Change of course

Hello. I have been studying an undergraduate course at a uni on a Tier 4 visa with a validity of 4 years. My course is an undergraduate degree with placement year, so total duration is 4 years.

From information on uni website, it’s clear that If I were to change my course to a higher level and complete it before current visa expires, I won’t need to apply for a new visa. And if I were to remove placement year, my visa will be curtailed but I won’t need to apply for new visa.

Can I change my course to integrated masters with duration of 4 years and remove placement year simultaneously, without needing to apply for a new visa?

User62527 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:37 am

Can I change my course to integrated masters with duration of 4 years and remove placement year simultaneously, without needing to apply for a new visa?

This will depend on some specifics of the course and how the university sees you. I would advise asking the international student adviser at the university to look at your options with you.

sah10406 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 3:05 pm

User62527 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:37 am

Can I change my course to integrated masters with duration of 4 years and remove placement year simultaneously, without needing to apply for a new visa?

This will depend on some specifics of the course and how the university sees you. I would advise asking the international student adviser at the university to look at your options with you.

Hi Sah. Thanks for the advice. I will do so. If it’s fine, could you clarify the part relating to how the university sees me?

Also, would I still be eligible to switch to Graduate route? The updated guidance regarding Graduate route says that “the applicant must have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level (RQF 6) or above, and the course must have been the one for which their latest Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was assigned. The sponsoring HEP must confirm the applicant meets this requirement”.

Does it also mean that I won’t be eligible for graduate route if I only remove the placement year and continue the undergraduate degree?

User62527 wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 21, 2020 6:20 pm

Also, would I still be eligible to switch to Graduate route? The updated guidance regarding Graduate route says that “the applicant must have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level (RQF 6) or above, and the course must have been the one for which their latest Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was assigned. The sponsoring HEP must confirm the applicant meets this requirement”.

User62527 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 3:48 am

Does it also mean that I won’t be eligible for graduate route if I only remove the placement year and continue the undergraduate degree?

It depends how the immigration rules for the new route are worded exactly, which we won't know until next summer. In other contexts, for example academic progression for a Tier 4 leave to remain application, that same requirement includes courses that your Tier 4 leave allowed you to switch to without making a new application.

sah10406 wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:50 am

It depends how the immigration rules for the new route are worded exactly, which we won't know until next summer. In other contexts, for example academic progression for a Tier 4 leave to remain application, that same requirement includes courses that your Tier 4 leave allowed you to switch to without making a new application.

In the context of academic progression for a tier 4 extension, does the same requirement include switching to integrated master’s course?

User62527 wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:33 am

In the context of academic progression for a tier 4 extension, does the same requirement include switching to integrated master’s course?

It's all covered in the Tier 4 policy guidance, pages 77-80:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -4-student