Under the Points-Based System (PBS), this visa type is broadly speaking for those who wish to study for more than 6 months. However, Tier 4 visa can be for full-time courses of any length, for example 3 months Pre-sessional English language course. There are 2 sub-categories under Tier 4 route:
This is the route for those intending to study in the UK for more than six months. 
Please note that all students applying for Tier 4 (for over 6 months) from summer 2015 are issued entry clearance (yellow sticker) for one month only. Students will need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card within 10 days of arriving in the UK. The BRP card would cover the full length of their student visa. Your institution will give you more details on how to collect the card and you will also receive a letter from UK Visas and Immigration with more information following a successful visa application.
A student cannot make a visa application more than three months before the start date of their course.
There are two categories under Tier 4:

• Tier 4 General Student: Also known as Adult Student for those aged 16 years or above.

Maximum length of stay under the Tier 4 General route is 2 years for courses below degree level (from student’s 18th birthday) and 5 years for courses at or above degree level, subject to certain concessions. Please refer to the UKVI website for details.

• Tier 4 Child Student: For those aged 17 years and under, who are coming to study at independent fee-paying schools.. Note – children between 4 and 15 years old may only be educated at independent fee-paying schools and are unable to study pure English Language courses. Students aged 16 & 17 can only be assigned a Tier 4 Child CAS for a maximum of 3 years (in the case of a study plan that consists of main course and pre-sessional course, there should be no condition for progressing onto main academic course)

Students aged 16 or 17 years old can apply either as a ‘Tier 4 General Student’ or a ‘Tier 4 Child Student’ if they are studying a course at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), or National Qualifications Framework (NQF) / Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3 or above.
Please note that:

• As of August 2015 – students wishing to join Foundation courses will have to apply under Tier 4 General route and therefore must have a UKVI-recognised SELT.
• We generally recommend that 16 or 17 year olds enrolling at our CATS colleges apply under a Tier 4 Child Student visa, with the exception of Foundation courses. 
• 16 or 17 year olds studying a course at RQF/QCF/NQF level 2 must apply under Tier 4 Child route only. 

What is the Visa Interview (Credibility Test)?
Tier 4 applicants aged 16 or above can be asked to attend an interview during their visa application process. The purpose of visa interview is to check applicant’s credibility as a genuine student and interview questions can include applicant’s reasons for choosing to study their programme in the UK, their knowledge of the chosen programme and whether they can afford their studies in the UK. These interviews can be carried out via video link with the Home Office interviewing team in the UK, face-to-face with Entry Clearance Officers based in UK Embassies/High Commissions or via telephone. 

• Video-linked interviews: When students submit their applications in their home country at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), they could be asked to attend an interview with the Interviewing Officers, who are based in the UK, via the video-link facility. Interviewing Officers will be asking a series of questions around student’s intention to study their course with the institution in the UK.
• Face-to-face interview with an Entry Clearance Officer at the local embassy or consulate for which students would normally be invited to attend an appointment in advance. The questions will be around intention, but can also be around their financial background, previous education/work history and other immigration-related questions.
• Telephone interviews can also be conducted at times with a Visa Officer so students must make sure their telephone contact details are up to date and be prepared that there is a chance they might be called upon by the Visa Office. 

Will students always be interviewed when they apply for a visa?
Yes, for Tier 4 General applicants applying from the countries where the Credibility Test has been rolled out and this will happen when they submit their visa applications at their local VACs. It is worth to note that UKVI defined ‘low risk’ countries are exempt from the Visa Interview requirement.
 
How do I prepare for the Visa Interview?
We do recommend our students to prepare for these visa interviews so they can answer the questions properly and accurately to assist the Visa Officers who will be assessing their applications and this also ensures there is minimum delay to the processing of their visa application.
Here are a few things to bear in mind: 

• Do attend – Failure to attend the interview may result in your application being automatically refused. In the event you cannot attend, contact the Visa Office to reschedule.
• Do answer – You should always answer all questions fully and honestly.
• Do think – You should think in advance about your course, the documents you provided for your visa application, and your intention to study. The UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) want to know that you have given serious thought before choosing your course and researched the options.
• Do speak in English! – One of the most important things they will be checking is your level of English, so always answer in English, not via an interpreter.
• Do ask – Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question to make sure you are providing the information they want.

General information

• What is the name of the school? This may not be the same as the school’s Tier 4 name – check your CAS statement for these details.
• Did you use an educational agent at any stage (even if you stopped using them)? Who is/was your agent and why did you choose them?
• Why did you choose this university/college/school? Why did you choose this course and how does it relate to your previous study? Why do you wish to study in the UK? Why not stay in your own country to study, if similar courses are available there?
• What is your plan after completing the course? Do you intend to stay in the UK (for additional studies) or are you returning home?
• If you are changing course or study pathway, why are you are making such a change of direction in your studies?
• How do you explain any gaps in your previous education/employment history?

Intended Course(s)

• What is the course name and academic level? What qualification will you get after the course if you pass? This is all on your CAS and/or offer letter.
• When does the course start and finish? How many terms/semesters is it?
• What are the modules/subjects of the course? What will you study during the course? How are you going to be assessed on the course? 
• Did you do any research before choosing the school/course? What other schools/courses did you consider, and why did you decide on this one?
• How is this course going to benefit you for your future career and/or academic plans?

Financial Circumstances

• Who is going to pay your tuition fees and living costs? Where did they get the money? What is their salary?
• You might need to provide documents to prove your financial ability to study in the UK, such as additional bank statements and proof of income from your financial sponsors. Do you have all of these? Make sure you bring additional documentations required by the Visa Office.
• Do you know how much it costs to live in the UK and also what you might spend on day- to- day items such as food, travel and accommodation?
• Do you know the total cost of the course and have an idea on any future courses?

Living in UK

• Where is the school? Which city is it in and which part of the UK does it belong to?
• Have you arranged accommodation? If not, why not? How will you/did you find it?
• How much does accommodation cost in the city/town where you will be studying?
• How will you commute between your accommodation and the school (bus, train, underground etc.)?

Tier 4 General Student
Students applying for Tier 4 General must complete and pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT). The current list of approved tests can be found here.
All students requiring a SELT will need to take an IELTS for UKVI test at an approved SELT centre. The list of approved centres can also be found in the link above. 
Please note that students progressing from a Tier 4 Child visa to a Tier 4 General visa are exempt from the SELT requirement if they have successfully completed a course in the UK as a Tier 4 (Child) student or as a student under rules in force before 31 March 2009, where they were under 18 when granted leave, provided the course was at least six months long and it was completed no more than two years before the CAS was assigned. 

• RQF/QCF/NQF Level 3-5: CEFR Level B1 (IELTS 4.0 minimum in all 4 components)
• RQF/QCF/NQF Level 6+:  CEFR Level B2 (IELTS 5.5 minimum in all 4 components)

Students over 18 with English level below B1/IELTS 4.0 will have to use the Short-term Study visa route.
 
Tier 4 Child Student

• There is no need for a Secure English Language Test (SELT) as Cambridge Education Group can self-assess entry level of English (with no minimum restriction) and recommend appropriate English training to each student’s needs
• Students can take English language modules before their main academic course under one single CAS (as long as they are 16 or over and joining Pre: Programme/A Level/IB Diploma course)

Only CATS students may use the Tier 4 Child visa  route as long as they intend to join Pre: Programme, IB Diploma or A Level courses. ONCAMPUS students will be close to university age, hence following the university visa route, i.e. Tier 4 General visa route.

• Further details about the Tier 4 General student visa can be found here.
• Further details about the Tier 4 Child student visa can be found here.

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Secure English Language Tests (SELT)

Exemptions
Only the following types of students are not required to undertake a SELT in order to obtain a Tier 4 General visa:

• Tier 4 General applicants who are 1) sponsored by a Higher Education Institute (HEI) for 2) courses at or above RQF/QCF/NQF Level 6. 
• Tier 4 Child applicants
• Students who have successfully completed a course in the UK as a Tier 4 (Child) student or as a student under rules in force before 31 March 2009, where they were under 18 when granted leave, provided the course was at least six months long and it was completed no more than two years before the CAS was assigned.
• Nationals from a majority English-speaking country
• Students who have completed an academic qualification equivalent to a UK degree which was taught in a majority English-speaking country (with the exception of Canada), including UK.

Hints and tips on getting a SELT

• Book a UKVI SELT test as early as possible before your intended course start date – centres are limited and may get booked up quickly
• Use the Tier 4 Child route where possible 
• Use the Short-Term Study route, especially where students risk failing the CEFR Level B1 (minimum IELTS 4.0 or equivalent in all of the four components)

UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) majority English-speaking countries’ list – nationals from these countries are exempt from requiring a SELT:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and New Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

In order to qualify for Tier 4, students must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points by satisfying the following:
Number of Points
Criteria

30 Points on  Presentation of a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed Tier 4 sponsor.

10 on Evidence to show they have the finances to study in the UK (known as maintenance) by demonstrating they can cover:

• Course fees for up to 9 months.
• Monthly living costs for up to 9 months.

See table below for specific amounts depending on length of course.
A bank statement must be provided to confirm the student (or parent/legal guardian) has held the money for a minimum of 28 days.

Total 49  points required to be granted a visa.

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will include information about the student, their sponsor (educational provider), their course, the evidence used to obtain the offer and the fees.
Cambridge Education Group’s admissions team will send out CAS statements to those who need to apply under the Tier 4 route. This is conditional upon the student fulfilling the terms set out in their offer letter and having confirmed their place(s) by returning the required deposit or sponsorship letter. The CAS statement should then be included with their visa application.
The CAS statement from our admissions team will include:

• The sponsor’s licence number, address and contact details; ACL code for BRP collection (if applicable)
• The student’s name, date of birth, nationality, country of birth and passport/travel document number.
• Course details such as name, level, start and end date, hours per week, address of student’s main place of study.
• Documents used to obtain the offer: this will give a brief description of our assessment of the student’s academic level and English proficiency, including details such as student’s previous courses/qualifications and Secure English Language Test results. If a student has previously studied in the UK under Tier 4 route, an Academic Progression statement on how the new course of studies represents academic progression is also included here. 
• Course fees for the first year and any payments already made. If relevant, any accommodation fees for the first year and any payments towards it already made.

Most student visa refusals under Tier 4 are due to errors in financial documentations. Please read this section carefully and use the link provided for up to date advice.

Depending on the length of the course, the amount of finance required to satisfy the points-based assessment will vary as follows:

Length of course
Where you will study
Maintenance (finance) needed

9 months or less
London-based
Full course fees + £1,265 for each calendar month of the course

9 months or less
Outside London
Full course fees + £1,015 for each calendar month of the course

More than 9 months
London-based
First year of fees + £11,385 to cover the first 9 months

More than 9 months
Outside London
First year of fees + £9,135 to cover the first 9 months

For more information on Tier 4 General maintenance requirements.
For relevant information regarding funds requirement relating to your course at CEG, pleae refer to the documents on the top right hand side of this page under the name of ‘Evidence of your Finances’.

Tier 4 Child
The financial evidence required will depend on whether you are boarding at the school or living independently. Please refer to the UKVI website for full details.
The Financing (or maintenance) criteria can be funded either by:

• The student (or parent or legal legal guardian) or
• A financial sponsor.

If it is through a financial sponsor, this means a student is given money to cover their course fees and living costs. If their financial sponsor is only covering some of the student’s course fees or living costs, then he/she must show evidence that they have the rest of the money needed (as above). 
The student must provide a letter of confirmation from their official financial sponsor, which may be Her Majesty’s government, the student’s home government, the British Council or any international organisation, company or university. It should not be a relative (except parents) or non-international company.
The letter of confirmation must be on official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial sponsor, feature the official stamp of that organisation and show the:

• name and contact details of the official financial sponsor
• date of the letter
• full name of the student (that appears in their passport)
• education provider and course details (name, term dates, duration)
• length of their sponsorship
• amount of money that the official financial sponsor is giving to the student or a statement that they will cover all (or part) of the student’s fees and living costs.

Evidence of Funds
For bank statements, they must:

• Be dated no more than one month before the visa application submission date;
• Show that the entire amount required (as per above) has been in the account for 28 consecutive days (and has not fallen below the required amount throughout the 28 days)
• Be for a cash account

Fees Paid to Institutions
Fees already paid to institutions towards student’s tuition fees can be deducted when calculating how much money a student needs to meet the maintenance funds requirements for a Tier 4 visa application. However as per the rules came into force since 6th April 2012, please note for fees paid towards accommodation fees, there is a maximum of £1,000 can be offset against the required funds for Tier 4 General students and Tier 4 Child students who live independently. If in any doubt, please contact our admissions team for advice before making a payment towards the balance of your fees.
Applying using your parent’s documents
If parent’s bank statements are used in the visa application, submission of the following to prove the relationship between parents and the applicant is also required:

• Original legal documentations (or notarised copy) from parent/legal guardian who are financially supporting the applicant. The documentation should confirm the relationship between the parent/legal guardian and the applicant. This could include the following:
  • Birth certificate showing the applicant and the parents’ names;
  • Certificate of adoption showing applicant and the parents’ names;
  • Court document showing the applicant and the legal legal guardian’s names;
  • A letter from parent/legal guardian confirming the relationship between the applicant and the parent/legal guardian and that parent/legal guardian consent to using their funds to pay for the tuition and maintenance during the applicant’s studies in the UK.

Download and read our quick reference guide to evidencing your finances to ensure you satisfy the UKVI requirements

As of November 2015 and April 2016 Immigration Changes – Tier 4 General students are restricted to extend their visas in the UK. You have to bear in mind 3 factors:

• Type of their current Tier 4 sponsor
• Gap between the current visa end date and new course start date
• Academic Progression requirement​

1. Type of the Tier 4 sponsor. Please refer to the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors to find out the type of the educational establishment. Only those Tier 4 General students, who are currently sponsored by a HEI, Embedded College or Independent School, could extend their visa in the UK.
2. Gap between the current visa end date and new course start date MUST NOT exceed 28 days.
3. Academic Progression requirement must be met. According to the Home Office clarification – Academic Progression requirement is met when an applicant successfully completed (meaning you have achieved the qualification for which you were studying) the previous course for which you were last granted Tier 4 leave, and your new course must be above the level of the previous course for which you were given Tier 4 leave.

Students will need to:

• Complete the appropriate visa application form
• Pay the visa application fee
• Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• Prepare for your visa interview (if applicable)
• Students will need to provide the following:
  • a valid passport or travel document
  • a CAS statement from a Tier 4 sponsor
  • documents to show they meet the maintenance requirements (such as a bank statement featuring the student’s name (or parent or legal guardian, with evidence of relationship) or a loan in their name or government sponsorship and financial consent (if the account belongs to the parent or legal guardian)
  • Documents listed by their sponsors in the CAS statement assigned by their Tier 4 sponsor, such as academic transcripts and IELTS certificate.
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Card (if applicable)
  • TB certificate (click here to see if you are required to provide a TB certificate before submitting your application for your UK student visa)

International students are able to work in the UK as per the conditions imposed in their visa during their studies with opportunities available including:

• part-time work
• vacation work
• course-related work placements.

Working whilst studying brings many benefits including extra money and it can also help to improve the level of the English language. However, the students should be careful not to let their job interfere with their studies as this is, after all, the reason why they are here in the UK.

Do not under-estimate the hours needed to focus on studies in order to successfully achieve the desired academic result.
Students may work part-time for a number of hours during term time depending on their course, age and type of visa. As per latest Tier 4 Policy Guidance (November 2015) the following restrictions apply:

Tier 4 Child students, who are over the age of 16, are allowed to work if it is no more than 10 hours a week during term-time; full-time during vacations.

Tier 4 General Students – only if their sponsor is HEI – are allowed to work between 10—20 hours during term-time (dependant on the level of the course), and full time during vacations.

The only students who are eligible to bring dependants are either:

• Post-graduate students on courses at RQF/QCF/NQF level 7 or above of more than 12 months’ duration or;
• Government-sponsored students with course duration of 6 months or over
• Dependants of both of these categories of students are able to work.