Student Route (formerly Tier 4) Engagement Monitoring Policy September 2021 to August 2022 Introduction The University holds a Sponsorship Licence that allows it to sponsor international students to come and study in the UK. As a Sponsor, the University must comply with specific sponsorship duties, which are closely monitored by UKVI and subject to audit. International Student Support (“ISS”) has central oversight of the University’s compliance with its obligations under the Student Route (formally Tier 4). There are some matters that will be devolved locally to Schools, such as monitoring the attendance of sponsored students at expected academic ‘contact points’. These are a combination of both virtual and physical contact points. Any changes to a student’s circumstances will then be communicated back to ISS. This policy aims to provide Schools with the University’s expectation of an effective engagement monitoring process that is able to demonstrate to the UKVI that the student is ‘actively and consistently following their course’ in order to continue to be permitted to be in the UK. This policy will also set out the role of ISS in maintaining oversight of attendance monitoring processes across the Schools, and also in providing a co-ordinated response to the reporting obligations imposed on the University by UKVI. Please be aware that failure to comply with the sponsorship duties imposed by UKVI could result in the loss of the University’s sponsor licence. If this were to happen, the University would lose the right to recruit international students, and may also lose the right to recruit international staff. In addition, existing students and staff would be required to find a new sponsor elsewhere or leave the UK. This would have significant reputational and financial impact. Student Awareness It is important that students are informed at the outset of the expectations placed upon them. Material is provided to each student by ISS in relation to the obligations associated with their Student Route visa and they sign to acknowledge that they understand these obligations when completing their Right to Study check at Enrolment and Registration. Each School must inform students at the outset of the School’s process for monitoring their attendance on the course and it is good practice to publish these in the Course/Student Handbook. Attendance Monitoring 1. Setting contact points Attendance monitoring of students holding a visa is achieved through a series of specific contact points throughout the academic year. It is a responsibility of the School to set the specific contact points for each student. The number of contact points set will depend on the level of
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Student Route (formerly Tier 4) Engagement
Monitoring Policy September 2021 to
August 2022
Introduction The University holds a Sponsorship Licence that allows it to sponsor international students to come and study in the UK. As a Sponsor, the University must comply with specific sponsorship duties, which are closely monitored by UKVI and subject to audit.
International Student Support (“ISS”) has central oversight of the University’s compliance with its obligations under the Student Route (formally Tier 4). There are some matters that will be devolved locally to Schools, such as monitoring the attendance of sponsored students at expected academic ‘contact points’. These are a combination of both virtual and physical contact points. Any changes to a student’s circumstances will then be communicated back to ISS.
This policy aims to provide Schools with the University’s expectation of an effective engagement monitoring process that is able to demonstrate to the UKVI that the student is ‘actively and consistently following their course’ in order to continue to be permitted to be in the UK. This policy will also set out the role of ISS in maintaining oversight of attendance monitoring processes across the Schools, and also in providing a co-ordinated response to the reporting obligations imposed on the University by UKVI.
Please be aware that failure to comply with the sponsorship duties imposed by UKVI could result in the loss of the University’s sponsor licence. If this were to happen, the University would lose the right to recruit international students, and may also lose the right to recruit international staff. In addition, existing students and staff would be required to find a new sponsor elsewhere or leave the UK. This would have significant reputational and financial impact.
Student Awareness
It is important that students are informed at the outset of the expectations placed upon them. Material is provided to each student by ISS in relation to the obligations associated with their Student Route visa and they sign to acknowledge that they understand these obligations when completing their Right to Study check at Enrolment and Registration. Each School must inform students at the outset of the School’s process for monitoring their attendance on the course and it is good practice to publish these in the Course/Student Handbook.
Attendance Monitoring
1. Setting contact points
Attendance monitoring of students holding a visa is achieved through a series of specific contact points throughout the academic year. It is a responsibility of the School to set the specific contact points for each student. The number of contact points set will depend on the level of
Student Route Engagement Monitoring Policy International Student Support [email protected] x3899
study of the student, and the type of contact will depend on the course of study. These will be as follows:
UG students – once every two weeks;
PGT students During taught modules: once every two weeks; During research modules: once a month; PGR students – once a month.
Examples of the types of contact points that can be set for sponsored students are provided in Documents 1 and 2 of Annex A.
Schools should complete the spreadsheet, provided to them by ISS via the SharePoint site, with the pre-identified contact points for each student in their school for the entire semester, at the start of each semester. For students who change modules in the first two weeks, any changes to the contact points can be made as soon as the information becomes available to the School. Please note that, where a tutorial, live online tutorial / lecture, lecture or class that has been selected as a contact point is cancelled, the School should only seek to identify an alternative contact point for that week where it is practicable to do so. Otherwise, the student will not be treated as having missed a contact point on that day. It is the School’s responsibility to ensure that the data contained on the SharePoint is up to date, including where there have been changes made to the date of the contact point.
Where Schools have approved courses which include block teaching, agreement would have already been sought through the Programme Approval Process as to how visa holding students are monitored in between the blocks of teaching. Schools should ensure that there are arranged contact points in addition to and outside of any periods of block teaching where students are actively present and engaged in their studies.
It is anticipated that Schools will have differing methods of obtaining evidence demonstrating students have attended contact points, however any evidence should show that the student was present at the particular lecture/tutorial/lab/meeting as expected.
2. Off-campus study
Students may spend time studying away from the campus as part of their programme. The University can continue to sponsor the visa of a student during this time however the School will be required to continue monitoring a student’s attendance. ISS should be notified via the notification form in Annex B Document 1 when students are participating in their course while away from the campus. ISS manage various reporting obligations to UKVI and so it is important that this information is made available in a timely manner. UKVI may also contact the University (via ISS) as a student leaves or re-enters the UK. ISS must be able to confirm that it knows of the sponsored student’s whereabouts and that the time spent off-campus has been authorised.
Off-campus study may refer to time spent on an integral and assessed part of the programme including:
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Year in industry
Internships
Professional Internship
Professional Experience
Professional Practice
Study abroad semester
Erasmus semester
Fieldwork
Data collection
Research overseas
Short period overseas writing-up thesis
Please note that the School must authorise off-campus participation when the student is about to go on placement or study abroad, and contact their relevant ISS adviser to arrange for reporting to UKVI.
Student Visa holders are granted permission to be in the UK to study and it is understood that they may from time to time need to remain registered but undertake study outside the UK. However, being outside the UK while holding a visa for more than 6 months is not generally in the spirit for which their visa has been granted.
Particularly in relation to PGR students, changes to a student’s study location should be discussed with ISS in advance to ensure minimal disruption to a student’s study plan. If a student will be undertaking the majority of their research and writing-up outside of the UK, a visa may not be the most appropriate immigration route for the student to use. ISS can advise on other options.
It should be noted therefore that the University will only continue sponsorship of a student while they are off-campus and overseas for up to six months within a rolling 12 month period. For any periods outside the UK longer than six months or where the student is not required to return to studies on campus before their published course end date or any oral examination of a thesis, the University will withdraw sponsorship and the student will have to apply for a further visa in order to return. Exceptions to this rule being only when a student is either on a course of study that involves an integral and assessed industrial placement for up to a year which is being undertaken overseas or participating in a year studying abroad which will count towards their final degree classification. In both of these situations the student should be required to return to the University following completion of this year.
If a student applies to undertake a period of off-campus study outside the UK and the school confirms that there is no further academic participation required in the UK for their course following completion of the overseas study, this may result in sponsorship of the student’s visa being withdrawn. ISS should be informed as soon as a school becomes aware of this.
There may be exceptional circumstances whereby discretion can be exercised for sponsorship to continue for periods longer than six months, however this should be requested in advance from ISS.
The student’s engagement must continue to be monitored whilst they are on this period of course-related study and expected contact points must be set as per this policy. Where students are undertaking placements or study abroad, a monitoring arrangement should be in place between the School and a named contact at the workplace or institution who can confirm that the student is engaging and attending as expected. This will then form the basis for the SharePoint return for the designated contact points during the time spent on the placement or study abroad.
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3. Absences Leaves of absence This is where the student is taking a leave of absence from the University, and their enrolment is suspended in QSIS for this period of absence. The University will normally only continue sponsorship of the student’s visa if they are on a leave of absence for a short time, usually 60 days or less, as per UKVI policy. It should be noted that assessments will be made on an individual basis, as UKVI policy states that a student should still be able to complete the course within their existing leave. Cumulative time on a Leave of Absence over the course of a 12 month period will be considered when making this assessment.
Reasons for this type of absence would normally be unrelated to the course and might include pregnancy, long term sick leave, family problems at home etc. International Student Support should be informed before any change is made in QSIS, so that an assessment can be made, and the appropriate report to UKVI instigated if appropriate. International Student Support will refer to the published semester dates, available online -
http://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Semester-dates/, when assessing any periods of absence unless informed about any differences to these.
Other Authorised Absences including Vacation
This is where a student is taking a short absence from the University for a vacation. This should only be completed where this vacation is outside the normal holiday periods for that type of student:
UG students – outside of the official holiday periods designated by the University;
PGT students During taught modules: outside of official holiday periods designated by the University; During research modules: at any time while the University is open (as official University holiday periods do not usually apply);
PGR students – At any time while the University is open (as official semester holiday periods do not usually apply). Any leave approved should also be in line with the University Research Degree Programme Regulations and therefore should be authorised in advance and not exceed the maximum 40 days specified. Sponsorship of the student’s visa will be maintained during this time.
All absences in line with the above, should be requested by the student using the form contained in Annex B Document 2. This should be authorised by an academic member of staff and passed to the School Office for their records before being forwarded to ISS. Please note the guidance notes for schools in processing the Absence Notification form.
4. Reporting to International Student Support
ISS provides a monthly spreadsheet of all Student Route students via their SharePoint site. The spreadsheet will contain the expected contact dates for each sponsored student, as provided by the Schools, and any anticipated work placement dates. Schools should complete their agreed contact dates on the form and must complete the spreadsheet to confirm whether each student attended the expected contact points for that month. This information must be updated on SharePoint for ISS by the seventh day of the following month.
Failure of a School to input the expected contact dates in a timely manner and/or to update
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the attendance of their students as expected during the year, will result in this being escalated to the School Manager and Head of School. The Head of International Student Support reserves the right to notify the relevant Faculty Director of Operations of a School’s failure to provide the expected information. Please note that information relating to this may be requested to inform the QUB Immigration Compliance Governance Group.
5. Unauthorised absences
When a student misses 10 consecutive contact points due to unauthorised absences, or has not engaged for 60 days from the first point of contact from the University enquiring about non engagement, the University must report the student to UKVI as withdrawn and cease sponsorship. UKVI expects that it will only be in the rarest of cases that the University chooses to continue sponsoring a student who has missed 10 consecutive contact points. In such cases, UKVI requires the University to keep evidence of the decision and the reasoning behind it.
Given this, Schools must have in place an appropriate escalation procedure that will determine any reasons behind the absence and support the student in improving their academic engagement. The procedure will also have to facilitate presumed withdrawal of the student where the unauthorised absence continues. Please refer to Document 2 of Annex A for an example escalation procedure.
The escalation procedure will need to work in parallel with the four stage approach adopted by ISS in monitoring a student’s attendance where they are at risk of losing sponsorship. Please see Annex C for suggested Email Templates. Please also note that this relates to consecutive contact points for the full year and does not effectively ‘reset’ at the start of each semester.
Stage 1
Once a sponsored student has missed two consecutive contact points, the School should confirm to ISS that they have instigated their own internal escalation procedure by copying ISS into any correspondence to the student relating to the missed contact points. From this point on if the student does not engage for 60 days or more without reasonable excuse, they are likely to be reported to the UKVI – it is therefore important that records of contact with the student are retained to evidence this contact for audit as well as justification of actions taken in relation to the students visa.
ISS will email the student to advise them of the implications to their visa if they do not attend class and encourage the student to make contact with their School.
Stage 2
A student will be considered to be at Stage 2 of the escalation procedure if they do not re- engage with their studies after initial intervention after 2 missed contact points. ISS will continue to monitor attendance via SharePoint and also being copied into correspondence from Schools to the student. After 4 consecutive missed contact points the student should be invited to meet with ISS to discuss any issues they may be encountering.
Once a sponsored student has missed seven consecutive contact points, the case will be escalated to Stage 3 of this process.
Stage 3
When a School notifies ISS that a student has missed 7 identified contact points, ISS will
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contact the student to arrange a meeting within 5 working days. If the student does not respond, ISS will contact the student a further time to arrange a meeting within 2 working days. If at this point the student has not responded to ISS, steps will be taken to arrange a wellbeing visit at the student’s address. ISS will liaise with the Disability and Wellbeing team to have this organized though it may be the School which undertakes the visit depending on the circumstances and availability of staff.
The School should commence the presumed withdrawn process if the student misses the ninth contact point and notify ISS. Please note that the School may decide to commence the presumed withdrawn process earlier than this point, and in this case should notify ISS of its decision.
If at any point during Stage 3 the student makes contact with the University and re-engages with their course, they will be deemed as having met the next contact point. This will halt the presumed withdrawn process and the student will no longer be at risk of having their sponsorship withdrawn. ISS will follow-up with the student to remind them of their obligations under Student Route and to ensure they understand the serious implications of not attending.
If, however, the student does not make contact throughout Stage 3 and misses the tenth consecutive contact point, Stage 4 of the escalation process should be instigated.
Stage 4
Once a sponsored student has missed 10 consecutive contact points (or has reached 60 days since the first correspondence to the student is sent by the School, whichever is soonest), ISS will check with the School that the student is now presumed as withdrawn and that the withdrawal notice has been issued.
Once ISS receives confirmation from QSIS that the student has been withdrawn from the course, ISS will notify UKVI within ten working days that sponsorship has been withdrawn for the student. ISS will also write to the student to notify them.
If the case arises that the School does not wish to withdraw sponsorship of a student who has missed ten consecutive contact points, this will need to be discussed with the Head of ISS and evidence will need to be provided as to why the School has reached this decision.
Retrospective Withdrawals
It is not possible for the University to effect a retrospective withdrawal for a student. The attendance monitoring policy is in place to ensure that, if a student is no longer engaging with the course, International Student Support is notified as soon as possible so that a withdrawal of sponsorship report can be made to UKVI within 10 working days as required. Similarly, if a student has been engaging with a course, it is not then possible to retrospectively claim that they were not attending. Where Schools want to make a case for a retrospective withdrawal, for example where incorrect records have been returned in error, the Head of ISS will consult with the Head of Student and Academic Affairs or the University Authorising Officer where necessary.
Record Keeping
Schools will have different methods of maintaining records on attendance monitoring, both paper-based and electronic. Where such records exist, Schools must retain them securely for at least one year after the University has stopped sponsoring the student. Attendance records
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DOCUMENT 1: EXAMPLE OF CONTACT POINTS APPROVED BY UKVI Student Sponsor Guidance Document 2: Sponsorship Duties Version 05/20212022
‘Examples of expected contacts include:
• attending formal academic or pastoral care activities including:
- a lesson, lecture, tutorial or seminar;
- a test, examination or assessment board;
- a meeting with a supervisor or personal tutor;
- a research-method or research panel meeting, writing-up seminars or doctoral workshops;
- an oral examination (viva);
- an appointment with a welfare adviser or international student adviser;
- submitting;
assessed or unassessed coursework; or
an interim dissertation, coursework or report; and
registration (for enrolment or matriculation).’
Schools can use a combination of contact points to monitor academic engagement, including online teaching. However the contact points cannot be solely online as the principle of the visa is that students are physically in the UK. During the academic year 2021-22 there will be some students who are initially prohibited from travelling to the UK, or are delayed, largely due to limited spaces in managed quarantine when travelling from a ‘red list’ country. This however is the exception and not the norm – students who are in this situation should still be monitored for engagement but the monitoring will have to be done through online contact points until they arrive in the UK.
14. June meeting with dissertation supervisor 04/06/2022 Dissertation attendance form
15. Skype meeting with dissertation supervisor 02/07/2022 Dissertation attendance form
16. August meeting with dissertation supervisor 06/08/2022 Dissertation attendance form 17. Submission of dissertation 14/09/2022 Dissertation submission recording
Where possible, for UG and PGT students, contact points should be set over different modules.
Student misses ONE contact EMAIL TO FIND REASON FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
STAGE 1
Student misses TWO consecutive contacts
REPORT NON-ATTENDANCE TO ISS & CONTINUE ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THE STUDENT VIA
EMAIL AND PHONE
STAGE 2
Student misses THREE consecutive contacts
SEND EMAIL & LETTER ARRANGE MEETING WITH PROGRAMME DIRECTOR TO DISCUSS NON-
ATTENDANCE.
Student misses FOUR TO SIX consecutive contacts
REPORT NON-ATTENDANCE & CONTINUE ATTEMPTING TO THE CONTACT STUDENT
STAGE 3
Student misses SEVEN consecutive contacts
REPORT NON-ATTENDANCE TO ISS & CONTINUE ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THE STUDENT
Student misses NINE consecutive contacts
FORMALLY NOTIFY STUDENT IF THEY DO NOT RE-
ENGAGE WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS THEY WILL BE PRESUMED WITHDRAWN
STAGE 4 Student misses TEN consecutive contacts
WITHDRAWN FROM COURSE AND ISS TO REPORT UKVI
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
International Student Support
Off-campus Study Notification for sponsored International Students
To be used when students are to be away from the University for course-related reasons.
Section 1: Student Details To be completed by student
Name Student number
Nationality DOB Visa end date
Section 2: Details of Course and Off-campus Study To be completed by student
School
Course title Course level
Dates of Off-campus Study Period
From: To:
Reason (please include your destination and travel dates)
Eg Fieldwork, Research overseas, Work placement, internship etc
Student’s signature Date
Section 3: Approval from School To be completed by School
Recommendation of Course Director/Supervisor: Approved Declined
Comments
Course Director/Supervisor’s signature Date
NOTES
1. This form is designed for those international students who currently hold a visa in order to comply with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements. Please note the maximum permitted overseas research period for PGR students is normally 6 months in a rolling 12 month period. Please contact ISS if you have any queries in relation to this.
2. This form is designed to inform International Student Support of a student’s intention to undertake study
elsewhere other than the Queens University Belfast campus and approved sites and partnerships. ISS are obliged to inform UKVI of this change to the student’s circumstances and may seek further information from the school in order to complete this.
3. The student will continue to be enrolled on QSIS during this period of off-campus study.
4. It is the responsibility of both the student and the School Office to ensure that this form is completed.
5. Once the form is complete a copy should be sent (electronically or by internal mail) to International Student Support. The School should also retain a copy.
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Absence Notification for Sponsored International Students
To be used when students are to be absent from the University, including any holiday approval.
Section 1: Student Details To be completed by student
Name Student number
Nationality
Section 2: Details of Course and Period of Absence
Course title
School Course level
Dates of absence
From: To:
Reason for absence (please include your destination and travel dates)
E.g. Holiday, Doctor appointment etc.
Student’s signature
Date
Section 3: Approval - to be completed by School
Will the student be absent for more than 60 calendar days? (Please note there are likely to be immigration implications if Yes. Please contact ISS for further advice)
Yes No
Will the student be registered on a leave of absence on QSIS? Yes No
Recommendation of Course Director/Supervisor: Approved Declined
Comments
Course Director/Supervisor’s signature Date
NOTES
1. It is the responsibility of both the student and the School Office to ensure that this form is completed. Once the form is complete a copy should be sent (electronically or by internal mail by the school) to International Student Support. The School should also retain a copy.
2. The form should be completed by students/Schools in the event that a student wishes to be absent/take a
vacation from their studies as follows:
UG students – outside of the official holiday periods designated by the University;
PGT students – During taught modules: outside of official holiday periods designated by the University;
During research modules: at any time (as official University holiday periods do not
usually apply);
PGR students – At any time (as official University holiday periods do not usually apply).
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Email Templates for Engagement Monitoring Escalation Points
For Issue by International Student Support
For Taught Students
1. Following confirmed absence from 2 consecutive contact points -
Dear student,
Your School has contacted International Student Support as they are concerned about your recent attendance on your course. I am emailing to remind you about the terms and conditions of your visa.
As your Student Route Student visa is sponsored by Queen’s University, poor attendance can affect your visa. Failure to attend your course or not comply with attendance monitoring requirements of your School can result in being withdrawn from your course, the University stopping sponsorship of your visa and being required to leave the UK.
It is important that you attend all supervision meetings, training, workshops etc. and request permission from your School for any absences.
******, please let us know if there is a particular reason for your absence where International Student Support can provide any help or support. You will also find information on Queen’s website about support services which you can access free of charge - https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/wellbeing/ .
Please ensure that you continue to reply to any correspondence from your School about this.
Regards,
2. After 4 consecutive missed contact points the student should be invited to meet with ISS to discuss any issues they may be encountering -
Dear student,
We understand that you are not currently engaging with your course or attending class. I would like to invite you to International Student Support to discuss this. If you could please come our office on the first floor of the Student Guidance Centre on Tuesday 6th February at 11.00am.
I look forward to seeing you then.
3. Stage 2 of the Engagement Monitoring Policy requires ISS to meet with the student after they have missed 7 consecutive contact points
Dear student,
Your school have informed us that you have now missed 7 nominated contact points. I would now request that you meet with me to discuss the implications of your continued absence from class. Please come to International Student Support on the first floor of the Student Guidance Centre on:
Tuesday 6th February at 11.00am
As you will be aware, failure to engage with your course and attend classes may result in the University presuming you to be withdrawn from your course. We are then required to report this to UK Visas & Immigration and withdraw sponsorship of your visa. UKVI will then curtail your visa and you will be required to leave the UK.
I look forward to meeting with you on the above date.
1. Following confirmed absence from 2 consecutive contact points -
Dear student,
It has been noted that you have not recorded formal meetings with your supervisor through the Research Student Lifecycle on QSIS for the last 2 months. I am emailing to remind you about the terms and conditions of your visa.
As your Student Route Student visa is sponsored by Queen’s University, poor attendance can affect your visa. Failure to participate in your course or not comply with attendance monitoring requirements of your School can result in being withdrawn from your course, the University stopping sponsorship of your visa and being required to leave the UK.
It is important that you upload confirmation of your monthly supervision meetings to QSIS as required, and request permission from your School for any absences.
******, please let us know if there is a particular reason for your absence where International Student Support can provide any help or support. You will also find information on Queen’s website about support services which you can access free of charge - https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/wellbeing/ .
Please ensure that you continue to reply to any correspondence from your School about this.
Regards,
2. After 4 consecutive missed contact points the student should be invited to meet with ISS to
discuss any issues they may be encountering -
Dear student,
We understand that you are not currently engaging with your course and participating as required. I would like to invite you to International Student Support to discuss this. If you could please come our office on the first floor of the Student Guidance Centre on Tuesday 6th February at 11.00am.
I look forward to seeing you then.
3. Stage 2 of the Engagement Monitoring Policy requires ISS to meet with the student after they have missed 7 consecutive contact points
Dear student,
Your school have informed us that you have now failed to provide evidence for the last 7 formal meetings. I would now request that you meet with me to discuss the implications of your continued failure to participate in your course. Please come to International Student Support on the first floor of the Student Guidance Centre on:
Tuesday 6th February at 11.00am
As you will be aware, failure to engage with your course may result in the University presuming you to be withdrawn from your course. We are then required to report this to UK Visas & Immigration and withdraw sponsorship of your student visa. UKVI will then curtail your visa and you will be required to leave the UK.
I look forward to meeting with you on the above date.
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The school should set clear deadlines for students to obtain placements and this should be
communicated to students from the outset.
Particularly for students undertaking a 2-year Masters course with placement, it is recommended that
students be given a deadline to secure their placement for the second year. It would be appropriate
that students should confirm placements prior to the deadline for enrolment on the second year of
their course to ensure that we are continuing to sponsor students accurately. As the student’s main
purpose while they are in the UK is to undertake study, and by extension a placement as part of this,
where a student is not doing so, it may not be appropriate to continue to sponsor their visa.
Student Responsibilities
Given the impact of some of the above factors, it is important that students are aware at the outset of
the responsibility placed on them in securing placements and encouraged to discuss any potential
changes with an Immigration Adviser as soon as possible.
Examples
The following table outlines some common scenarios which ISS would need to be informed of and
may affect a student’s immigration permission. This list is not exhaustive so Schools are asked to
contact ISS if they have any potential issues as and when they arise.
Scenario Student Action School Action ISS Action
Student wishes to change course to/from a non- placement pathway
Make an appointment with ISS at the earliest opportunity
No action until confirmed by ISS
Advise student/school accordingly
Report to UKVI accordingly
Student selects an optional module with a placement element
Attend classes and placement as required
Inform ISS of placement details following enrolment on particular module
Monitor attendance during placement
Report details of placement to UKVI prior to student attending placement
Student wishes to undertake a placement abroad
Make an appointment with ISS at the earliest opportunity
Confirm details of placement with ISS
Confirm if participation on course is required following completion of work placement abroad
Monitor attendance during placement
Meet with student and advise accordingly
Report to UKVI accordingly
Student does not secure a placement by deadline
Make an appointment with ISS at the earliest opportunity
Inform ISS following deadline and advise of consequences from school perspective, e.g. transfer to non-placement pathway
Meet with student and advise accordingly
Report to UKVI accordingly
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Student completes a placement early
Inform ISS as soon as possible.
Inform ISS of any subsequent change to expected course completion date (e.g. new dissertation submission date) and confirm if any further academic participation is required.
Advise student accordingly
Report to UKVI accordingly
Student wishes to start placement early including PGT students on a two year programme. Placement cannot be more than 52 weeks.
Check with ISS prior to student starting the placement if this is permitted.
Inform ISS of any subsequent change to expected course completion date, e.g. new dissertation submission date.