UK campuses

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught students with Tier 4 or Student visas will be sent links to ‘engagement forms’ every 2 weeks by email. These engagement forms must be completed and submitted online, by the deadline noted on the email. Postgraduate Research students will be emailed each calendar month to remind them to make ‘Student Notes’ in PGR Portfolio for attendance/engagement recording purposes.

Any student with a Tier 4 or Student Visa who believes that they need to extend their visa to complete their studies should contact isao@hw.ac.uk and arrange to speak to a Global Student Advisor at least 28 days before the expiry date of their current visa. PGR students with Tier 4 or Student Visas should also talk to their supervisors and PGR administrators about applying for an academic extension.

The University will follow the guidance and requirements of the UK and Scottish Governments about when overseas students will be expected to return to the UK for study. Students are requested to check the University website, the student portal and their HWU email account frequently for updates as they become available.

The University is currently working within UKVI guidance whilst offering Tier 4 students flexibility to leave the UK during COVID-19. On 24th March 2020, UKVI confirmed that universities are not required to withdraw Tier 4 sponsorship of students who are engaged in online/distance learning (provided by their own university) even if the student has chosen to return overseas. Where a Tier 4 student withdraws from study or suspends their studies, the University would be required to withdraw Tier 4 sponsorship as normal. Tier 4 students should discuss withdrawal or suspension of study with their school and with a Global Student Advisor before making firm decisions.  

Unless advised differently contact isao@hw.ac.uk to request information and advice about the Tier 4 visa application and submission process. Tier 4 students should follow the latest advice provided by emails, on the student portal and the University website.

Tier 4 students can contact isao@hw.ac.uk to access advice and guidance. Tier 4 students should continue to check the latest advice provided by emails, on the student portal and the University website.

Tier 4 students can contact isao@hw.ac.uk +44 (0)131 451 4015 as normal to access advice and guidance. Tier 4 students should continue to check the latest advice provided by emails, on the student portal and the University website.

The University will communicate with students about any UK government changes that may impact on their visas.

As the COVID-19 situation develops, the University will communicate with students about how they can return to the UK to resume study and what to do in the event of any travel restrictions impose in the UK or by other governments. Communications received from UKVI on 24 March 2020 have not set a strict deadline for Tier 4 students to return to the UK for study after the COVID-19 situation ends. The University will provide flexibility where possible to support Tier 4 students who are trying to return to the UK for study.

Tier 4 students can contact isao@hw.ac.uk to access advice and guidance. Tier 4 students should follow the latest advice provided by emails, on the student portal and the University website

In the first instance, Tier 4 students undertaking work placements should communicate with their placement provider to understand what arrangements are in place for remote working or other alternatives. These students should also communicate with their school office and academic tutors about these arrangements to ensure that the University is aware of the situation, including the location where they will be working. If work placements are likely to be suspended or ended due to COVID-19, Tier 4 students should communicate with their school office and academic tutors and further information and guidance will be provided to them.

If any PhD viva exams are cancelled during COVID-19, the University will direct students to appropriate advice and assistance in managing visa extensions or other appropriate actions to enable students to complete their programmes.

The University will provide frequent updates to students and staff about changes related to COVID-19. This information will be provided on the student portal, the University website and by email.

Where any Tier 4 student is genuinely concerned that the COVID-19 situation is likely to create problems relating to the Tier 4 study cap, they can contact isao@hw.ac.uk  to access advice and guidance.

On 24th March 2020, UKVI confirmed that the university is not automatically required to withdraw Tier 4 sponsorship of new overseas students who have been issued a Tier 4 visa but have been unable to travel to the UK. Where available, these students are permitted to undertake supported online / distance learning. If a new overseas student is considering deferring, suspending or withdrawing from their study they should discuss this with their school office and should contact isao@hw.ac.uk for further guidance. Deferring, suspending or withdrawing from study may lead to the withdrawal of Tier 4 sponsorship.

Applicants who hold a valid visa should check initially with their own government websites to ensure that they are up to date on latest travel restrictions from their current locations. In addition, applicants should check the Gov.UK website which is updated regularly.

For up to date advice on services in different countries, people should look at the websites of UKVI's commercial partners:

Where visa applicants have an appointment and the VAC is now closed, commercial partners are contacting customers to advise them the appointment is not going ahead

If visa customers have paid for courier return, UKVI's commercial partners are sending passports back (where courier routes remain open to allow them to do so). If applicants are concerned about their passport, customers can contact CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk for advice.

If an individual’s passport is currently held in a VAC but they have not previously arranged for it to be returned by courier, please contact either TLS contact or VFS global directly.

For the latest information, please visit https://www.ielts.org/news/2020/covid19-information-for-our-global-test-taker-community or applicants can contact their test centre directly by email.

Before withdrawing their visa application, students should contact their schools to discuss the implications for their studies, they can also contact isao@hw.ac.uk for further visa advice.

Visa applicants can contact UKVI directly to discuss the withdrawal of their application and are asked to visit our gov.uk web pages at https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk for further details.

They may also contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC) via UKVI's Commercial Partner websites to ask for their application to be withdrawn. In countries where significant movement restrictions are in place, some of VACs are closed which may make it difficult for them to return documents to them.

You are encouraged to continue to pay advance instalments for tuition fees and advance rent payments for the planned start of the new academic year in September.

Should there be any delay to the start of the academic year, or if you are unable to travel to campus because of visa or transport restrictions, you will be given the options of: