Your Student visa responsibilities

The University of Kent (“the University”), part of the London and South East University Group, is a registered Student visa sponsor of overseas students. As a Student sponsor, the University has a legal obligation to comply with the Immigration Rules, Student policy and sponsor guidance in addition to any other guidance it receives from the Home Office. Students sponsored by the University under the Student route must comply with their visa conditions as well as all conditions associated with Student sponsorship.   

As a student sponsored by the University under a Student visa your responsibilities include the following:   

• Co-operate and act honestly in all dealings with the University, as well as act in a way that supports the University in discharging its sponsor duties.
• If applicable, pay the immigration health surcharge at the time of visa application.
• Ensure that you have valid ATAS clearance throughout your registration, if applicable.
• Register on your course by the relevant registration deadline.    

Fee and payments

• Ensure all fees due to the University are paid when requested.

Immigration documents

• Provide the University with your current passport and immigration permission throughout your registration at Kent. 
• Immediately inform the University of any changes to these documents to keep your student record up to date. 
• Respond to all information requests by the University, especially when relating to immigration documents. 
• If your visa is refused, provide to the University a Refusal Notice and copies of any credibility interview notes, if available. You must provide the University with a copy of all documentation associated with making an appeal or administrative review against a refusal. 

Contact and personal details

• Provide the University with your contact details including your UK address, personal email address and mobile number. These must be updated on KentVision as soon as there is any change, and it is your responsibility to do this.
• Notify the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) of any changes to your personal circumstances.

Attendance and Engagement

• Participate fully in your studies at the University and attend all seminars, supervisions, example classes, laboratory and other practical classes and lectures as may be required of you under the Attendance and Engagement Policy.
• Comply with all University regulations, Codes of Practice, policies and procedures including the University's Student Charter and general regulations for students.
• Notify your School if you are ill or unable to attend  in accordance with the Attendance and Engagement Policy. 
  
• Notify your School and Student Immigration Compliance team of any changes in location for the purpose of study; ie fieldwork, dissertation etc.
• Notify the University if you decide to withdraw from your course or intermit your studies.
• Leave the UK when your visa expires unless you have obtained further valid leave.
• Inform the University if you change immigration categories and no longer require Student visa sponsorship.   

Working

• Do not work more than the maximum allowable number of hours per week specified on your visa (ie 20 hours or 10 hours) during term time, paid or unpaid.
• Do not undertake self-employment or engage in business activity in the UK.

The University must retain copies of:

• Your current passport showing all personal identity details (including biometric details)
• Your current Student visa as an eVisa, a biometric residence permit (BRP), entry clearance certificate or other immigration status document showing your period of leave to remain in the UK, with entitlement to study at the University.   
• All qualifications and evidence used to obtain your entry to the course of study
• Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate (if applicable)

The University is required to keep a record and history of your contact details which includes your UK residential address, telephone number, mobile phone number and email address.  

The University is required to make a report to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) in certain situations. The University will inform UKVI if you:

• Do not enrol or complete Returning Registration on your course of study or arrive later than the course start date
• Defer studies to a future date   
• Withdraw from the University for any reason
• Temporarily suspend studies through a period of intermission
• Change your course or reduce/extend the length of your course
• Move into a different immigration category and no longer require a Student visa
• Breach any visa conditions, including but not limited to working more than the prescribed number of hours per week or withdrawal due to non-engagement with the course of study etc 
• Undertake a work placement, informing UKVI of your employer details and dates of employment
• Change your study location to another campus, site or partner institution
• Undertake fieldwork of more than one month duration

This list is not exhaustive.

The University is required to monitor the attendance and engagement of the students it sponsors under the Student visa route.   

The University sponsors students in accordance with Immigration Rules and regulations and its Student Sponsorship and CAS Issuing Policy and reserves the right to refuse a CAS or withdraw sponsorship. The University will state its reasons for refusal in writing. Applicants/students will usually have a right of appeal against any decision.   

Disclaimer 

Please note that the responsibilities outlined above are not comprehensive and do not represent a full statement of immigration or visa requirements. The University will do all that it can in assisting you to protect your Student status however it is your responsibility to be aware of the conditions of stay linked to your visa and to assist the University in discharging its responsibilities as your Student sponsor. Failure to do so could result in deregistration as a student at the University, resulting in the loss of our sponsorship of your visa. The University is entitled to revise its terms and conditions, as well as policies and procedures relating to compliance with its Home Office sponsor duties at any time.