Adding a work placement or study abroad
As a Student visa holder you are permitted to undertake a work placement/year in industry or study abroad period as part of your course, providing it is an integral and assessed part of the course. The University will remain responsible for you throughout your work placement/year in industry or study abroad. Our team can provide you with a letter for your work placement employer if required.
1) Transferring onto a course to include a work placement/year in industry or study abroad year at the same level you are currently studying
If you would like to transfer onto a programme at the same level of study, to include a work placement/year in industry or study abroad year, please note the following:
- You will be required to apply for a new Student visa if your new course requires an additional year/s of study.
- You can make this visa application in the UK or in your home country.
- You can make the visa application either before you start your work placement/year in industry or study abroad or after you have completed your work placement/year in industry or study abroad, but not during the work placement/year in industry or study abroad.
- You will be required to apply for a new ATAS certificate (if your course requires one) ideally before you transfer onto a course to include a work placement/year in industry or study abroad period or within 28 days of transferring onto the new course. If you do not apply within 28 days of transferring you will be transferred back to your original course.
- you must ensure that you have time to receive the decision before you commence the work placement/year in industry or study abroad. If you do not, you should apply for your visa after you have completed your work placement/year in industry or study abroad and before returning to the University to complete your course.
- and are travelling abroad, you must ensure that you have time to receive the decision on your application before your intended date of travel as leaving the UK (if you applied in the UK) or requesting your passport back for the purpose of travel (if you applied in your home country) will result in your visa application being withdrawn.
If you make the visa application after completing your work placement/year in industry or study abroad:
- you must make the application before your current visa expires, please contact us about 3 months before your visa expires to request a new CAS for your new Student visa application
- you will be required to apply for and hold a new ATAS certificate (if your course requires one) before you apply for your Student visa
2) Transferring onto a course to include a work placement/year in industry or study abroad year at a higher level of study than your current course
If you are a Student visa holder and would like to transfer onto a programme at a higher level of study, e.g. BEng to MEng, to include a work placement/year in industry or study abroad year, you are required to apply for a new visa when you transfer as you will be studying a higher level, please note the following:
- You will be required to apply for a new Student visa as you will be studying a new level course and your new course requires additional further year/s of study.
- You can make this visa application in the UK or in your home country.
- You will need to make the visa application and have received your new visa before you start the new course if you are staying in the UK for the duration of your work placement/year in industry.
- If the new course requires ATAS you will need to apply for and have received your ATAS certificate before i) you transfer courses and ii) before applying for your new visa and iii) before commencing your work placement/year in industry.
3) What you need to do next
- Consider where and when you will be making a new visa application.
- Apply for ATAS (if required).
- Prepare your visa application documents, including financial documents, when necessary.
- Complete your transfer form and have it signed by a Student Visa Adviser.
- Complete a CAS eligibility form prior to applying for your new visa.
All Student visa holders must have transfer forms signed by a Student Visa Adviser prior to transfer to confirm that you have been given visa advice. Contact us to have your transfer form signed.
We hope that this information helps you to understand the Student visa requirements and conditions when transferring onto a work placement/year in industry or study abroad, please contact us if you have any further questions.