Student Route
We have a world-leading education sector and will continue to welcome talented and high potential students to our universities, further education and English language colleges, and independent schools. There will be no limit on the number of international students who can come to the UK to study, and we will seek to increase the number of international students in higher education as set out in the International Education Strategy published in March 2019.
We also want to ensure that we retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study, which is why we are launching the Graduate route in Summer 2021 to allow those who have completed a degree at a UK Higher Education Provider, that has a track record of compliance, to stay in the UK for two years (three years for PhD graduates) and work at any skill level, and to switch into work routes if they find a suitable job.
The new Points-Based Student route will build on the current Tier 4 system, which is working well. The core tenets of the Tier 4 route will remain sponsorship at a licensed provider, demonstration of English language ability and the ability of the student to support themselves in the UK.
However, the route will be improved, making it more streamlined for sponsoring institutions and their students, creating clearer pathways for students, and ensuring we remain competitive in a changing global market, particularly since the pace of change has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Students will require a total of 70 points to be granted leave. Points are non-tradeable and will be awarded for meeting the requirements of the route as set out in the table below.
Table 6: Student route points
| Points type | Relevant requirements to be met | Number of points |
|---|---|---|
| Student | Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies requirement, Course requirement, Approved Qualification requirement, Level of Study requirement, Place of Study requirement |
50 |
| Financial | Financial requirement | 10 |
| English language | English language requirement | 10 |
Child Students will require a total of 70 points to be granted leave. Points are nontradeable and will be awarded for meeting the requirements of the route as set out in the table below.
Table 7: Child Student route points
| Points type | Relevant requirements to be met | Number of points |
|---|---|---|
| Student | Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies requirement, Course requirement, Study at an independent school, Aged between 4 and 17 when applying, Parental consent |
50 |
| Financial | Financial requirement (including any additional funds for care arrangements) | 20 |
We will be extending the period of time in which a student can apply for permission to come to the UK before the start of their course, from three to six months. We will also be removing the study time limit for students studying at a postgraduate level, although students will still be expected to be progressing academically in their studies when making a further application in the UK. Students who meet eligibility requirements will be able to make an in-country application for further leave regardless of their sponsor or level of study.
We recognise that students who have been studying in the UK after being granted leave to enter as a student have already demonstrated an ability to support themselves and so we will not routinely request them to submit documentary evidence of funds when making further applications to remain in the UK. We will also remove the requirement for students who are on a recognised Foundation Programme as a doctor or dentist in training, or who are employed as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer to demonstrate funds.
Higher education providers with a track record of compliance will be able to make an offer of study to students at degree level and above and carry out their own assessment of those students’ academic ability. We will not routinely ask students to provide academic qualifications with an application when their sponsor has made this assessment.
Applicants who are citizens of certain countries considered to be low risk will benefit from reduced documentary requirements and EU countries will be added to this list. This list will be kept under regular review.
Sponsors will be required to monitor the academic engagement of their students, and they will need to keep records of a student’s engagement. This requirement will replace the current attendance monitoring duty for higher education providers. Sponsors who are a Higher Education Provider with a track record will be able to self-assess academic and English language ability. Sponsors will need to record details of how any self-assessment of the English language was made when offering a place of study to a student.
The current Tier 4 Pilot Scheme will close as the new Student route opens. The reduced documentary requirements and extended post-study leave period of the Pilot Scheme are being improved upon by the launch of the Graduate route in 2021 and our changes to maintenance and academic requirements.
There will continue to be a separate child and adult Student routes, and those sponsoring students will be required to have regard to the safeguarding of international students under 18 studying at their institution. In time, and following the launch of a new sponsorship system, we will consider diversifying further by splitting the adult route into separate Higher Education and Further Education routes to accentuate the pathways.
Who can apply?
Students with an unconditional offer from a sponsoring institution, who can demonstrate they genuinely intend to study and can meet all the relevant requirements of the route.
Table 8: Student route conditions and requirements
| Requirements | Conditions and restrictions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | Yes | Capped | No |
| Application fee | Yes | Switching – routes (in-country) | Yes |
| Immigration Skills Charge | No | Route to settlement | No |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Yes | Dependants | See below |
| Biometrics | Yes | Access to funds | No |
| Maintenance | Yes | Supplementary work | See below |
Additional
Able to bring dependants if studying at postgraduate level for at least nine months at a Higher Education Provider (HEP) with a track record of compliance, or if government-sponsored to study a course longer than six months.
Applicants Must
- be aged 16 years or over and studying at GCSE level or above;
- have parental consent if aged under 18;
- be sponsored and have valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS);
- meet academic ability, English language and maintenance requirements (different means of assessment and evidential requirements dependent on nationality, course level and sponsor type);
- be a genuine student (applicants may have a credibility interview);
- meet academic progression (if applying in the UK) and time limit (no more than two years below degree level or five years below postgraduate level) requirements;
- obtain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance if studying a relevant course (unless an EU citizen).
- No switching of sponsoring institution is allowed without making a new application.
Students can apply for further leave as a Student or switch into other routes in line with the wider approach to switching when applying for leave inside the UK. This will include the ability to switch into work routes if they are able to meet the requirements. Whether supplementary work is allowed depends on the level of study and sponsoring institution. Separate restrictions apply regarding what type of employment is permitted. For example, students are not allowed to be employed as a professional sportsperson, a doctor or dentist in training or as an entertainer. Additionally, they cannot be self-employed or engage in business activity. Students can generally only study at their sponsoring institution on the course for which the CAS was assigned.
Generally given a four-month ‘wrap up’ period post-study (varies with the length of course).
Table 9: Child Student route conditions and requirements
| Requirements | Conditions and restrictions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| English language | No | Capped | No |
| Application fee | Yes | Switching – routes (in-country) | Yes |
| Immigration Skills Charge | No | Route to settlement | No |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Yes | Dependants | No |
| Biometrics | Yes | Access to funds | No |
| Maintenance | Yes | Supplementary work | See below |
Additional
A child student must
- be at least 4 years old and under 18 years old and studying at an independent school.
- have a letter of consent from a parent or legal guardian, suitable care arrangements, and evidence of the relationship between student and consenting party (also applies to general student aged under 18).
- if aged 16 years or over, demonstrate they are a genuine student (which may involve having a credibility interview).
- meet academic ability and maintenance requirements.
- be sponsored and have a valid CAS.
Additional information
Sponsors
- are responsible for any international students they offer study to under the Child Student or Student route throughout the period of sponsorship;
- are only able to sponsor if they are a Higher Education Provider, publicly funded college, independent school, private Further Education provider or overseas Higher Education Institution. State-funded schools (with the exception of voluntary grammar schools in Northern Ireland), including state-funded boarding schools, are not permitted to sponsor international students;
- must maintain Educational Oversight and pass yearly Basic Compliance Assessment. Sponsors which recruit children must meet National Minimum Standards for child safeguarding;
- must ensure Child Students and Students are engaging academically;
- must report relevant changes to the institution and changes of sponsored Child Students’ and Students’ circumstances;
are subject to sanctions for non-compliance.
