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Information for current Student visa holders

Student visas set out responsibilities and obligations of the student and student route sponsor, i.e., Birkbeck, that must be complied to for the individual and sponsor to maintain their visa and sponsorship license, respectively. 

The following sections outline important responsibilities for Student visa holders. For comprehensive information, please refer to the following resources:  

ATTENDANCE

  • As a student you are required to engage with all mandatory teaching sessions and comply with assessment requirements throughout the duration of their programme of study.  
  • You will also be expected to complete and submit the assessed work on time and undertake any further reading or preparation outside the classroom deemed necessary by the lecturer. 
  • It is your responsibility to make sure to touch your Student ID for eRegisters or sign the class register as appropriate at each teaching event you attend. 
  • If you are unable to engage with any scheduled academic contacts, including supervisory sessions, due to illness or other personal reasons, you should request permission before the absence occurs, or as soon as possible after it began. This should be done by contacting your faculty in writing with reasons, duration of your absence and supporting evidence.  

OFF-CAMPUS STUDY

  • If you are a research student, i.e., MPhil/PhD student, and need to be away from Birkbeck premise for study purposes, such as research field trip, data collection or writing up, and would like to retain your Student visa, it is your responsibility to obtain the permission from Birkbeck before your planned trip.  
  • You should discuss your planned trips with your research supervisor and submit an off-campus study request for approval via ASK. Please note that the Student visa responsibilities including attendance requirement will continue regardless of your proposed off-campus study period.  
  • If you do not obtain the relevant permission prior to your planned trips, it may not be possible for Birkbeck to continue your visa sponsorship. You will also need to report your return to Birkbeck at the end of your agreed period.  
  • Failure to adhere to the agreement may jeopardise your student status and your Student visa. 

WORK PLACEMENT

  • Some degree programmes may offer a work placement as an assessed part of the programme. If your programme offers it and you wish to take it up, you must discuss this with your faculty. 
  • A completed work placement agreement form (available from your faculty or via the international student area of Moodle) must be submitted to your faculty for approval. If it gets approved, the Home Office will be informed. You must not start your work placement until it is approved by Birkbeck.  
  • If you take a teaching module in parallel with the approved work placement, you must attend the teaching module as normal. Being on the work placement does not exempt you from the attendance requirements.  

CHANGE OF PROGRAMME

  • If you are considering changing your course, it is essential to be aware of potential implications for your tuition fees and Student visa. You should seek guidance from your faculty and International Student Administration.  
  • If you wish to change your programme of study part way through, you must first discuss academic viability with both the programme leader of your current course and the programme leader of the course you wish to transfer to.  
  • If they provisionally approves your request, you will then need to contact ISA to enquire if the Student visa rules would permit you to take up the new programme of study without having to apply for a new Student visa from your home country or an ATAS certificate.  
  • You must
    • provide a new supporting statement for the new course you wish to change to, and 
    • meet the academic progress requirements, which will be assessed via an academic progression form.  
  • You are not permitted to attend the new programme of study until the transfer request is formally approved by both your faculty and ISA.  

UNSATISFACTORY ENGAGEMENT / INTERRUPTION / WITHDRAWAL 

  • Birkbeck is required to report to the Home Office any Student visa holder whose level of academic engagement is unsatisfactory, or who interrupts or withdraws from their studies. The Home Office will then normally curtail the relevant student’s visa to 60 days, unless you have less than 60 days leave remaining.  
  • It is therefore especially important that you maintain academic engagement and inform your faculty of any possible absences, or when difficulties arise. 

REPEAT STUDIES

RETURNING FROM A BREAK IN STUDIES

  • If you are resuming your studies following a break in studies, you need to first contact your faculty to discuss academic requirements and suitable timing to return. If you are required to attend in-person regularly and consistently so requiring a further Student visa sponsorship, please contact International Student Administration (ISA) as soon as possible.  

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EARLY

  • Birkbeck is required to report to the Home Office any Student visa holder who successfully completes their studies earlier than the date stated on their CAS.  
  • The Home Office will then curtail the relevant student’s visa so that they have an appropriate wrap-up period after the new course end date. The wrap-up period is granted depending on the level and total length of your course.  

UNSUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED EARLY

  • If you conclude your programme of study unsuccessfully earlier than the course end date stated on your CAS, Birkbeck is required to report it to the Home Office.  
  • The Home Office will curtail your permission to stay to 60 days to arrange your departure from the UK, unless you have less than 60 days leave remaining. If you are outside the UK when the curtailment notification is issued, you must consider your visa is cancelled with an immediate effect and do not attempt to use the visa to re-enter the UK.  

COMPLETED IN TIME

  • If you complete your programme of study on track, i.e. by the end date stated on your CAS, you can arrange your departure from the UK, extend your Student visa if you’ll be pursuing further studies in the UK, or switch to a different immigration status, such as Graduate route visa or Skilled Worker visa, before your current Student visa expires.  
  • You must ensure not to stay beyond your visa expiry date. 

SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT VISA

  • If you changed your Student visa to a non-student visa while you are enrolled as a student, you must inform International Student Administration and provide a copy of your new immigration permission.  

IF MORE TIME IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE

  • It may be possible to extend your Student visa to enable you to complete your programme of study if your faculty confirms that:
    • you have made satisfactory academic progression
    • your continued engagement including consistent and regular in-person attendance is essential. 
  • Additionally, you must meet all Student visa requirements.  
  • However, such extension applications may need to be made from abroad, rather than from the UK. 
  • You should submit a completed Request for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for Continuing Students form (accessed via a M365 Birkbeck student account) at least eight weeks before you intend to make your new visa application.  

CHANGES TO YOUR DOCUMENTS

  • Report a change of circumstances
  • If your address has changed, you should update the Home Office by completing their online form. You should also update your record at Birkbeck via My Birkbeck.  
  • If you have a BRP, you must apply for a new BRP straight away if any of the following change:  
    • name, for example if you have got married 
    • nationality 
    • facial appearance 
    • date of birth, for example if it was wrong 
    • gender.  
  • You must report any other changes to the following details to the Home Office via their change of circumstances form.   
  • You are also required to inform  with the relevant documentation so that your student record can be updated accordingly. Please contact  if you require further assistance.  
  • Change of name
  • If you have a digital status, you need to sign in and update your UKVI account and provide the relevant documents.  
  • If you are inside the UK and were issued with a BRP, you must apply for a new BRP straightaway.  
  • If you are outside the UK and were issued with a BRP, you need to apply for a replacement BRP visa to return to the UK. This will allow you to re-enter the UK only once. You will then need to apply for a replacement BRP.  
  • You are also required to inform  with the relevant documentation so that your student record can be updated accordingly. 
  • Change of nationality
  • If you have a digital status, you need to sign in and update your UKVI account and provide the relevant documents.
  • If you are inside the UK, were issued with a BRP and your previous nationality is rescinded, you must apply for a new BRP straightaway.  
  • If you are outside the UK, were issued with a BRP and your previous nationality is rescinded, you need to apply for a replacement BRP visa to return to the UK. This will allow you to re-enter the UK only once. You will then need to apply for a replacement BRP.  
  • You are also required to inform  with the relevant documentation so that your student record can be updated accordingly. 
  • Renewed passport
  • If you are inside the UK and were issued with a BRP, you must report it to the Home Office by sending a completed Migrant Changes of Circumstances (MCC) form.  
  • If you are outside the UK, you can carry both the previous and new passports and your BRP to re-enter the UK. Once you are in the UK, you must report it to the Home Office using their Migrant Changes of Circumstances (MCC) form.  
  • You are also required to inform  with the relevant documentation so that your student record can be updated accordingly. 

LOST BRP OR PASSPORT

  • BRP lost outside the UK
  • You need to report it as lost or stolen to the Home Office, and apply for a replacement BRP visa to return to the UK. This will allow you to re-enter the UK only once. You will then need to apply for a replacement BRP.  
  • You are also required to inform  and provide a copy of your new BRP once it is issued.  
  • If you expect the replacement BRP visa process might result in your late arrival to the UK so you are unable to attend your teaching sessions, it is important to promptly notify your faculty and ISA for further assistance.  
  • Lost passport in the UK
  • You need to report the lost or stolen passport to the UK Police and your country’s Embassy or Consulate where you apply for a replacement. You must have a replacement passport to travel.  
  • You need to report the new passport to the Home Office (see under renewed passport).  
  • You are also required to inform  and provide a copy of your new passport once it is issued.  
  • Lost passport outside the UK
  • You need to report the lost or stolen passport to the police in the country where this happened and contact your country’s Embassy or Consulate in the country where you are to apply for a replacement. You must have a replacement passport to travel.  
  • You need to report the new passport to the Home Office (see under renewed passport).  
  • You are also required to inform  and provide a copy of your new passport once it is issued.  
  • If you expect the replacement passport process might result in your late arrival to the UK so you are unable to attend your teaching sessions, it is important to promptly notify your faculty and ISA for further assistance.