Sponsorship for Overseas Students

As of 31^st March 2009, overseas students have been required to be sponsored by the academic institution in the UK where they wish to study.  This is Tier 4 of the Points Based System (PBS).  All schools, colleges and universities offering a place to a non-EEA student will need to be in possession of a sponsorship licence issued by the UK Border Agency.  Institutions holding a Tier 4 licence will have to issue a visa letter to the student to enable them to apply for a visa or extension of stay.  The visa letter system will be replaced in autumn 2009 by the use of the Sponsorship Management System to issue confirmation of acceptance for studies, initially for those in the UK switching into student status or extending their stay as a student and by February 2010 the Sponsorship Management System will be used for the issue of confirmation of acceptance for those applying overseas for a student visa.  Students will be awarded 30 points for possession of a visa letter or confirmation of acceptance and 10 points for meeting the maintenance requirements and will then be able to apply under Tier 4 of the PBS to enter or remain in the UK as a student.

This article was first published in Business Immigration eBulletin February 2009