When you arrive, and during term-time
Answers to your questions about making changes to your studies, working in the UK, and if you lose your BRP/passport.
Answers to questions you may have at the start of term and going forward.
If you have a Student visa, you will be permitted to work part-time hours in permitted employment types during Term Time and up to full-time hours during your official Vacation periods. (as the main purpose is to study) These are the Student visa work conditions (work restrictions).
Students who are studying a programme at degree level and above can work for 20 hours per week during term time, and those studying a programme below degree level can work up to 10 hours per week.
There is no limit on the amount of 'volunteering' you can do, but you must make sure this is not considered ‘voluntary work’. For example, if you are required to work certain hours or are undertaking an unpaid internship - most likely not 'volunteering' and would be classed as being work - ‘voluntary work’ which is restricted.
If you have a Standard Visitor visa, you are not permitted to start employment/work in the UK. (as the main purpose is to visit)
Working during studies
It is important that you check your BRP carefully when you get it to make sure there are no errors, especially with the expiry date or your working hours.
If you think there is an error on your BRP, you must report the error within 10 days of receiving it, or you may have to apply and pay for a replacement or make a new visa application.
Please always contact our team for further advice.
Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
No recourse to public funds = NRPF
UK nationals and some permanent residents are entitled to financial benefits from the government; for example, jobseekers or housing allowance. As a Student or Standard Visitorvisa permission holder - you are not entitled to claim these benefits.
Your UKVI grant email/letter will state your visa conditions (including if it is NRPF)
This depends on what you wrote on your application form.
If you make your visa application outside the UK, you can choose to collect it either from the University (using the ACL code 2HE529), or from a Post Office.
If you make your application inside the UK, you should arrange to have your BRP delivered to your home address. You will need to sign for your BRP when it arrives to show that you have received it.
Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
If you have applied for a Student visa before travelling to the UK, you MUST bring the UKVI visa grant letter (entry clearance information) that you received from the UKVI when your passport was returned.
We also recommend that students with Student and Standard Visitor permission that already hold a visa before travelling bring all the supporting documents that you used for your visa application.
If you intend to come to the UK and request permission to enter as a Standard Visitor on arrival, you must bring:
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Your offer letter or letter of invitation from the University of Edinburgh
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Evidence of how you will fund your studies
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Evidence that you intend to leave the UK within 6 months
It is very important that you read the information about arriving in the UK.
Not all students can change their programme using the same visa. There are strict rules about who can change their programme of studies. For example, you will need to apply for a new visa from outside the UK if:
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You wish to change to a lower level of study (e.g. a MA to a BA)
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Your new programme is longer than the one for which your Tier 4 / Student visa was granted
If you are unsure, it is important that you contact an adviser before travelling to the UK.
Read our information about making changes to your studies:
You do not need to tell us if you will be outside of the UK during vacation periods or weekends.
You will need to request permission from your School if:
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You wish to travel during term time (non-study related)
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You will continue your studies overseas (apply for a Leave of Absence)
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You are taking a break from your studies (apply for an Interruption of Studies)
Your Personal Tutor or Supervisor will be able to advise you on these processes.
If you wish to interrupt your studies for longer than 60 days, you should contact the Student Immigration Service for advice on how this may affect your visa.
Firstly, you will need to report the loss of your passport and BRP to the Police station closest to where it was lost.
You will then need to apply to your country’s Embassy for a new passport as soon as possible.
Once a lost/stolen BRP has been reported as lost/stolen online to UKVI, this action cannot be reversed, it is then later recovered or found.
You will also need to report the loss of your BRP to the UKVI and apply for a replacement BRP.
If you are outside the UK, you will need to apply for a replacement BRP vignette to allow you to enter the UK, then you must apply for a new BRP within one month of returning to the UK.
If your BRP was lost in the UK, you must apply for a replacement within 3 months of losing it.
You can find full instructions about what to do at the link below.
Student visa holders can interrupt their studies for up to 60 days without changing their visa status, providing they can still complete their programme within the validity of their current visa.
If you wish to interrupt your studies for more than 60 days, the University will normally be required to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa and it will be curtailed (cancelled) by UKVI. You will need to apply for a new Student visa to return to studies, from your home country normally.
Students who have interrupted their studies are advised not to work in the UK, as this could have an impact on your immigration history.
Changes to Your Studies
There are several visa routes which are tailored to make it easier for Student visa holders to transition into the UK workforce.
Read about them at the link below.
Not all students can change their programme using the same visa. There are strict rules about who can change their programme of studies. For example, you will need to apply for a new visa from outside the UK if:
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You wish to change to a lower level of study (e.g. a MA to a BA)
-
Your new programme is longer than the one for which your Student visa was granted
If you are unsure, it is important that you contact an adviser before travelling to the UK.
Read our information about making changes to your studies at the link below.
Changes to Your Studies
The only difference here is whether you make your application inside the UK, or outside the UK.
If you are making a Student visa application inside the UK, it is called ‘extending’, and if you are making it outside the UK, you are applying for a new one.
The requirements and related costs depend on whether you are applying inside or outside of the UK.
If you obtain a new passport and you have a BRP you should notify UKVI of your new passport details using form MCC. If you have changed your personal details (e.g. your nationality, your name, your gender, etc.), you will need to apply for a new BRP card.
You can find out how to report a change of circumstances here: https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp
If you do not have a BRP, and your visa is a sticker which shows your full visa validity in your passport, you can carry your new passport and the old passport which contains your visa. However, if you wish to work in the UK you will need to apply for a BRP before you can work. You should be aware that this can take up to 8 weeks, and you will not be permitted to work during that time.
Student visa holders are permitted to do a work placement as part of their programme of studies, provided it is assessed and integral. This means it must be essential to your studies. You can do a work placement that is assessed and integral on a full-time basis for up to 50% of your programme (or more, if it is a statutory requirement).
If the work placement/internship is not assessed and integral as part of your current programme then you can use your Student visa to do it as long as the type of job/hours per week remain within your Student visa work restrictions (10 or 20 hours per week during Term Time (when you areexpected to study) depending on level, full time hours during official vacation periods)
Short-Term students are not permitted to undertake work placements unless it is part of an official medical elective.