INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HANDBOOK

2023-24

Welcome

A very warm welcome to the University of Winchester – we are pleased that you have chosen us.

You will be joining a community of around 8,500 students from many countries around the world. Whether you are coming to us for a language programme, an undergraduate programme, postgraduate studies, as an exchange student or for research, we are committed to helping all our international students settle in to the university and look forward to welcoming you on campus.

As the International Student Success Team, we are here to offer you any help, support and advice you may need during your time with us. We are located in Student Support and Success, in the Winton Building; if you have an enquiry please contact us at the email address below or make an appointment to see us via the online booking system. The information in this booklet is subject to change but should provide you with some guidance both before and after you arrive.

If you have any problems upon arrival, please do not hesitate to ask for help from one of the Student Helpers, the Residential Assistants or come to Student Support and Success in the Winton Building – we will do our best to help you and make you feel welcome. Just ask! May we take this opportunity to wish you all the best in Winchester. We hope you will be very happy here, and that you find it a truly life-enhancing experience.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

International Student Success Team

Winton Building, King Alfred Campus

International.support@winchester.ac.uk

DO I NEED A VISA?

All information given in this handbook is general and may be subject to change. Please check the Home Office website: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration which will always have the most up-to-date information. If you have any questions, please contact international.support@winchester.ac.uk at the University of Winchester.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has a very useful website for information on applying for a visa. Go to: www.ukcisa.org.uk

> Info and Advice > Student Route Eligibility and Requirements

If you do not have a UK or Irish passport, you will need some type of visa to study in the UK, such as:

• Student Route Visa

• Short-term Study Visa

• Standard Visitor Visa

You will also be able to study with us if you have one of the following:

• EU Pre-/Settled Status

• Indefinite Leave to Remain

If you are still uncertain or have any enquiries about the application process, please contact the International Student Officer for help and guidance.

In most cases you will need to apply for a Student Route visa. If you are not sure whether you need a visa or what type, you can check here www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

You are also welcome to contact international. support for further advice.

Applying for a Short-term Student Visitor Visa

If your course duration is six months or less, you can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. If you are coming for an English language course of up to 11 months you can apply for a Short-term Study Visa. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a Student Route Visa. You may apply for a Student Route Visa instead of a Short-term Student Visitor Visa or Standard visitor visa, if you wish. Non-visa nationals who wish to come for a maximum of six months can travel without entry clearance and ask to be admitted as a Standard visitor (Short Term Study Visa: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/ visit-to-study) on arrival. If you are a non-visa national arriving on as a Standard Visitor, you can use the e-Gates on arrival at the airport but please ensure you provide us with a copy of your booking confirmation/boarding pass) for confirmation of your arrival date.

Please be prepared to show the Immigration Officer your offer letter, proof of funds to support you during your stay in the UK, your accommodation arrangements and any other relevant documentation such as academic certificates and/or transcripts. Before you leave the Immigration counter, check that the officer has stamped a short-term study visa in your passport.

The Short-term Student Visitor Visa does not permit you to work during your stay, nor can it be extended or changed to another visa. If you wish to do any of these, you must apply for a Student Route visa before coming to the UK, or, if you are already here, you will have to go back to your home country to apply for the appropriate entry clearance (visa).

Applying for a Student Route Visa

If your course duration is more than six months, you must apply for a Student Route Visa. All visa nationals MUST obtain entry clearance (visa) before travelling to the UK. You will not be allowed to enter the UK if you have not obtained this.

To obtain a Student Route Visa, you will need:

• A Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). The university creates the CAS and you can request this from our Admissions Department after your unconditional offer and payment of your fee deposit. You will need to complete a ‘Request for CAS’ application form which will be sent to you. Please return it to international@winchester.ac.uk and note that it can take several weeks to issue a CAS, particularly during busy periods. The CAS is issued to you as an email containing the CAS number and relevant information to complete your visa application form.

• Evidence that you have enough money for the first year of your tuition fees plus at least £9,207* living costs. These funds must have been held in your account for at least 28 days.

Further information regarding requirements can be found here: www.gov.uk/student-visa

Once your visa application has been successful, you will be issued with a yellow entry visa (vignette), valid for three months, to enter the UK. You will also receive details of where to pick up your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) once in the UK – this is your student visa.

Under the Home Office regulations, the University of Winchester will be obliged to report to the Home Office any student who does not enrol on their course, suspends, withdraws or defers from their course, moves to another institution, does not attend the course or is withdrawn by the University for any reason.

It is an offence to switch to another institution without first applying for permission to do so from the Home Office. Arriving at the University without the correct visa, for example a visa issued to another university, will result in delays that could prevent you from enrolling here. It is also essential that you inform the University of all updates to

*Correct as of June 2023, subject to change your personal information including changes of address, changes in personal circumstances and course information. Student Route students are not allowed to claim any public funds during their time in the UK.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

As part of your visa application, you will need to pay the IHS. This is calculated automatically during your application and needs to be paid for during the visa application. You will need to do this even if you have private medical insurance.

It is essential to check the Home Office website for any new information on entry clearance and visas before you travel to the UK: www.gov.uk/browse/ visas- immigration/student-visa. If you are unsure if you require a visa then please contact us well in advance of travelling to the University.

Student Route Visa dependants

Currently, only postgraduate students on courses lasting twelve months or more, or governmentsponsored students may bring their dependants to the UK and only certain members of your family can apply to be in the UK as your dependants. You will also be required to evidence that you have enough to support your dependants as well as yourself. This information is subject to change, so please refer to the Home Office websites www.gov.uk/student-visa/family-members for the most up-to-date information or to UKCISA www.ukcisa.org.uk

Registration and enrolment

Once you have your visa, you can complete the online registration process. You will be sent a link to access this. You will need to:

• Confirm your name and course details.

• Enter your intended UK address.

• Upload an image of the identity page of your passport.

• Upload an image of your visa or granted immigration permission (vignette/visa in passport). Please note this may be a digital permission, which is acceptable.

• If you don’t have a vignette, please upload your share code.

You will also need to show proof of your date of arrival in the UK. This is to ensure that you have arrived within the entry clearance window of the visa. You can show this by uploading either your e-ticket or boarding card. You may need to add this once you have arrived in the UK.

Once you arrive in the UK you will be able to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). If you input the ACL code (2HE742 ) when applying for the visa this will be waiting for you at the University and already recorded. If not, you will need to collect the BRP from the address provided, and either upload this or bring it to the University to be recorded.

Please be aware that you will need to present your passport and visa in person to complete your registration and enrolment. This is a UKVI requirement that we must see you in person to complete the Right to Study check prior to enrolment.

Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

Once your Student visa has been granted, you will receive a yellow entry sticker (vignette) in your passport. Once you have arrived in the UK, you will be able to collect your BRP either from your chosen post office or from the University.

The University has an Alternative Collection Location (ACL) code for students to collect their visa directly from us. Please ensure you input this code when requested during your visa application: ACL Code: 2HE742. If you have not chosen to use our ACL code, your visa application decision letter should confirm the post office address to collect your BRP. If you aren’t sure, please speak to a member of the International Student Success Team during Welcome Week or contact: international.support@winchester.ac.uk.

Once you have collected your BRP, please keep it safe! They are expensive to replace and a BRP replacement application can take a long time to be processed. You do not need to carry your BRP with you on a daily basis so we recommend that you keep it somewhere safe at your home.

BRP errors:

If you think your BRP has an error, please contact: international.support@winchester.ac.uk for further advice.

Please note: if your course finishes after 31 December 2024, your BRP will expire on 31 December 2024. Please don’t panic! This is correct and you should receive a share code on or around this date to confirm your visa status.

Share Code

Not every student will receive a BRP, you may receive an online Share Code instead. If you aren’t sure, please contact the International Student Success Team for assistance.