New Student Visa Rules

(Tier 4 of the Points Based System)

From 31st March, 2009, students applying to study in the United Kingdom must show that they have:

1. Evidence of sufficient funds to pass the Maintenance and Funds test; and

2. A Visa Letter, which is an official unconditional offer of a place on a course of study from an approved education provider. Students will be expected to submit the education documents used to obtain an offer from the sponsor (college), such as certificates and examination results as part of their application.

Points Test

To gain a general student (adult student) visa, applicants will have to score points against two sets of objective criteria with an overall pass mark of 40 points:

1.  Evidence of Sufficient Funds to Pass the Maintenance and Funds Test

The money you need to show must cover your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of 9 months. Your money must be held in cash. Hence, shares, bonds, pension funds and similar savings accounts will not be accepted. Moreover, you must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days prior to the date of application.

The UK Border Agency estimates that you will need the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees):

£800.00 per month if you are studying in London (£7,200.00 for 9 months),

£600.00 per month if you are studying outside London (£5,400.00 for 9 months).

The advantage of course is that you require £1,800.00 less in order to satisfy the Maintenance and Funds Test, compared to students intending to study in Colleges categorised as based inside London.

What is meant by 'Study in London'?

Your study is in London if the majority of your study (i.e. more than 50% of your study time) will be in any of the following London Boroughs: Camden, City of London, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. If you are not studying in any of these boroughs, you will be studying outside London.

Please note that Middlesex College of Law is based in Harrow, which is categorised as studying outside London for visa purposes. (Though we are actually in North West London and only 12 minutes train ride from Central London-Euston Station).

Proof of availability of Money

You can prove you have money if you have:

• Cash in an account in your name (this includes joint accounts with your name); or

• A loan in your name; or

• Official financial or government sponsorship.

• An official financial sponsor is Her Majesty’s Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, company or University.

2.  Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)/Visa Letter

To apply as a student under Tier 4, you must have an approved education provider as your sponsor. Middlesex College of Law is recognised by the UK Border Agency as an approved education provider and licensed to bring students to the United Kingdom under Tier 4 of the points-based system. Our Sponsorship Licence Number (SLN) is QMQ5C8TY7.

From 31st March, 2009, approved education centres will start issuing Visa Letters, which is an official and unconditional offer of a place on a course of study. This will be done initially instead of the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which will replace Visa Letters once the sponsorship management system is implemented in Autumn 2009.

Please note that in order to be successful in your Visa Application, you will be required to satisfy all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.