1. Short Term Student Visa Workshop October 2015

2. Objectives of the day
To give delegates a full understanding of the STSV
To develop a full understanding of the potential issues which might prevent a student obtaining a visa
To develop a model advice and offer letter to minimise the likelihood of a visa refusal

3. Content Who is the STSV for? What can students to with the STSV
What can’t students do?
The do’s and don'ts of STSV’s
Developing a curriculum model
Developing a model offer letter
Developing an advice pack for students
Established when Margaret Thatchers gov. pulled out of independent FE & HE oversight
BAC Established to oversee independent FE/HE
Badly affected by 2012 Tier 4 changes
ENQA = European Association for QA in Higher Education
EQAR = European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education

4. Who is the STSV for? Student doing a short course in the UK
This means six months or less
Designed for student from outside of the European economic area
Students can do any course in the six month period
You can do research if its part of a overseas degree programme
Two types of Short Term Study Visa
200+ institutions in the UK

5. Short Term Study Visa (18+)
Students must be 18 or older
Students must prove:
They have been offered a place on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study
They have sufficient funds to support themselves without working or help from public funds OR that relatives or friends can support and house the student
They can pay their return journey
Currently we have 30+ IHEI with more in the pipeline
90% of overseas HEI’s have partnership agreements with UK HEI’s
We have provided consultancy services to 4 gov. Most recently Bahrain where we have developed an accreditation framework for all Bahrain HEI, including public uni’s, and will be carrying out inspections on behalf of the Bahraini Higher Education Council. The first pilot will take place before Christmas 2015.

6. Where students can study
At any Tier 4 education provider
At any organisation accredited by BAC or a similar body
PaQA will often be seen as the QA role of UK partner and in my view should be – students will be gaining the institutions degrees – this normally means content and marking procedures
IAQA – who does this? How do you know who teaches on the programme, students are protected,
Without transparency there can be no accountability. The real risk of reputational risk and damage to stakeholders interests

7. What students can’t do
Switch into any other form of immigration category whilst in the UK
If a student wishes to continue study they must leaver the country and reapply
Cannot do any kind of work
Do any work placement
Carry out any work experience
UK institutions – why do UK hei’s want to have overseas partnerships? I would propose that the real trend is income driven
Most IHEI’s are private – majority are for profit organisations
Students believe they are buying quality, trustworthy education
Governments are increasingly drawn into oversight of the independent HEI sector
Do UK institutions have a responsibility to local organisations? If they start to lose students to IHEI’s there will certainly be a political reaction
What about the UK brand – we damage the UK brand at our peril

8. Proof of study documents
Letter of acceptance from the educational institution
This must be letter headed paper
The letter must include:
The name of the course
The duration of the course
Cost – if accommodation is included this must be noted
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

9. The documents students must provide when applying for their visa
A current passport
One passport sized colour photograph
Evidence that they can support themselves during their stay e.g. bank statements for the last three months
Details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans
Any documents that aren’t in English must be translated and certified
If they are coming for research or part of their overseas degree program then they will need to bring proof of study
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

10. When to apply for the visa
Visas can be applied for three months in advance
Student should check in their own country for the length of time it will take to issue a visa
Students can state the start date for the visa
The six month visa starts from the date that its valid NOT from the date of entry into the UK
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

11. Short Term Study Visa (Child)
As for adult STSV PLUS
Students can travel without an adult BUT parent or guardian must give written consent with full contact details
They must have proof of where they will be living in the UK which must include:
The name and address of the person they will be living with
The address where they will be living
Details of the relationship of the person looking after the student
Written confirmation that they consent to looking after the student
The school must include a written letter confirming they have informed the local authority
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

12. Common reasons for Visa Refusals
Applicants apply for the wrong visa
The Offer Letter does not meet UKVI information requirements
Applicants have misunderstood the documentary requirements
Financial documents are out of date
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

13. Do
Make sure your offer letter is designed to cover UKVI information requirements
Do make sure that you note that your institution is BAC accredited
Do provide guidance notes for students
Avoid any potential confusion
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

14. Don’t
Allow students, no matter how senior they might be, to apply for anything other than a Short Term Study Visa
Avoid dealing with accommodation issues
Avoid local authority issues for under 18’s
Issue repeated offer letters for a student in the same year – they will be refused entry at some point!
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

15. Curriculum Modeling Straight forward short courses
Distance learning with a UK study element
Multiple UE country study
Overseas study with a partner – pre exam study session in the UK prior to taking examinations in the UK
Condensed courses
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

16. Developing a model offer letter
Group Activity
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.

17. Developing an advice pack for your students
Group activity
The UK QA experience is not understood elsewhere nor is it necessarily appropriate
We need to recognise that although a common framework for QA is desirable it must be put into a local context. Above all QA is a journey it is not a snapshot which is taken once and then forgotten
Who will pay? Who is able to pay?
QA needs to become part of the day to day life of an HEI if it is going to have any meaningful long term impact
We must recognise that QA affects all stakeholders. It is not just about the risk management systems of UK institutions.