Frequently Asked Questions: Enrolling at UEL and Visas for students already in the UK
1. I have a Tier 4 (student) visa for another institution, can I study at UEL?
If you have an existing Tier 4 (student) visa which was issued for study at another institution and does not have the UEL Sponsor Licence Number on it, whether you can enrol and study at the University of East London will depend on the date that you applied for the visa.
- Tier 4 Visas (applied for on or after 5th October 2009) - If you want to study at UEL and you made your last application for a Tier 4 visa for another institution on or after 5th October 2009, you will need to apply for a new Tier 4 visa. You can begin studying at UEL before you have received a decision on your new Tier 4 application. Before enrolling, you will need to provide evidence that you have applied for a Tier 4 visa for studies at UEL (even if you have not yet been granted your new visa). The evidence can be an acknowledgement letter issued by the UK Border Agency confirming receipt of your Tier 4 application or the special delivery receipt from the post office addressed to the UK Border Agency.
You can, at your own risk, start your new course at UEL after applying but before receiving a decision on your Tier 4 application for UEL. If for any reason your application is not granted, you may have to stop your studies and return to your home country. Once you have a decision on your Tier 4 application, you must notify the International Office.
- Tier 4 Visas (applied for before 5th October 2009) - If you want to study at UEL and you made your last application for a Tier 4 visa for another institution before 5th October 2009, you must get the written permission of the UK Border Agency. To request this permission, you must complete and send a Permission to Change Tier 4 Sponsor (T4 - PTS) application form. You can download this form and guidance notes from the UK Border Agency website. This application costs £160 and can only be made by post.
You can, at your own risk, start your new course at UEL after requesting permission, but before receiving permission from the UK Border Agency. If for any reason permission is not granted, you may have to stop your studies and return to your home country. Before enrolling, you will need to provide evidence that you have requested permission to switch your studies to UEL. This evidence can be an acknowledgement letter issued by the UK Border Agency confirming receipt of your T4 -PTS application, or a receipt of postage (special delivery receipt) showing that you have made the T4- PTS application. At some point in the future, the UK Border Agency will send you a letter granting permission (or not as the case may be) - at which point you must inform the International Office.
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2. I have an old style student visa (applied for before 31st March 2009), can I study at UEL?
If you have an existing old style student visa (pre - Tier 4, applied for before 31st March 2009), you can study at UEL. However, If your old style student visa was issued for study elsewhere, you should email the UK Border Agency at migrantreporting@ukba.gsi.gov.uk to inform them of your change of circumstances. You should quote your name, date of birth, nationality and contact details. You should also provide details of your new course/ institution and briefly outline the reason for the change.
You may need to apply for a Tier 4 visa extension at some point if you do not have sufficient time on your current visa to complete your new course.
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3. I have a work visa, can I study at UEL?
Most work visas (including Tier 1 - General & Post Study Work, Tier 2 & Work permits) do not prohibit study. This means that if you are in the UK on one of these work visas, you can study. However, you must ensure that you are fulfilling the conditions of your visa and that you have not changed the main purpose for your stay in the UK to study. Therefore, you should continue working within the specific conditions of your visa and study should not be the main reason you remain in the UK.
You can normally study full or part time if you are in the UK on one of the work visas. However, you must be careful to ensure that you can finish your studies within the existing time on your work visa or that you are able to extend your work visa. Only some categories of work visa allow you to switch to Tier 4 (student) visa in the UK, if you need to do so. In other cases, you may need to return to your home country in order to obtain a Tier 4 (student) visa, if you need to switch to student. Be aware that you cannot study part time on a Tier 4 student visa.
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4. I have a visitor visa, can I study at UEL?
If you are in the UK on most types of visitor visa (including tourist, business and family visitors), study is prohibited. This means that you cannot study on a visitors visa. You will have to return to your home country and apply for a Tier 4 student visa.
The only exception to the prohibition of study on a type of visitors visa are Student Visitor and Prospective Student. These are very specific types of visitor visa. Student Visitor visa is suitable for short term and part time courses, will not be issued for more than 6 months and cannot be extended in the UK. Prospective Student is suitable for those who intend to undertake studies in the UK but have not completed all the arrangements for your course of study.Please see UKBA website for more information on visitor visas.
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5. I have some other type of visa, can I study at UEL?
If you are in the UK on some other type of visa, whether you can study at UEL will depend on the visa you have.
If you have a visa as the dependant or spouse of someone legally in the UK (i.e.: PBS dependant, spouse visa or EEA family permit), you can study. You can normally study full or part time. However, you must be aware that your stay in the UK is dependant on the person that you are the relevant family member of. If your relevant family member leaves the UK, if your relationship ends or you are not able to extend your stay in the same or other some other categories -your stay in the UK will no longer be valid, and you may not be able to continue your studies or you may have to apply for a Tier 4 visa in your home country.
If you have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa, you can study full or part time. However, you must be careful to ensure that you can finish your studies within the existing time on your visa. You cannot switch to Tier 4 student visa in the UK if you are already in the UK on a Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa. If your course ends after your Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa expires, you will have to apply for a Tier 4 visa from your home country.
NOTE: You cannot study part time on a Tier 4 student visa.
If you have any other type of visa and you wish to study at UEL, please email isa@uel.ac.uk for advice.
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Tier 4 Sponsor Licence
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