International Students

The University has committed to working within Public Health guidelines.

On Wednesday 18 March, the University suspended face-to-face lectures and classes.

We remain fully committed to supporting you in the continuation of your studies through online delivery.

Material will be made online over the remainder of the semester.  Your Course Director will be ready to advise on next steps, access to materials and assessment.

Ideas for isolation

We have assembled some suggestions for activities and opportunities that you may find interesting during the semester.

• Can I get a visa and come to the UK, but do my studies online?

  The UK Home Office has advised that if your course will be delivered fully online, you will not need to be in the UK to undertake your studies.

  You will, therefore, not need to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

  We are monitoring UK Home Office guidance closely and will update our FAQs when we receive any further details or if this advice changes.

• Can I apply for University accommodation?  If so, can I apply before I have a CAS/Visa?

  As an international student you can apply up to 14 August 2020 for a place in University accommodation.

  You can apply before you have received a CAS or Visa.

  As part of your application for University accommodation, you will be requested to pay a booking deposit of £100, which is fully refundable up until you decide to accept our accommodation offer.

  If you decide not to accept our offer, we will refund your deposit in full.

  To talk you through your accommodation options, we will be running a virtual accommodation open day on 12 June 2020 at 2pm (BST).

Visas

• Who can contact about visa queries?

  For any queries and advice regarding your Tier 4 visa please contact our Compliance team at compliance@ulster.ac.uk.

• I am studying on a Tier 4 visa, what actions do I need to take?

  All Tier 4 students must complete a Tier 4 Student Circumstances form to provide us with details of your current circumstances. This will allow us to support you appropriately with your studies.

  If your circumstances change in the future (for example, if you have chosen to remain in the UK but you later decide to leave the UK), please complete and submit the form again to update us.

• I have left the UK or would like to leave the UK. What should I do and how will this affect my Tier 4 visa?

  You should have already completed a Tier 4 Student Circumstances form to let us know that you have left or are planning to leave the UK.

  If you have not yet completed this form, please do so immediately.

  If your circumstances change (for example, if you submitted your form to confirm that you were planning to leave the UK and you have now left the UK), please complete and submit a new form.

• I am a Tier 4 student and I am unable to maintain my studies because of COVID-19. What should I do?

  It is important that you continue to maintain your studies.  However, if you are unable to maintain your studies because of COVID-19, you may request a period of authorised absence from your studies.

  Please complete and submit the Tier 4 Authorised Absence Request (COVID-19) form. After we receive your form, we will confirm whether your absence is authorised (‘excused’).

  If you wish to take a Leave of Absence or withdraw from your course, please contact compliance@ulster.ac.uk for advice.

• My visa will expire soon but I cannot return home because of travel restrictions.  What should I do?

  If your visa expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020 and you are unable to leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to coronavirus (COVID-19), your visa will be extended to 31 July 2020.

  You must complete and submit the COVID-19 UK Visas & Immigration form in order to request a visa extension until 31 July 2020.

  You are expected to leave the UK as soon as it is possible for you to do so.

  Alternatively, if you have received an offer of a place of study in the UK, you may be able to submit a Tier 4 visa application before your extended visa expires.

  Please contact the Compliance team if you have any questions about this.

  The Coronavirus Immigration Team will let you know when your request is received and that UKVI have noted your details.

  You can call the Coronavirus Immigration Team helpline on: 0800 678 1767 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) Calls are free of charge.

  Please let the Compliance team (compliance@ulster.ac.uk) know when you have submitted this form

• Will the University maintain sponsorship of my Tier 4 visa?

  The UK Home Office has changed the rules to permit current Tier 4 students to study online during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

  We expect, therefore, that we will be able to maintain our sponsorship of your Tier 4 visa during this time provided that you continue to maintain your studies.

  If you are unable to maintain your studies due to COVID-19, please follow the advice provided in this guidance to request an authorised absence from your studies.

  As a Tier 4 sponsor, the University is bound by immigration rules.  We are closely monitoring updates to UK Home Office guidance and will inform you of any changes that may have an impact on your Tier 4 visa.

• May I work more than 20 hours per week at this time?

  As a Tier 4 student, you are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week during term-time.  As the University is continuing to deliver teaching, this is still term-time.  You may only work more than 20 hours per week during the formal vacation periods or after your course ends (as per the course end date stated on your CAS).

  If you work more than 20 hours per week during term-time, you will be in breach of the immigration rules.

  Further advice and guidance

  You will find further useful visa advice and general guidance for international students at https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Coronavirus-Covid-19-info-for-international-students

• Will I be able to receive a Post-Study Work Visa in Summer 2021?

  The UK government has re-confirmed its intention to implement a new Graduate Route (often referred to as ‘Post Study Work’) in Summer 2021; however, no details have yet been released.

  We monitor changes to UK immigration rules closely and will provide you with further details on this route when they are released.

• I am a Tier 4 student. Will I be able to continue my studies if my course will be delivered online in Semester 1?

  Yes.

  Concessions to the Tier 4 regulations mean that you are permitted to study online and maintain your Tier 4 visa.

• I am a Tier 4 student currently living in my home country. When can I return to the UK?

  If you have a valid Tier 4 visa, you may return to the UK at any time to continue your studies.

• What should I do if I need to apply for a visa extension in the UK but my local UK Visas and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre is closed?

  Some UKVCAS centres have already reopened for existing customers.  If you have not yet submitted your online visa application, you should do so before your current visa expires.  You must create a UKVCAS account when you submit your visa application so you can be contacted when new biometric appointments become available.

  You can check which UKVCAS centres are open.

• What do I do if I need to update my Police Registration Certificate but my local police station is closed?

  While social distancing measures are in place, you may be unable to attend your local police station to register with the police or report a change in circumstance (e.g. change of address or immigration status).  As soon as your local police stations re-opens to the public, you must attend to report any changes that have occurred.

• I have a Short-term Student visa and I have been accepted to study a course at Ulster University from September 2020.  What do I do if I cannot leave the UK to apply for a Tier 4 visa from my home country?

  If you have a Short-term Student visa and your immigration permission expires before 31 July 2020, you may exceptionally apply for a Tier 4 visa from inside the UK provided that your course start date is 1 October 2020 or earlier.

  You must meet all other Tier 4 requirements, including funds (tuition fees and maintenance) and evidence in the required format.  Please contact the Compliance team if you have any questions about this.

Health

• I am in the UK and I need to self-isolate.  What should I do?

  If you are a Tier 4 student who needs to self-isolate, please complete the Tier 4 Student Self-isolating form to let us know the start date and end date of your self-isolation period.

  University staff will contact you to support you through your self-isolation period.

  If you are staying in University accommodation, please see further guidance from Residential Services.

• Who should I tell if I'm not able to study through illness?

  If you are unable to study online through illness or are ill for a prolonged period, please contact your Academic School in the first instance to inform them of your medical circumstances.

• What precautions should I be taking to stay healthy?

  The recommended steps you should take to protect yourself are the same as those to avoid flu and any other similar respiratory infections.

  You should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and avoid visiting people who are ill with respiratory symptoms.

• I am an international student, am I entitled to healthcare?

  Accessing healthcare starts with registering with a local General Practice (GP) close to your accommodation.

  If you think you are affected by the coronavirus, please view the up to date advice from the Public Health agency

  If you are worried about any other medical condition, please telephone your GP for advice on what to do.

• I am very worried.  Who can I talk to?

  You can access support quickly through the Student Wellbeing team.

  You can also contact the international student experience team at ise@ulster.ac.uk