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The UK Government have introduced a number of changes to
the Immigration Regulations for international students.
These changes have taken effect from 6 April 2012.
There are four key changes which are of particular
relevance for students planning to study at the
University of Nottingham, as outlined below.
Maintenance funds
The amount required for maintenance funds for students
studying outside London has increased from £600 to £800
per calendar month. This means that international
students applying for a student visa need to show they
have access to £800pcm for their living expenses. In
light of this, the amount we recommend that students
need to cover their living costs has increased from £700
to £800pcm. In addition, full University of Nottingham
scholarship stipends for new students starting courses
from September 2012 have increased to £800pcm to ensure
they are in line with UKBA requirements.
Time limits on studying in the UK
Limits have been introduced on the amount of time that
students can spend in the UK on a student visa studying
courses of certain levels:
There are exceptions to the five year limit if an
undergraduate course was four or five years long to
begin with and a student wishes to progress to a
Postgraduate taught course. There are also exemptions
for the following subject areas: Architecture, Medicine,
Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Science.
Current students who need to re-sit part of their course
will be subject to the limits outlined above.
English language requirements
All students planning to take a pre-sessional language
course will need a Secure English Language Test (SELT)
at B1 level or higher if they need a student visa to
enter the UK in order to undertake the course. This
requirement for a SELT applies even if students have
been assessed to have English sufficient to undertake a
degree programme with us but they are not holding a SELT.
Working in the UK after graduating
The Post Study Work visa route which allows
international graduates to work for 2 years upon the
successful completion of a degree programme will close.
International graduates intending to work in the UK will
need to consider other possible immigration routes which
may enable them to remain in the UK to work, such as:
Tier 2 – for graduate level positions with a minimum
salary of £20,000 or the minimum appropriate rate set
out in the Code of Practice, whichever is higher.
Tier 5 – for Government Authorised Exchanges to
undertake a period of professional training or work
experience that is required to obtain a professional
qualification or registration in the same professional
field as their qualification.
Graduate Entrepreneurs – for budding
entrepreneurs who have graduated and wish to set up a
business in the UK. HEIs will act as the immigration
sponsor for individuals under this scheme and will be
responsible for selecting individuals to take part and
for monitoring their progress. There will be a maximum
of 10 places per institution under this scheme.
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