University of Glasgow - MyGlasgow - Registry - For Staff - Immigration Compliance

Eligibility for Tier 4 visa

EEA & Swiss students

EEA nationals do not currently require a visa to enter or study in the UK. An EEA national is a national of one of the following countries:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Switzerland is not part of the EEA, but Swiss nationals have similar free movement rights in the UK and also do not require a visa to study.

The UK left the European Union in January 2020, and is currently in a 'transition period'. During this time, the rights of EEA nationals to enter, study and/or work in the UK are unchanged, but any EEA nationals who wish to stay after 1 January 2021 will need to apply for EU Settlement Status. Students can contact International Student Support for advice on this matter.

Eligibility for Tier 4 sponsorship

The course that the University assigns a CAS to a student to take must be:

1. Full-time:

A) A full-time course of study that leads to a UK-recognised qualification at level 6 or above on the QCF or NQF or equivalents; or

B) An overseas higher education course that the student is studying for in the UK and leads to a qualification from an overseas higher education institution that is recognised as being equivalent to a UK higher education qualification; or

C) A course of study below UK degree level that involves a minimum of 15 hours a week of classroom-based, daytime study (08:00 – 18:00, Monday to Friday)

And;

2. Lead to an approved qualification

A) Validated by Royal Charter;

B) Awarded by a body that is on the list of recognised bodies produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; (See Recognised UK Degrees);

C) Recognised by one or more recognised bodies through a formal articulation agreement with the awarding body;

D) In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, on the Register of Regulated Qualifications (See OFQUAL) at QCF or NQF level 3 or above;

E) In Scotland, accredited at Level 6 or above in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) by the Scottish Qualifications Authority;

F) An overseas qualification that UK NARIC can assess as valid and equivalent to level 3 or above on the NQF;

G) Covered by a formal legal agreement between a UK-recognised body and another education provider or awarding body.

i) If the approved qualification is covered by such an agreement, the authorised signatory for institutional agreements within the recognised body must sign this.

The agreement must confirm the recognised body’s own independent assessment of the level of your or the awarding body’s programme compared to the NQF (or its equivalents).

It must also state that the recognised body would admit any student who successfully completes your or the awarding body’s named course onto a specific or a range of degree-level courses it offers

The Home Office do not accept distance learning courses or courses designed specifically to support students taking distance learning courses, as leading to an approved qualification.

This is because distance learning courses are specifically designed in a way that does not require the learner to be physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom.

Courses offered in the UK that are designed to support students on distance learning courses can be undertaken using the Student visitor route if the conditions of that route are met.

Pre-sessional courses must meet the requirements for the level of the course but the course does not have to lead to a recognised qualification.

If an applicant does not meet these criteria, a CAS should not be issued.

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Eligibility for Tier 4 visa

EEA & Swiss students

Eligibility for Tier 4 sponsorship

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