Students are expected to study on the University of Bristol’s premises or at a temporary location we authorise.  Remote study is not permitted on a student visa, except for in exceptional circumstances such as work placements, study abroad or fieldwork/research, when you may be permitted to be based at another location whilst continuing to engage with your course. Absences from Bristol must be a requirement of the course or your research; remote study for personal reasons will not be approved as a change in study location whilst you hold a Student visa. 

Reporting a change in study location, where sponsorship is continued, will not cancel your visa and it should still be valid when you return to the UK (if the change of study location was overseas) to continue your studies.

If your proposed remote study is for personal reasons or you notify us that you are leaving the UK and do not plan to come back on your Student visa, the University will have to withdraw your Student visa sponsorship. This will result in your visa being cancelled and you having 60 days to leave the UK. During these 60 days you will not be able to leave the country and re-enter on your Student visa. If you are subsequently required to return to the UK to complete your studies, you can request a CAS to apply for a new Student visa. When you are ready to return to the UK, you can contact the Student Visas team for further advice: student-visas@bristol.ac.uk.   

Please be aware that changes to your study location could impact your eligibility to apply for the Graduate route visa.   

Postgraduate taught students

You are expected to be in attendance in Bristol for the whole of your course including your dissertation/project. You must ask your faculty for exceptional permission to complete your dissertation remotely, before you leave Bristol. A change of study location will not be allowed during the taught phase of your course. 

If your request for a change of study location is refused by your Faculty - to meet your Student visa conditions you must attend an in-person meeting with your dissertation/project supervisor each month in June, July and August. Online meetings or supervision by email will not meet your attendance conditions. If you are absent from in-person contact points for 60 days or more, we will need to withdraw your visa sponsorship. This means your Student visa will be cancelled and you will not eligible to apply for the Graduate route visa.  

If your request for a change of study location is approved by your Faculty, and you are required to be away from Bristol as part of your course, for example for fieldwork or data collection - we will notify UKVI that we will continue to sponsor your Student visa. This is to notify them that we, as your Student visa sponsor, are aware that you are studying at a temporary authorised location. If the authorised location has been outside the UK, this means that upon your return UK Border Officers do not question your absence from the country or your engagement in your studies. You must continue to have remote monthly supervision meetings. This is unlikely to affect your eligibility for the Graduate route visa 

If your request is approved by your Faculty but is for personal reasons and not required as part of your course - we will need to withdraw your visa sponsorship. This means your Student visa will be cancelled and you will not be eligible to apply for the Graduate route visa. 

Postgraduate research students

If you are hoping to study remotely, you must discuss this with your academic supervisor first. If this arrangement is agreed, you must contact your School or Faculty office to request that they submit a Change in Study Location form at least 10 working days before the change of study location. Once this is done, we will assess the request and will let you know if your requested absence from Bristol will affect your current visa. 

If the change in study location is for research that forms an integrated assessed part of your studies and there is continued remote monthly supervision we can continue to sponsor your Student visa.  This is unlikely to affect your eligibility for the Graduate route visa. 

If you receive permission to study remotely, the University will report a change in your study location to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This is to notify them that we, as your Student visa sponsor, are aware that you are studying at a temporary authorised location. If the authorised location has been outside the UK, this means that upon your return UK Border Officers do not question your absence from the country or your engagement in your studies.