Tier 4 Visa
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International students registering for the University of Glasgow in 2013/14 are required to attend a visa check-in at registration, at which time copies of their permission to study e.g. study visa, will be taken. View full details of venues and opening times.
In 2008, the UK Government introduced the Points Based System (PBS) of immigration for non-EU / EEA nationals who wish to work and study in the UK. There are 5 tiers of immigration under the PBS, Tier 4 being the student category. The University acts as a "sponsor" for non-EEA students under Tier 4. The University of Glasgow is a licensed sponsor (Sponsor Number TRAW6PAA8) and has a responsibility to comply with its sponsorship duties.
The Tier 4 Compliance Team within the University Registry is responsible for ensuring that a range of areas relating to the University’s Sponsor Licence are met.
Please contact tier4compliance@glasgow.ac.uk for further information.
Registry Visa check-in dates for 2013/14
September
Monday 9 September – Friday 4 October 2013 (newly registered students only)
November
Monday 4 – Friday 15 November 2013
March
Monday 3 – Friday 14 March 2014
You are expected to participate fully in your studies whilst you are in the UK, ensuring that you meet the attendance requirements of your course and comply with the University’s procedures for monitoring student attendance.
As your visa sponsor, the University has a duty to notify the Home Office if you withdraw from your programme of study or if, having failed to engage with your studies or attend a number of scheduled contact points, we decide that you are to be excluded. Your permission to remain in the UK will, as a consequence, be withdrawn by the Home Office.
PGT - Dissertation Study Away from Glasgow
If you wish to leave Glasgow for the period of your dissertation, or for a period exceeding 15 working days, please refer to the following document: PGT - Dissertation Study Away from Glasgow (pdf).
Your College, School or Research Institute will inform you of certain contacts, which will be selected from your overall attendance schedule, where your attendance will be recorded for Tier 4 monitoring purposes - the Home Office has suggested that Universities may use some or all of the following in order to monitor student attendance:
- 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), or
- an appointment with a welfare advisor or an international student adviser
- Submitting;
- assessed or unassessed coursework, or
- an interim dissertation, coursework or report
The University of Glasgow is required by the Home Office to hold a copy of the passport photo ID page, visa (or Leave to Enter the UK) and biometric residence permit (if you have been issued with one) for all international students, including those on a Tier 4 Visa. You must also provide the University with further copies of these documents if they are updated or renewed during your studies.
In addition, the University must notify tell the Home Office if students holding a Tier 4 student visa to study at the University of Glasgow do not register.
You will therefore need to attend a Visa "check-in" event when you arrive in Glasgow. If you fail to "check-in" or complete your registration, you may not be able to proceed with your studies.
Semester 1 Entrants (September 2013)
Students undertaking courses at other sites (e.g. Christies Education in London, or the School of Interdisciplinary Studies in Dumfries) should contact staff there to confirm visa-checking procedures. |
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Evidence of a visa application You are also required to keep a photocopy of your previous visa and current passport to submit at Registration to allow the University of Glasgow to confirm that you made an "in-time" application i.e. before your previous visa expired. If you do not provide evidence of submitting an in-time application, the University may be unable to verify your immigration status and may therefore be required to defer your entry. Please see the Visa for another institution (pdf) information guide for further details. |
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Semester 2 New Entrants (January 2014) |
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Students attending pre-sessional English courses at the Language Centre |
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New students joining the University at other times |
In addition to routine course attendance, you are required to attend two further “check-ins” during the academic year, which will take place in November 2013 and March 2014. Detailed information on what you must do in order to register your attendance will be sent to your student e-mail account by Registry before each event.
Further information can be found in the Tier 4 Check-in Guide.
Why is this necessary?
As a Highly Trusted Sponsor, The Home Office require the University to set two “checkpoints” during any rolling 12 month period. This acts as an attendance contact point, and also allows students to update the University on the process of any pending visa applications, or any other significant changes to your circumstances.
What happens if I cannot attend?
Attendance is mandatory for all Tier 4 students, unless you are undertaking study away from the University (e.g. Research Furth of Glasgow, year or semester abroad, work placement, clinical placement or language year abroad). If so, please contact tier4compliance@glasgow.ac.uk and we will verify this with your College.
If you are currently on an approved absence from the University (e.g. leave of absence or interruption of studies), you can also contact tier4compliance@glasgow.ac.uk so we can and we can verify your status.
What if I don't attend?
If you do not have valid reason for not-attending during the 2-week check-in period, or Registry cannot verify your reason, you will be marked as absent.
Your attendance at previous check-ins, as well as attendance at your course contact points during the current academic year, will be assessed to determine whether you are still present and engaged with you studies, if you still have valid permission to study in the UK, or whether you should be withdrawn from your program of study.
If you are withdrawn, we will notify the Home Office who will take steps to curtail your visa.
Further information can be found in the Tier 4 Check-in Guide.
Changes to studies & circumstances
If you decide to defer or suspend your studies, change your registration status, or withdraw from your course, you must follow the University’s procedures.
Certain changes related to your studies may mean that you will have to leave the UK: for example, if you complete your course earlier than expected, or if you have to suspend your studies.
Before you make any decision, you are strongly advised to obtain advice from International Student Support in the Fraser Building. If you wish to apply for permission to change Tier 4 sponsor because you have been accepted onto a course at another University or College, please follow the guidance provided by the Home Office. Please note that there are different rules depending on when you applied for your last student visa.
Extending your visa
It is your responsibility to extend your visa before your current leave to remain expires, to provide evidence to the University that you have done so, and to keep the University updated as to the progress of the application.
Evidence of a visa extension will typically take the form of a post office receipt (showing that an application was sent to the Home Office), a Home Office acknowledgement letter, and a new Biometric Residence Permit. These should be submitted to the Student Services Enquiry Desk on Level 2 of the Fraser Building.
If you do not provide evidence of submitting an in-time application, the University will be unable to verify your immigration status and may therefore be required to suspend you from your studies.
Please see International Student Support for further advice on how to extend your visa.
Personal information
When you register on MyCampus, you must provide the University with your term time contact details which should include:
- Your residential address in the United Kingdom
- Your home telephone number in the United Kingdom (if you have one)
- Your mobile telephone number (if you have one)
You must ensure that these details are kept up to date using MyCampus, and you will receive an automated email via MyCampus to your student email account to each semester to remind you of this.
Please also remember that you must inform the Home Office about any changes to the following for yourself or any dependants:
- Personal details
- Criminal convictions
- Contact details
- Representative details
- Dependants’ details
- Any other information that you think the Home Office should have.
You must do this by completing the PBS (Migrant Change of Circumstances) form provided by the Home Office.
If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), you must also keep this up to date with certain changes. You can face a fine of up to £1,000 if it is not kept updated. More information on how to provide updates can be found at the Home Office website.
Police registration
Nationals of certain countries are required to register with the Police as part of the immigration conditions attached to their visa (as shown on their Entry Clearance or Biometric Residence Permit).
Please see International Student Support for further information on Police registration.
You need to keep the police informed of any changes to your address, or if you receive a new visa.
Working during your studies
Non-EEA students on courses lasting more than six months are normally allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during vacations and on work placements which form part of their course.
The 20 hour rule per week is a maximum for term-time work, regardless of how many employers you work for or contracts of employment you hold. A breach of working conditions is a serious offence and can result in being removed from the UK and/or future visa applications being declined.
Please see International Student Support for further information on working during, or after, your studies.