5-year cap and another undergraduate degree

Hi everyone,

I find myself in quite a tricky situation, I have just completed my BSc degree at one of the UK universities and I have a place to start a MBBS course in September. Specialised courses including Medicine are meant to be an exception to a 5-year cap rule, however, does it apply in my case since I’m doing it as a 2nd degree? Also, MBBS is considered to be an undergraduate degree (NQF Level 6). Would UKBA consider it as an academic progress since it’s the same level as the previous course that I studied?

Thank you so much
Julia

MBBS is exempt from 5 years CAP when you are taking that course as your first degree not when you are taking it after you have already completed another degree program.

well the rules doesn't say if its your first undergrad degree or second.......u better ask da uni advisor abt it.if uni issues u a CAS den u might be okay.

Thank you all so much for your replies I have indeed been issued a CAS so will see how the application goes

Shaq1, I'm really sorry for being a pain but do you by any chance have any references to the immigration rules stating this? Thanks a lot

See:Exceptions

Hmm, please correct me if I am wrong, but the exception section just states that medicine is exempt from 5 year limit, however, it doesn't actually specify whether this is only true for those doing it as their first degree. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding something

It doesn't say about it only applying for your first degree because that isn't true, it is the case whether its your first degree or not. Have your university confirmed on your CAS that you are making academic progress?

Tbh, I'm not entirely sure if it has but my offer was based on me obtaining at least a 2.1 in my previous degree, which I have to provide some proof of as part of my visa application. If I understand the rules correctly, that should count as academic progression, since the offer was based on most recent qualification?

Hi Julia,

I am not sure that you are still using this web. But I am in the same situation as you now. I will finish my first degree this summer and I also got a MBBS offer. So how was the CAS and Visa application last year? Did they ask you to provide something to show the academic progression? The 5-year cap seems okay for medicine degree. I am just worried about the academic progression as my first degree is an engineering degree.

Thank you very much:)

Lupei

Lupei wrote:Hi Julia,

I am not sure that you are still using this web. But I am in the same situation as you now. I will finish my first degree this summer and I also got a MBBS offer. So how was the CAS and Visa application last year? Did they ask you to provide something to show the academic progression? The 5-year cap seems okay for medicine degree. I am just worried about the academic progression as my first degree is an engineering degree.

Thank you very much:)

Lupei

Does the university who had made you the offer know about your previous study history and have they confirmed they can give you a CAS. It is up to the university to confirm academic progression. I think they would have a difficult time justifying progression when your previous degree is in a completely unrelated subject but it depends on how they apply the academic progression rules. Be prepared also that if they do issue you a CAS you are likely to be inteviewed and they may question your intentions.

Greenie wrote: Does the university who had made you the offer know about your previous study history and have they confirmed they can give you a CAS. It is up to the university to confirm academic progression. I think they would have a difficult time justifying progression when your previous degree is in a completely unrelated subject but it depends on how they apply the academic progression rules. Be prepared also that if they do issue you a CAS you are likely to be inteviewed and they may question your intentions.

Hi Greenie, I think the university knew that. A 2.1 first degree is the entry requirement for graduate entry student like me and they said on their web that the first degree can be any subject. I am going to ask the admission office to check that. I wonder that even if I get the CAS from the university, the UKBA may still refuse my visa application because of the academic progression? Thank you

Lupei wrote: I wonder that even if I get the CAS from the university, the UKBA may still refuse my visa application because of the academic progression?

It's possible. The sponsor needs to confirm specifically that the new course is academic progression on the previous Tier 4 studies. As advised, you are likely to be interviewed to confirm your credibility.

This is not a cap issue at all, just a question of academic progression.