Student Visa responsibilities

Students and universities are required to comply with Home Office requirements under the Student Route.

As a student, if you fail to comply with these conditions, it may result in you being reported to the Home Office, which could result in your immigration permission being cancelled.

The College also has to comply with these conditions. Failure to do so could result in the loss of the HEI Sponsor License, without which the College would not be able to retain current or register new international students.

The following is a summary of the responsibilities of the student and the college. Students are also strongly advised to read Appendix ST: Student immigration rules and the Student Route Guidance for further information.

If you hold a Student Visa, you are not permitted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to pursue your studies remotely. This is because the Student Visa is granted specifically for studying in the UK, and it is mandatory to attend classes, lectures, and supervision meetings on the College campus to comply with UK immigration regulations. This means that Student Visa holders are not allowed to study their course from outside the UK unless they have obtained permission for a 'change of study location

Note such a change would only be possible in some very limited exceptions for research study leave or formal exchange agreements, which must always be formally agreed by the College in advance.

Absences from study

If you need to leave the UK during your studies (with the exception of holiday periods) you must request a period of authorised absence from your Head of Programme and the Registry Office. This usually cannot exceed three weeks of term time. If the absence is authorised, there will be no ramifications on your Student Visa.

Leave of absence

Leave of absence is a longer period of leave (usually one academic year) and can be requested, on specific grounds, as outlined in the Leave of Absence Policy.

Students wishing to request a period of leave of absence are advised to discuss this with their Head of Programme. The request form should be completed and must be signed by the Head of Programme before being forwarded to the Registry.  If you are granted a Leave of Absence from your course, the College is required to withdraw sponsorship of your Student Visa. This will lead to UKVI cancelling your visa and you are expected to leave the UK.

Once you are ready to return to your studies, you can request a CAS and submit a new Student Visa application from overseas. Please note that you cannot use your previous CAS to apply for a new Student Visa.

Study leave request

Study Leave means a period of absence from the College to undertake research directly related to the programme of study. A student remains registered and tuition fees are payable.

A student would not be expected to have study leave approved that would mean they miss any deadlines or assessments, or during a period when continued attendance would be required. 

Please note that online study during an absence is not possible. Any synchronous online study is prohibited for Student Visa holders.

As a student, you are responsible for:

• Checking the information on the Student Visa is correct.
• Providing the College with a copy of your passport and visa.
• Informing the College of any changes to your immigration status or personal details (i.e. address and telephone number)
• Re-enrolling on your programme on time at the start of each academic year.
• Attending lectures, seminars, tutorials and crits as required for your programme of study. You must inform your Programme Administrator of any temporary absence due to illness, etc.
• Informing the College of any intentions to defer, suspend or withdraw from your programme of study.
• Leaving the UK should you defer, suspend or withdraw from your programme of study.
• Keeping up to date with immigration rules, regulations and application requirements.
• Keeping your immigration permission up to date and applying for an extension in good time before your existing visa runs out.
• Complying with your existing immigration conditions (i.e. not working more hours per week than you are allowed).

The College has the following responsibilities:

• Issue Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS), where it is satisfied that students intend to and are able to follow the programme of study and meet the requirements for obtaining a Student Visa.
• Taking and keeping copies of students' passports, immigration status documents, visas or biometric ID Cards.
• Keeping up-to-date copies of students' contact details
• Checking that students have registered on their programme of study and report any student who fails to do so to the Home Office.
• Monitoring each student's attendance and report any unauthorised absence to the Home Office.
• Reporting leaves of absence, suspension or withdrawals of study to the Home Office.
• Reporting any information relating to a student failing to comply with their immigration conditions (i.e. working too many hours or overstaying their visa).

The RCA will normally withdraw the Visa Sponsorship of a student:

• Whose studies are terminated due to failure to make academic progress.
• Who do not attend and participate in their studies as required for their programme of study.
• Who has taken a leave of absence for medical, academic or personal reasons.
• Those who fail to keep the College up to date and informed as to their immigration status as required.
• Who is found to have failed to comply with the terms of their visa (ie. overstaying or working too many hours).
• Who are without current leave to remain and have not made an 'in time' application to extend.
• Who has had an application refused by the Home Office and no longer has leave to remain or the right of appeal.

If visa sponsorship is withdrawn, students will be de-registered from their course and will not be able to attend the College until visa sponsorship has been reinstated.

The RCA is legally required to report all withdrawals of visa sponsorship to the Home Office immediately. Students then have 60 days in which to leave the UK.