The university acts as your academic sponsor for your Student visa. This means we are saying to the UK Government that we believe you are a responsible student and are capable of completing a degree at the University of Bedfordshire. We must:

• Report any student who fails to enrol on their course within the enrolment period
• Keep a copy of your passport and visa
• Maintain your contact details
• Monitor your attendance and engagement and report failure to meet the minimum requirements
• Report any changes in your circumstances e.g change of course, change of immigration category, a gap in your studies of longer than 60 days
• Report any suspicions you are breaking the conditions of your stay

When is the University obliged to report me to the UKVI?

There are a range of circumstances under which the University of Bedfordshire, as your Student visa sponsor, is obliged to report actions taken by you to the UKVI. These include:

• Your work placement details change
• Your start date is deferred and you have not yet entered the UK, but you will be able to complete the course in the time period for which the visa is issued
• Your course of study shortens
• You change your course
• Information suggests that you are in breach of the conditions of your visa
• You fail to meet minimum attendance requirements In some circumstances we are obliged to withdraw your visa sponsorship. These circumstances include:
  • You fail to enrol onto your course within the registration period
  • You withdraw from your studies
  • You fail to engage sufficiently with your studies
  • Your study location changes
  • You have a gap of more than 60 days in your studies (not including vacation periods). This will require us to withdraw sponsorship. You would need to return home and apply for a new visa to return to the UK when you course recommences. This is usually caused by a failed unit. Remaining in the UK during a 60 day gap will negatively affect your immigration history and future CAS requests may be denied.

These are the responsibilities you have as a Student visa holder:

• Enrol within the enrolment period and show your passport, visa and biometric residence permit (BRP) when required
• Provide the International Office with any new passport, visa or BRP obtained after registration (see 'Contact Us' below)
• Ensure your contact details are correct at all times. These are your address, which should be near the campus where you are studying, your university and personal email addresses and mobile phone number. Update these via E-vision. (See 'Change of address, email or phone number' below)
• Attend all your classes and meet all other engagement points (see 'Engaging with your studies' below)
• Respond promptly to emails or letters you receive from the International Office or other university departments relating to your visa or studies
• Seek authorisation for any term-time absence/travel, you will need to provide compelling evidence as it will only be agreed in exceptional circumstances and you must agree to return on an agreed date (see 'Engaging with your studies' below)
• Advise the university of any changes to your personal circumstances, including immigration status
• Leave the UK if you have a gap in your studies of longer than 60 days (not including holidays) Live near the university campus you are studying at (maximum travel time of 1 hour)
• If you get a new visa, check that all the details including the visa length are correct (for length of visa see A Guide to Obtaining your Student Visa Overseas

You must comply with all the conditions of your visa at all times:

• Not working more hours than stated on your visa. Employers may be visited by UK Visas and Immigration (See section 'Working in the UK during your studies')
• Only working full time during confirmed vacation periods (this varies depending on your course and results)
• Not claiming public funds

If your contact details (address, email, phone number) change while you are studying at Bedfordshire on a Student visa you must:

Inform the University by updating your contact details on E-Vision.

Inform UKVI as instructed on Gov.uk - Report a change of circumstances

If you have a pending visa application, inform Visa Advice visaadvice@beds.ac.uk as well who will help with notifying UKVI.

Drop in to the International Office Room F100 in the Luton Campus: you do not need an appointment.

The International Office is open Monday to Thursday 9:30am – 4:30pm and Fridays 9:30am – 4pm

Phone: 01582 489055 or 01582489014

Email us:

Visa Advice - visaadvice@beds.ac.uk

Visa Monitoring - for providing documents and updates on your legal status or visa applications - visamonitoring@beds.ac.uk

Attendance & Absence - tracking@beds.ac.uk

Suspension of studies - InternationalStudentExperience@beds.ac.uk

Attendance

You must attend all your classes, ie lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and practical sessions and register your attendance by swiping your student ID card. Attendance of both face to face and online activities is monitored; for face to face classes, you must ensure you swipe in person and with your own ID card. If you do not attend, this will be noted as unauthorised absence. Please familiarise yourself with the University of Bedfordshire's Attendance Policy [PDF]

Submissions

You must attend all exams and submit all work on time and in the right way. If you do not, this is a non-submission and it may mean you cannot apply for a visa extension.

If you know that you cannot submit on time talk to your faculty and seek advice from Mitigating Circumstances at mitigation@beds.ac.uk before the submission date.

Absence

If you cannot attend due to illness

You must email Tracking at tracking@beds.ac.uk and your tutor stating the reason for your absence. Look out for a reply from the Tracking Team who will advise you. You will need evidence such as a doctor’s note if your absence will be for more than a week. A certificate from a practitioner of traditional medicine is not always acceptable. Ensure that you register with a GP at the beginning of your course.

If you expect to be absent for more than a week and /or think you will miss an assignment, you must talk to your faculty and seek advice from Mitigating Circumstances at mitigation@beds.ac.uk You will require medical evidence.

If you cannot attend for another reason

All term-time absences/travel must be authorised in advance and will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Contact the International Office or email InternationalStudentExperience@beds.ac.uk for advice.

Prolonged absence may result in you needing to defer your studies. If this happens you may need to return to your home country and obtain a new visa to allow you to return.

You should contact your faculty and the International Office to check if this affects you and for further advice.

Interrupting your studies during your course

Interrupting your studies in the middle of your course is only permitted under exceptional circumstances. You must submit your request to the International Office. If your request is approved the university will be obliged to report this to the UKVI and withdraw visa sponsorship from you. You will be required to return to your home country. The UKVI will curtail your leave to remain under your existing visa, and you will not be permitted to remain in the UK or to return to the UK on this visa at a later date. You will then be required to request a new CAS from the university and to apply for a new Student visa before returning to the UK to resume your studies.

As we cannot guarantee that a visa will be issued to you, the university would advise against interrupting your studies if possible.

Before a new CAS is issued to you, the university will ask for proof that you have returned home in the form of a scanned copy of your entry stamp and boarding pass. The UKVI will also be aware that you must return home as the university will have reported this to them, and they will know whether you have returned home by means of your passport record.

If you wish to defer your studies contact the International Office or email: InternationalStudentExperience@beds.ac.uk for advice.

Please see the Visas for Study section for more information.

Corrections and problems with visa collection

Contact Visa Advice visaadvice@beds.ac.uk in the International Office if you:

• Are unable to collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving in the UK (unless you are self isolating due to Covid)
• Need someone to either collect your BRP on your behalf or accompany you to collect it
• Find a mistake on your BRP or visa including length of time given at the end of your course (Read our Visa Guide for more detailed information)

Contact Visa Advice visaadvice@beds.ac.uk in the International Office if you:

• Are unable to collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving in the UK
• Need someone to either collect your BRP on your behalf or accompany you to collect it
• Find a mistake on your BRP or visa including length of time given at the end of your course (Read our Visa Guide for more detailed information)

Police registration is no longer required.

In the past, certain passport holders were required to register with the Police after arrival in the UK and update the Police Station with any changes to their details.

However, in early August 2022, it was announced that students are no longer required to register with the police or update their details.

You can read the Public Notice [PDF] announcing this change.