate programmes across a wide range of disciplines, including the arts and humanities, business, science, technology and health. If you can't come on campus we can offer you postgraduate qualifications by e-learning and distance learning in a growing number of subjects including Law, Journalism, Strategic Communication, Education, Teaching English for International Business, Antiques, Construction Law, Food Styling, and in a range of professional health courses. Our courses are taught by internationally renowned experts in their fields - four of our MA Fine Art students were selected for the prestigious MA and Contemporary Art show from only 16 universities across the country and our journalism graduates go on to gain real world jobs, such as working for BBC, ITN and CNN. Visit our website for further details of all our courses. So where are we? Based in the North West of England in Preston, you may also be surprised to learn that the city has undergone a multi-million pound regeneration, including major retail, leisure and cultural facilities. It's the administrative capital of Lancashire and the largest and most important commercial centre in the county. Not only that, but with excellent transport links, the city is ideally placed for national and international travel - it is three hours from London by rail, one hour from Manchester International Airport, 20 minutes from the coast and one hour from the beautiful scenery of the Lake District. Employability, enterprise and careers support at UCLan UCLan will help you to make a success of your future learning, employment, self-employment or other options you choose by providing a complete individually tailored careers service through our own UCLan Futures. UCLan also has an excellent reputation for enterprise support and training through its Northern Lights programme. Last year we were named the top university in the North West and ranked second nationally for producing sustainable student and graduate start-up businesses in the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HEBCIS). Our student support is second to none and includes a student information centre, the 'i', to help with areas such as careers, counselling, financial or academic advice. You can find out more about postgraduate study at UCLan by visitingwww.uclan.ac.uk/pg, emailing pgenquiries@uclan.ac.uk or calling 01772 892400. Fees and Funding Graduates of the University of Central Lancashire are entitled to 20% discount on postgraduate fees at this university. Part-time Taught course £500 per module Full-time (standard) Taught course £4,000 per annum These fees are given for guidance only and may be subject to change, and exceptions exist. Many of our departments apply non-standard fees to their courses. Further information can be obtained from Academic Records. Telephone 01772 892454 or www.uclan.ac.uk/pg. Funding opportunities for Research Students Certain facilities do exist for students of outstanding academic calibre. Further information and application forms can be obtained from: The Research Support Office University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1772 894284

What tests are approved by the UK Border Agency?

Guide to Secure English Language Tests

If you need a Tier 4 General Student Visa to come to the UK, you may need to pass an approved English language test first. The rules vary depending on your nationality, the type of course you want to follow and the type of college or university where you plan to study. The following list of frequently asked questions provides some background information to help you understand the rules. Approved tests (known as secure English language tests, or SELTS) must be taken in person in a secure environment, so the identity of the student sitting the test can be verified. The UK Border Agency decides which tests are approved and the minimum English level required.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need a Secure English Language Test to study English in the UK?
• Do I have to take a Secure English Language Test for academic courses?
• What tests are approved by the UK Border Agency?
• What test score will I need to achieve?
• How do I book a Secure English Language Test in my country?
• When should I sit my Secure English language test?

Do I need a Secure English Language Test to study English in the UK?

No. However, if you plan to study for 11 months or more, you will have to demonstrate to your English school that you are at a level of at least CEFR B1. For more information about the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), please see our section on English language qualifications.

Do I have to take a Secure English Test for academic courses?

If you want to study an academic course for 6 months or more, the UK Border Agency will require you to take a test unless:

• You are studying at or above degree level at a government funded college or university (if you are studying at a private institution, you will need to take a test);
• You are under 18 and coming to study in the UK on a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa;
• You are over 18, but you have studied as a child student in the UK for at least 6 months within the last two years;
• You are from one of the following countries, which the UK Border Agency considers to be majority English speaking: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States;
• You have a completed an academic qualification, at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree, which was taught in a majority English speaking country.

Note: if the UK Border Agency does not require you to take a test, your sponsor may still ask you to take a test to demonstrate your English level is sufficient for the course you want to study.

What tests are approved by the UK Border Agency?

The most popular approved tests are IELTS (Academic), Pearson PTE (Academic), Cambridge ESOL and TOEFL (IBT). Other approved tests include City & Guilds ESOL, TOEIC, BEC, ILEC, ICFE and BULATS. Please note that the GCSE and iGCSE English are not approved.

What test score will I need to achieve?

If you are studying a course below degree level (e.g. A Level, national certificates and diplomas), you will need to pass at a level equivalent to CEFR B1. Minimum scores are as follows:

IELTS 4.0 (with a minimum of 4.0 for listening, reading, writing and speaking)
TOEFL iBT (listening - 13, reading - 8, writing - 17, speaking 19)
Pearson PTE Academic (minimum of 43 in listening, reading, writing and speaking)
Cambridge ESOL (Minimum level PET) 

If you are studying at degree level or above, you will need to pass at a level equivalent to CEFR B2. Minimum scores are as follows:

IELTS 5.0 (with a minimum of 5.0 for listening, reading, writing and speaking)
TOEFL iBT (listening - 21, reading - 22, writing - 21, speaking 23)
Pearson PTE Academic (minimum of 59 in listening, reading, writing and speaking)
Cambridge ESOL (Minimum level FCE)

Important note: TOEFL, Pearson and IELTS expire after 2 years.

How do I book a Secure English Language Test in my country?

To find a test centre and book a test in your country, please use the links below. If you have difficulty finding a test centre, please contact your student advisor at click-courses.com.

IELTS: www.ielts.org
Pearson: www.pearsonpte.com
TOEFL: www.ets.org
Cambridge ESOL www.cambridgeesol.org

When should I sit my Secure English language test?

You will need to pass your secure English test before you can apply for a student visa. If you are planning to come to the UK to study, you should make arrangements to sit your English test as early as possible.
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New Student Visa Rules for the Future

Published on April 25, 2011 in UK Immigration News 2011.
 

Following our summary of the new student visa rules in place from 21 April 2011, we’ve had requests for a similar simple approach to the future Tier 4 student visa rules changes. So here it is!

July 2011 Onwards

Your Family (Dependants)

There will be only two types of student who will be able to bring their dependants to the UK during their studies: postgraduates and government sponsored students. Students must be studying a course of 12 months or more in duration.

Students should be sure to check with their education provider what duration of course has been entered on their CAS. Some Masters courses in the UK can be as short as nine months, so be sure to check if you want to bring your dependants with you.

If you qualify to bring your dependants with you during your studies, they will be able to work full time during their stay.

If you do not meet the requirements to bring your dependants all is not lost. You could consider having them come to the UK as visitors. But, there stay would be limited to just six months and they would not be able to work. They could of course come using any other route of the Points Based System, should they qualify.

Low Risk Students

Students from the following countries should not need to submit any financial documents or previous qualification certificates in support of their student visa application:

• Argentina
• Australia
• British National Overseas
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Croatia
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

Do remember though that it is a requirement to have access to the required maintenance money and that students from the above countries could still be asked to produce proof. Any documents that you could be asked to submit must meet the criteria laid out in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance documents.

Time Limit on Staying in the UK

Students will have new limits placed on the amount of time that can spent in the UK on back-to-back student visa.

The good news is that students of specialist courses that take longer to complete – Dphil, medicine, architecture etc – will be excluded from the limits.

Students studying at either postgraduate or undergraduate level will only be able to spend a maximum of five years in the UK.

Students following courses below undergraduate level will be able to stay for only three years.

There is concession made for students who will study a combined course of below and above undergraduate level study. These students will be able to remain in the UK for a maximum of eight years.

If students are following one of the exempt courses above, they are eligible to stay beyond the eight years if their course demands it, however, students will not be able to apply for a new Tier 4 visa if they have already been in the UK for more than eight years.

Academic Progression

Any student who is extending their student visa in the UK and will not be studying a new course at a higher level, their education provider will have to explain the situation in their CAS. A common example of this would be a student studying two consecutive Masters Programmes.

Students are advised to liaise with their education providers and/or agents to make sure the wording in the CAS properly explains the situation.

April 2012 Onwards

Closure of Post-Study Work Route

The current Tier 1 Post Study Work visa, allowing graduates to remain in the UK for two years following their studies to look for work, will be closed.

Post-Study Work will be replaced by a new class in Tier 2 of the UK’s Points Based System: the Work Permission Route. Graduates will now require a job offer from a UKBA registered sponsor with a minimum salary of £20,000 in order to remain in the UK following their studies.

Students must apply to switch to Tier 2 before their current Tier 4 General Student visa expires. Importantly, these Tier 2 applications will not come under the Coalition Government’s immigration cap, in any way.

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Tuition Fee, Expenses & Cost of Education

This section gives a brief idea of the expenses for studying abroad. This includes tuition costs and living expenses. Living expenses may vary greatly depending on the individual. This information is just a rough sketch obtained from talking to various students who are studying abroad currently. U.S.A. U.K. Canada Australia New Zealand Expenses in U.S.A. Tuition Fees US Universities fall under two major categories: public (state supported), and private (independent) institutions. International students’ tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities. It’s important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality. A brief idea can be had from the following table: University Type Tuition Fees (annual in U.S. Dollars) Private Institutions (High Cost) $ 19,000 Private Institutions (Low Cost) $ 12,000 State Institutions (High Cost) $ 13,000 State Institutions (Low Cost) $ 6,000 The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 5000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 30000 per annum for some private universities. For more specific details, please contact the universities. Living Expenses The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses can be split up as: Rent $ 400 per month (you can live alone with that amount in a place like Auburn or share an apartment with 6 people in NY) Groceries $ 100 per month Utilities $ 100 per month Phone $ 100 per month Sundry $ 200 per month So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation.  Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month. The key here is to share apartments/houses so that you save on the utilities, fixed charge portion of phone and to some extent on groceries. Expenses in U.K. Undergraduate Courses Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year Science   8,130   6,600   14,730 Medicine   15,660 6,600   22,660 Others   6,210   6,600   12,810 Postgraduate Courses Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year Science   8,200   6,600   14,800 Medicine   15,450   6,600   22,050 Others   6,303   6,600   12,903 Further Education Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year   3,432   6,600   10,032 For all the cost data above, Fees given are averages All costs are given in Pound Sterling Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc. Costs are according to 1999 session Expenses in Canada International Students, 1998-1999 Tuition Fees, General Arts and Science programs (In Canadian Dollars) Province Undergraduate Graduate Newfoundland $6,660 $1,896 - $3,549 Prince Edward Island $5,031 - $6,731 $3,878 - $5,578 Nova Scotia $5,456 - $9,180 $3,160 - $10,270 New Brunswick $4,580 - $8,080 $4,920 - $5,630 Quebec $8,265 - $9,180 $7,450 - $15,000 Ontario $6,500 - $12,202 $7,450 - $15,000 Manitoba $4,696 - $5,017 $4,212 - $6,890 Saskatchewan $5,625 - $8,127 $2,813 - $5,625 Alberta $4,845 - $6,880 $4,684 - $15,000 British Columbia $3,784 - $13,830 $2,100 - $17,000 *Source: The Directory of Canadian Universities - 1999, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada Living Expenses Accommodation Average cost of accommodation in Canada is about CDN $ 400- 800 per month. Type Expenses (annual in U.S. Dollars) School-Provided Homestays $ 400 - $800 per month School-Provided Residence/Dormitory $3000 - $7500 per year Off Campus Housing $250 - $ 750 per month Expenses in Australia Undergraduate degrees            Courses Median Total Tuition Fees for entire course Total Living Costs for entire course (3 years) Average Total Costs per course Science 27,054 31,574 58,628 Business 19,325 31,574 50,899 Arts 19,325 31,574 50,899 Masters degrees             Courses Median Annual Tuition Fees Annual Living Costs Average Annual Total Costs Science 9,115 10,525 19,640 Business 7,440 10,525 17,965 Arts 7,086 10,525 17,611 PhD Courses Median Total Tuition Fees for entire course Total Living Costs for entire course (3 years) Average Total Costs per course Science 28,988 31,574 60,562 Business 24,156 31,574 55,730 Arts 23,190 31,574 54,764 MBA Length of MBA program varies considerably between institutions, depending on the mode of study, but ranges from approximately nine to 15 months full time. The fees in the table below are shown as the cost of the full MBA program rather than an annual fee.          Median Total Package Tuition Fees Average Annual Living Costs Average Total Costs (taking duration as 1 year) 14,945 10,525 25,470 For all the cost data above, Fees given are averages All costs are given in U.S. Dollars Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc. Costs are according to 1999 session Expenses in New Zealand Tuition Fees The tuition fees is different for different universities and varies with courses. We have listed a few courses with the approximate range of annual tuition fees. For more specific details, please contact the universities. Undergraduate Courses 1. Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences NZ $ 10,000 - $ 12,000  per year   2. Commerce / Administration / Management NZ $ 10,000 - $ 12,500  per year 3. Computing & Mathematical Sciences   NZ $ 13,000 - $ 15,000 per year 4. Engineering NZ $ 16,000 - $ 17,500  per year 5. Science / Science Technology NZ $ 14,000 - $ 16,000 per year 6. Technology NZ $ 14,000 - $ 18,000  per year Postgraduate Courses 1. Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences NZ $ 14,000 - $ 16,000  per year   2. Master of Business Administration NZ $ 18,000 - $ 24,000  per year 3. Engineering NZ $ 18,000 - $ 24,500  per year Living Expenses The approximate annual living expenses are about NZ $ 7,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. CALL 0094779568350 FOR FREE CONSULTANCY,FREE ADMISSION .... Achievers@usa.com