UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Coronavirus (Covid-19): info for international students

Questions we can answer

Last modified: 28 September 2020

In this section, we provide answers to some of the questions you are asking us. Please be aware that some education providers will have their own policies which might differ from our answers. We explain what the Home Office (UKVI) has published on its website, including contact details for its Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre.

We provide links to information on a range of education matters, including accommodation and travel, for students and education providers.

Communicating with your education provider (updated 1 May)

It is very important that you let your education provider know where you are and how you are doing., If you need help in any way, from mental health and feeling lonely to finances and study, make sure you tell your institution so that it can offer you the support you need. Don't worry that other students might also need help; everyone is important, and we know that international students lack sources of financial and emotional support that might be available to other students.

If you cannot contact your education provider by telephone, make use of email, web forms and all other forms of communication on offer.

Universities, colleges and schools have not had to deal with a situation like this before and are having to react at short notice to support thousands of staff and students. You might feel that they are not taking into account all the extra complications their decisions will make for international students. If this is the case, try talking to someone at the institution, if at all possible. They might be able to make special arrangements for you if you explain to them in detail how their decisions will affect you. Even if they are not able to make the changes you want, it is important that you let them know about any practical disadvantages you will have and ask for explanations and, if necessary, alternative sources of help. We cannot ask education providers to make changes for individuals, but they might not have realised the impact their plans will have for you and may be able to help in some way, including contacting the Home Office on your behalf.

This situation is very hard for you. It is also difficult for education providers who are concerned about supporting all their students, and their ability to recruit international students in the future, so please be aware of that when discussing your situation with them. In our messages to our member institutions, we will reinforce the key Home Office message, which is that no one, including students and sponsors, will be penalised for trying to deal reasonably with a situation beyond their control.

What have we added? A reminder to let your education provider know when you need help

What are UK universities and colleges offering this autumn? (updated 23 September)

StudentCrowd has published a helpful list of what most UK universities and publicly-funded colleges plan to offer students this autumn, including online open days.

Most institutions aim to resume face-to-face study in small groups with lectures delivered online. This mix of formats is called 'blended learning'. It is not usually available to Tier 4 students because your study has to take place on the premises of your Tier 4 sponsor, and online learning can take place anywhere. However, the Home Office has confirmed that it will allow Tier 4 sponsors to sponsor international students for blended learning for the 2020-2021 academic year, as long as they "intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as circumstances allow" - see Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors and migrants and for short-term students.

For full information, check your institution's website. If your questions are not all answered, contact staff there for further details. The Department for Education has also published a blog answering some key questions about coronavirus transmission in universities and provides some guidance on how government rules apply in a university setting.

Before you make a decision, check the terms and conditions of the contract with your education provider. It should set out clearly when you will be entitled to a refund of your deposit, tuition fees and any other expenses if you are unable to travel to the UK or are not satisfied with the course. You should also check your accommodation contract for details of refunds and liabilities.

If you apply for Tier 4 immigration permission and start studying outside the UK, you will have to pay the full immigration health surcharge and will not be entitled to a refund for the period when you are not in the UK. The immigration health surcharge currently costs £300 per year, and will increase to £470 a year if you apply on or after 1 October this year - see Increase to immigration health surcharge.

What have we added? Department for Education has published a blog answering questions on coronavirus transmission in universities. Reminder to check terms and conditions and warning that the immigration health surcharge is set to increase on 1 October 2020 and that it will not be refunded for periods spent outside the UK.

Study, including distance learning and starting a new course (updated 6 August)

Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors and migrants and for short-term students states that distance learning in the UK and in other countries is currently acceptable for all students who have already started a course, even if you have Tier 4 student immigration permission.

You can also be sponsored to start a course that is delivered through distance learning or a mix of face-to-face-learning and distance learning ('blended' learning) as long as the intention is to move to face-to-face delivery only as soon as possible. This concession will remain in place until the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Tier 4 sponsors will monitor your engagement with online learning and should let you know how they will do that. If you are unable to access online learning, exams or assessment, please raise that directly with your education provider in case it can help you or make alternative arrangements.

Students outside the UK who do not have UK immigration permission are allowed to undertake distance learning. This has always been the case, because you require immigration permission only if you intend to be in the UK. If you are hoping to enter the UK to continue study, you have to consider whether you will be able to get to a visa application centre that is open and you can travel to the UK. Delays in processing applications might mean that you are unable to come to the UK to continue your course and your course provider should ensure that you can, if necessary, complete your course by distance learning - check that this is the case, especially if your course is not very long.

If you have made a Tier 4 application in the UK but have not yet received a decision, you can start your new course if your Tier 4 sponsor has Tier 4 sponsor status, you start the course described on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) and you made your Tier 4 application before your current or most recent immigration permission expired. This includes holders of short-term student leave, and not just those who already have Tier 4 student immigration permission. For details of this provision, see Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students.

UCAS has issued guidance for people who want to apply to study at undergraduate level, including links to the main English language test providers' information about their arrangements during this time, and amended application deadlines.

Information about the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is updated on a regular basis. For information about the BMAT test sessions in September and November, see the Admissions Testing website.

What have we added? Tier 4 guidance issued on 5 August (dated 1 August) removes restrictions on who can be sponsored to undertake distance learning and deletes permitted study concessions for short-term students

English language tests (updated 1 June)

Leaving your course early, and returning to the UK

When Tier 4 sponsors will withdraw sponsorship (updated 6 August)

How periods of overstay will be regarded (updated 7 September)

Usually, if you stay in the UK without immigration permission when you are required to hold it (overstay), you will encounter many problems. These include: not being allowed to study, work, rent private property, open and hold a bank account, drive, have access to free NHS treatment and having future immigration applications refused automatically.

In the case of Coronavirus-caused periods of being in the UK without immigration permision, however, Home Office guidance states that:

"If your visa or leave expired between 24 January 2020 and 31 August 2020 there will be no future adverse immigration consequences if you didn’t make an application to regularise your stay during this period. However, you must now do so by 31 August 2020 or make arrangements to leave the UK."

The Home Office gives you similar reassurances if you apply for exceptional assurance - you are not regarded as an overstayer during the period waiting for an exceptional assurance decision or when you are granted it.

We understand that the Home Office intends to implement legislation which will confirm in law that during these periods you will not be regarded as an overstayer.

Until that legislation is passed, make sure that you keep any evidence of your reasons for being in the UK after your immigration permission expired, for example, screen shots or other notifications of cancelled flights, information about entry restrictions for the country you need to travel to, correspondence from the Coronavirus Immigration Help team. This is particularly important if you need to make an immigration application in the future, when you would usually have to declare any periods when you were in the UK without immigration permission, and may need evidence of what caused it.

You will be an overstayer if your immigration permission expired before 1 September and you did not make an immigration application by 31 August or apply for exceptional assurance. You will also be an overstayer if your immigration permission expires between 30 September and 31 October, and you do not leave the UK, make a new application before it expires, or request exceptional assurance.

What have we changed? Advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents updated on 4 September to provide for exceptional assurance applications if your leave expires between 1 September and 31 October 2020 and confirms that the period between applying for exceptional assurance and being granted it is not regarded as a period of overstay

Immigration permission expiring between 1 September and 31 October (updated 24 September)

If you cannot meet these requirements, the Home Office no longer offers a free automatic extension scheme or 'grace period' but does provide some exceptions in its 'urgent applications' and 'exceptional assurance' schemes.

Urgent applications

The Home Office’s advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents has a special 'urgent application' provision that might help you if:

your immigration permission expires or expired after 31 August, and
you need to apply to remain in the UK for an urgent reason, including starting a new job or course of study, and
you are not usually able to make your application in the UK; this is often because the Immigration Rules say that only holders of certain types of immigration permission may apply in the UK in your chosen route. For example, points-based system dependants are not usually allowed to apply in the UK under Tier 4, but this may now be possible for you.

Unless you are applying under Tier 4, you will need to meet all other requirements of the immigration category in which you want to stay in the UK. For information about the extra exceptions for Tier 4 applicants, see Applying in the UK under Tier 4 when this is not usually possible (below).

The Home Office does not provide an exhaustive list of what it means by 'urgent', so you need to set out clearly in your application, with evidence, why you must apply now or very soon to stay in the UK and why you cannot do what you want to do with your existing immigration permission.

Instead of making an 'urgent' application, you might be able to apply under the updated Student immigration system from 5 October 2020 if :

you want to remain in the UK as a student, and
your current immigration permission expires on or after 5 October 2020 or later, and
it allows you to start your course (for example, you have dependant leave), and
you are not in the UK on immigration bail, and you have any type of immigration permission except:
- visitor
- short-term student
- parent of a child student
- seasonal worker
- domestic worker in a private household
- permission outside the Immigration Rules

Exceptional assurance

If you are not able to leave the UK or make an immigration application before your current permission expires, you need to contact the Coronavirus Immigration team (CIT) and explain that you will need more time for reasons related to Coronavirus. The link in the guidance is to an online form. The CIT will give you information about what you need to show in order to request time in the UK beyond the expiry date of your immigration permission. This additional time is referred to as "exceptional assurance".

This exceptional assurance is not immigration permission but the guidance says that it offers "short-term protection against any adverse action or consequences after your leave has expired". You will have to provide details of why you cannot leave the UK. Examples given include details of a flight booked after this date and confirmation of a positive coronavirus test result, but many other reasons should also be acceptable and the form has a drop down list, including 'Other' which you can explain in a free text field. You are not regarded as an overstayer during the period when you are waiting for a decision.

The form currently states that it is for people whose immigration permission expires between 24 January and 30 September 2020. However, the guidance says that it is for people whose immigration permission expires between 1 September and 31 October 2020, so you should use this form if your permission ends after 30 September and before 1 November if you know that you cannot leave the UK or make a full immigration application before it expires.

For full details of this provision, which was added on 4 September, see the Home Office’s advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents.

If the Home Office accepts your request for exceptional assurance, it will send you the expiry date and confirmation that you will remain in the UK on the same terms and conditions as your previous grant of immigration permission, although it has not been extended, and that "you will not be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment in any future applications". The Home Office’s advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents says: "If conditions allowed you to work, study or rent accommodation you may continue to do so during the period of your exceptional assurance".

Additionally, if the Home Office accepts your request, it will tell you that you are expected to make plans to leave the UK before your exceptional assurance expires, although you can apply again under the scheme if you are still unable to leave the UK. However, if you previously held Tier 4 or Tier 4 (Child) student immigration permission, you may be able to apply again for this permission as long as you apply by 1 October 2020 - see paragraph 3.6 of the Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students guidance. The difference in dates is because the Advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents was updated after the Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students guidance. We hope that they will be aligned soon.

For information about applying in the UK under Tier 4 when you do not meet all of the usual Tier 4 requirements, see Applying in the UK under Tier 4 when this is not usually possible (below) in case an additional special provision means that you can do this.

What have we changed? Added details of who will be able to apply in the UK as a Student from 5 October

Immigration permission expiring after 31 October 2020 (updated 24 September)

If you meet all requirements of the Immigration Rules, including being able to apply in the UK, you can just apply in the usual way. If you need to extend your current Tier 4 student immigration permission, you might also benefit from the concessions we explain in 'Applying in the UK under Tier 4 when this is not usually possible' (below). Make sure you apply before your current permission expires.

If you cannot meet these requirements, the Home Office no longer offers a free automatic extension scheme or 'grace period' but does provide an exception for 'urgent applications', set out in the Home Office’s advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents. This provision might help you if:

you need to apply to remain in the UK for an urgent reason, including starting a new job or course of study, and
you are not usually able to make your application in the UK; this is often because the Immigration Rules say that only holders of certain types of immigration permission may apply in the UK in your chosen route. For example, points-based system dependants are not usually allowed to apply in the UK under Tier 4, but this may now be possible for you.

Instead of making an 'urgent' application, you might be able to apply under the updated Student immigration system from 5 October 2020 if :

you want to remain in the UK as a student, and
your current immigration permission allows you to start your course (for example, you have dependant leave), and
you are not in the UK on immigration bail, and you have any type of immigration permission except:
- visitor
- short-term student
- parent of a child student
- seasonal worker
- domestic worker in a private household
- permission outside the Immigration Rules

What have we added? Information about who will be able to apply in the UK as a Student from 5 October

Immigration permission expired between 24 January and 31 August 2020 (updated 17 September)

The Home Office no longer offers special provisions to help you avoid becoming an overstayer. It expects you to have made an immigration application, to have left the UK or to have applied for exceptional assurance by 31 August.

'Exceptional assurance' is not immigration permission but it means you are not regarded as an overstayer. You have to request it, free of charge, from the Home Office and explain your Coronavirus-related reason for not having left the UK by 31 August. If you have been granted exceptional assurance, your deadline for making a student application is 1 October 2020. The Home Office’s advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents says: "If conditions allowed you to work, study or rent accommodation you may continue to do so during the period of your exceptional assurance".

The application form for exceptional assurance, which replaced the free extension scheme and the 'grace period', states that you can apply if your immigration permission expires between 24 January and 30 September 2020, which suggests that you can still use it. However, the guidance which links to the form states that you must "make arrangements to leave the UK" if you have not yet applied for immigration permission or exceptional assurance. It also states that exceptional assurance is available only to people whose immigration permission expires between 1 September and 31 October. We do not know if the guidance or the form will be changed. Until they say the same thing, you should contact the Coronavirus Immigration Team by using the application form for exceptional assurance. Explain your situation, the lack of a deadline for applications in previous versions of the guidance, and why you need to apply now for exceptional assurance.

If you want to make a student application, and you have not yet applied for immigration permission or exceptional assurance, you should contact your Tier 4 sponsor as quickly as possible. There is a high risk that you are now here as an overstayer, so you will need detailed advice from them about any application you plan to make in the UK.

Free extension scheme if your immigration permission expired between 24 January and 31 July

If your immigration permission expired between 24 January and 31 July 2020 and was extended under the free scheme, the Home Office sent you an email confirming that it had extended your immigration permission, using words similar to the following:

"Your leave has been extended under existing conditions until 31 July 2020. You will not be regarded as an overstayer or suffer any detriment in any future applications. However, you must make plans to leave as soon as you are able to do so. This will only apply where you hold an existing valid visa which has already expired or is due to do between 24 January and 31 July."

You were not sent a letter or an updated biometric residence permit so make sure that you keep this email in case you need it in future.

'Grace period' and 'exceptional assurance' if your immigration permission expired between 24 January and 31 August

If your immigration permission expired between 24 January and 31 August 2020, you automatically had one month’s "grace period" in the UK up until 31 August 2020, during which time you were expected to make a full immigration application or leave the UK. The Home Office did not expect or require you to provide it with information, but remember to keep your own records and copies of any documents that you might need in the future to demonstrate your compliance with this policy.

If you were unable to leave the UK or make a full immigration application in the UK by 31 August for Coronavirus-related reasons, you had to apply for exceptional assurance by submitting an online request form and then supplying evidence as required by the Home Office. This protected you from being treated as an overstayer. Your deadline for applying for Tier 4 student immigration permission if you have been granted exceptional assurance is 1 October 2020.

What have we changed? Guidance updated 16 September to confirm that "if conditions allowed you to work, study or rent accommodation you may continue to do so during the period of your exceptional assurance"

Making an immigration application in the UK (updated 28 September)

Applying in the UK under Tier 4 when this is not usually possible (updated 24 September)

Changing in the UK from one category of immigration permission to another is often called 'switching'. Applying for more time in the same category of immigration permission is called 'extending'.

The types of immigration permission that allow you to apply in the UK under Tier 4 are usually very restricted, and are set out at Switch to this visa. If you have a different kind of immigration permission but can apply in the UK because of one of the special arrangements, or concessions, set out below, you should still apply using the link at Extend at your visa or Switch to this visa. Although the government web information has not been updated, the application form should allow you to make your application in the UK.

Do not use the form at Apply because it is only for making applications outside the UK. This means that if you try to apply in the UK using it, your application will not be valid and the Home Office will not process it.

General concessions

The main reason for not being able to apply in the UK is because the Immigration Rules limit such applications to holders of certain types of immigration permission. The Home Office makes exceptions to this rule, in its Guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents, for anyone whose immigration permission expires:

between 24 January and 31 August, including immigration permission extended under the free extension scheme (in force until 31 July) and/or the 'grace period' (until 31 August); the deadline for applications was 31 August 2020, or
after 31 August 2020 if you need to remain in the UK for an 'urgent reason' (apply before your current immigration permission expires)

Tier 4 'switching' concession

In addition to the general provisions that apply to everyone, the Home Office has made an extra exception for you if you apply in the UK under Tier 4. This is set out in The Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students guidance.

You can apply in the UK under Tier 4 on this exceptional basis until 1 October 2020 if you have immigration permission in a route which does not usually allow you to apply in the UK under Tier 4, including as a visitor, short-term student, dependant etc, and you arrived in the UK before 1 August 2020. You should apply before your immigration permission expires

It does not help you if you are applying for administrative review of a previous decision. You cannot use this exception if you arrive or arrived in the UK after 31 July 2020, unless you can successfully argue that your need to apply is for an 'urgent reason' and your immigration permission expires after 31 August.

We know that many of you are experiencing difficulties in applying for Tier 4 entry clearance and some of you, who are not visa nationals, are asking if you can come to the UK as a visitor and then 'switch' in the UK to Tier 4. If you arrive in the UK after 31 July, there is a very high risk that your Tier 4 application will be refused. Talk to your Tier 4 sponsor as a matter of urgency about delays and complications that mean you might not be able to arrive in the UK in time to start your course. Most Tier 4 sponsors can provide online study for you until this is possible.

Tier 4 exceptions for people extending and 'switching' in the UK

You can apply under Tier 4 in the UK if:

you have requested and have been granted 'exceptional assurance', and
your previous immigration permission was Tier 4 or Tier 4 (Child) student, and
you apply by 1 October 2020

Even if you can apply in the UK when you would usually have to leave and apply for entry clearance, you will have to meet most, but not all, Tier 4 requirements.

The Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students guidance provides some exceptions from the usual Tier 4 requirements for students changing into, and extending their, Tier 4 immigration permission.

You are not required to meet academic progress if you:
- need more time to complete your study, including assessments and exams, as a result of Covid-19; this includes social distancing measures implemented by your course provider as well as illness, or
- have successfully completed your course, now want to study a new course at the same level as your previous course, and you would usually have to leave the UK to make an application to do that but cannot do that at present; your Tier 4 sponsor must be able to confirm on your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) that the new course and previous course support your career aspirations (note that students studying at degree level and sponsored by an HEP with a track record can apply in the UK without this exemption) and the course start date on your CAS must be 30 December 2020 or earlier, or
- have Tier 4 immigration permission to study a PhD but will be awarded an MPhil, or if you are studying an integrated Master's and will be awarded a lower level qualification and the course start date on your CAS is 30 December 2020 or earlier
The requirement to have a gap of no more than 28 days between the end of your immigration permission and the course start date on your CAS does not apply to you if your course start date is 31 December 2020 or earlier. The guidance previously stated that this exception applies to all Tier 4 applicants. Now it says it applies to students who already hold Tier 4 leave, but this does not necessarily mean it no longer applies to others. This is because it does not say that it only applies to Tier 4 students and does not explicitly exclude other applicants. The table at the start of the guidance explaining changes from the previous version states that the "concession regarding the period during which a new course must commence after the expiry of current leave has been extended until 31 December" with no reference to the immigration status of applicants, which suggests that the concession remains available to all Tier 4 applicants.

Although we have asked for them, there were no other exemptions from the usual academic progress requirements. This means, for example, that these provisions do not help you if you want to start a new course before you finish your previous course, or if you want to study a course that is at a lower level than your previous course studied with Tier 4 immigration permission.

Study limits remain the same, but the Home Office will exercise discretion in future if this prevents you from completing your studies. If this affects you now, you need to talk to your Tier 4 sponsor as a matter of urgency. The new student immigration rules will not have a study limit requirement for postgraduate study, and we expect this to come into force around October 2020.

If you are concerned that you do not meet all requirements and these concessions do not help you, contact your Tier 4 sponsor. Some Tier 4 sponsors have received advice from the Home Office that is more generous than provisions in the published guidance.

In response to our query, the Home Office confirmed to us on 20 April that the online application forms have been amended so that they no longer prevent you from applying in the UK because you do not meet all the usual requirements.

For details of all the main Tier 4 provisions, see Requirements (Tier 4: eligibility and requirements.

What have we changed? Removed concession for holders of exceptional assurance from 'switching' because the guidance says it applies only to 'existing Tier 4 students'

Biometric residence permits (updated 10 August)

Applications outside the UK

When you apply for immigration permission outside the UK, you are usually required to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) from a post office or your Tier 4 sponsor within 10 days of arriving in the UK.

The Home Office knows that many of you will be subject to self-isolation requirements for a period of 14 days from arrival, and some post offices may be closed, so there will be flexibility around this. Even in other years, BRPs have always been kept by post offices and Tier 4 sponsors for a period that exceeds 10 days.

We understand that when the Home Office grants you an entry clearance (visa), it tells you that you need to collect your BRP 10 days after arrival in the UK or before the expiry date on the sticker (vignette) in your passport, whichever is the later. Entry clearances are now granted for a 90-day period (previously 30 days), so you have a maximum period of 90 days in which to collect your BRP, depending on when you arrive.

If you arrive in the UK shortly before the expiry date on your vignette, or you cannot travel to the UK before then, and you are worried about not being able to collect your BRP in time, contact your Tier 4 sponsor if you are collecting from them, or you can notify the Home Office.

Applications inside the UK

When you apply in the UK, your BRP is sent directly to you, If you left the UK after you extended your immigration permission but before you received your biometric residence permit (BRP), you can try to arrange for your education provider or someone else who is still in the UK to forward it to you.

If your BRP is not collected or forwarded, it may be cancelled. This means you will need to apply for a replacement BRP visa in order to re-enter the UK, followed by a new BRP once you are back in the UK - see Passport, visa and BRP problems. Ask your Tier 4 sponsor for information about what happened to your BRP. Alternatively, you can contact the Home Office.

Free extension scheme

You were not sent an updated biometric residence permit if you applied under the free extension scheme, and the same applies to the 'grace period' (to 31 August) and 'exceptional indemnity'. The Home Office should have a record of your situation, but if you are worried about this, you can ask the Home Office's Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre.

What have we added? Information about the letter issued when entry clearance is granted and the deadline in that for collecting BRPs

Police registration (updated 6 August)

Making an immigration application outside the UK (updated 17 September)

Since 1 June, most visa application centres outside the UK have re-opened, depending on local restrictions, but expect delays and limited availability of appointments. If you are worried you cannot arrive in time for your course, contact your education provider. Do not come to the UK as a visitor and then try to apply under Tier 4 in the UK; there was a special provision in place to allow this but you must have been here by 31 July in order to do that.

Check which centres have actually opened again using Find a visa application centre. Alternatively, for applications in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East visit uk.tlscontact.com. For all other countries, visit VFS Global. Priority and Super priority services are available in some, but not all, locations.

Even if your nearest visa application centre has not yet re-opened, it is still possible to apply online. Make sure you are familiar with the immigration requirements you need to meet (check this with your education provider), and gather all relevant evidence so you can make an appointment and obtain your entry clearance (visa) as quickly as possible when your local application centre does re-open. Alternatively, you can make an appointment to attend a different centre, if you can travel there. This special provision will be reviewed by 30 November 2020. The same applies if you are unable to leave a country in which you are not usually resident and need to apply there.

On 16 September, under its guidance for 'Applying for a visa if your VAC is closed', the Home Office clarified that if you’ve already applied online and you now intend to submit your application at a different VAC than the one you selected, you need to make a new application and select the VAC where you intend to submit your application. You’ll need to pay the fee for your new application and then request a refund for your original application.

You will need to provide biometrics as part of your application. Unlike applications in the UK, we understand that there are no plans to remove this requirement for entry clearance applications, even if you have previously been granted UK immigration permission. In many cases, you will also have to be tested for TB, so you need be realistic about how much time you will need in order to make your application, especially if you cannot yet travel to your nearest TB clinic or visa application centre, or if they are still closed. There is no provision for applying for a TB test if you are in a country that does not have any approved TB clinics, so you will need to travel to one or wait until travel is possible.

The Home Office confirmed to us on 17 April that Access UK (the digital application process) will hold applications for an increased period of 240 days. This is to ensure that entry clearance applications remain live and valid, so you will be able to enrol your biometric data once visa application and TB services have resumed.

See the Home Office's advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents for information about how your documents will be returned to you. It also explains that if you made an appointment before an application centre closed, you will be contacted when it is possible to book a new appointment - your appointment will be postponed, not cancelled.

If your Tier 4 sponsor has assigned a confirmation of acceptance of studies (CAS) or a Start-up endorsement to you but you have not been able to make an immigration application by the usual deadline or your course start date has changed, the Home Office may still grant your application. It has published guidance for sponsors about this which says that applications will not automatically be refused and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents explains the situation for applicants with expired endorsements. Contact your Tier 4 sponsor if this affects you and you need more information.

If you have submitted an application and now want to withdraw it - see Cancel your visa, immigration or citizenship application.

What have we added? Guidance updated on 16 September to confirm that, if you have made an application at a closed VAC, you can submit a fresh visa application through a different VAC and get a refund for your first application

Immigration permission granted, but you cannot travel to the UK (updated 7 July)

Transition period and the EU settlement scheme (updated 13 July)

Transition period will not be extended

The UK Government announced on 12 June 2020 that it will not request an extension of the transition, or implementation, period - see the European Commission's press statement following the second meeting of the EU-UK Joint Committee. During this period, European Union (EU) law continues to apply in the UK on a temporary basis following the UK's departure from the EU on 31 January 2020. This period will end at 11 pm on 31 December 2020, in spite of the Coronavirus and COVID-19.

This means that EEA and Swiss nationals, and their family members who have not arrived in the UK by 11 pm on 31 December 2020 will need to meet the requirements of the new immigration system, set out in this Further details statement. For information about the EU settlement scheme and who is eligible to apply under it, see Brexit - EU Settlement Scheme.

For information about the impact of this decision on tuition fee status and eligibility for student finance, see Brexit: Impact on fee status assessments and Brexit: Impact on student finance.

EU settlement scheme and absences from the UK

We asked the Home Office about absences if you hold, or want to apply for, pre-settled status (limited leave) under the EU Settlement Scheme. The Home Office told us that Coronavirus-related absences up to 12 months will be regarded as acceptable for an “important reason” like study or pregnancy. Note that in order to apply under this scheme you must be, or have been, in the UK before 11 pm on 31 December 2020 and there is no minimum period of time in the UK.

We continue to await Home Office guidance on whether absences exceeding 12 months for Coronavirus-related reasons will be disregarded. When we receive further information we will add it here, and see also Brexit - EU Settlement Scheme where you can find details of how to apply under the scheme in the UK or abroad.

What have we added? Link to the policy statement about the new UK immigration system published on 13 July

Travel and self-isolation on arrival in the UK (updated 28 August)

Government advice is that you should not travel unless it is essential, with some exempt destinations first listed on 3 July. 'Essential' is not defined, but it is clear that you should avoid travel as far as possible, unless you can walk or cycle to your destination. You must not travel if you have symptoms of the illness or have been in contact with people who may be infected.

From 15 June, you must wear a face covering, which includes masks, if you use public transport in England. This includes trains, buses, trams, coaches, ferries, underground, planes, cable cars. For full details, including a limited list of exemptions from this requirement, see Safer travel guidance for passengers. The same applies to Scotland from 22 June - see Staying safe and protecting others (physical distancing). In Wales and Northern Ireland, you should also wear a face covering when travelling.

If you arrive in the UK on or after 8 June, you will be subject to self-isolation rules ('quarantine'), unless you are exempt - students, as a group, are not exempt. For information about how this affects BRP collection and police registration, see details in the relevant sections above.

People who arrive in the UK on or after 10 July will not have to self-isolate if they are well and have come from one of the countries listed in Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel corridors. These lists change very regularly at short notice. Also, the rules are not always the same for each country in the UK so check the list that is relevant to where you want to enter the UK. It is your previous location, not your nationality or usual country of residence, that is important. You will have to provide details of your location in the UK.

Full details about self-isolation are in government guidance on how to self-isolate on arrival in the UK. In summary, you will have to provide your journey and contact details on an online form 48 hours or less before you travel to the UK and you will not be allowed to leave the place where you are staying in the UK for your first 14 days, except in very limited situations. This means that if you intend to come to the UK for study, you must take into account these extra days of not being able to attend classes, see other people or leave your accommodation except for very limited reasons. There is no end date yet for these measures. It is very important that you contact your education provider before you decide to travel to the UK. This is so that you can check what support you will receive during these first 14 days, including accommodation, food, online facilities for induction, orientation, meeting tutors and other students and many other matters. Universities, colleges and schools are in the process of thinking about how best they can help you during this time, and it's vital that they know what you plan to do and where you will be staying. Guidance on self-isolation for students arriving in the UK is a publication aimed at education providers, and gives you some idea of how your institution might support you.

Many countries have different travel restrictions and rules about self-isolation and quarantine. Check with the country you want to travel to and if information is confusing or does not sound right, try to find out what the embassy says. Some countries might make exceptions to travel bans for nationals and residents - check if you can register for alerts about repatriation with your country's embassy or high commission in the UK. Universities, colleges and schools in the UK often have links with embassies and may be able to help you. Unfortunately, we do not have those contacts.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK also provides an overview of what's happening in other countries; go to Foreign travel advice, choose the country you want to travel to and then select 'Coronavirus'. Country-specific information appears under the box near the top of the page.

Some countries require evidence that you have not tested positive for COVID-19 before you can board a plane to travel there. It is highly unlikely that the NHS will be able to provide you with such confirmation if you have no symptoms, and you should not travel if you have symptoms.

Money Saving Expert provides advice about the options available to you if your flight is cancelled or you need to cancel travel, also insurance and refunds.

See UK Government travel advice for students and education providers.

What have we added? A link to recently published guidance for higher education providers on self-isolation for students on arrival in the UK

Free NHS treatment including Covid-19 testing (updated 7 August)

Accommodation (updated 4 September)

Staying in the UK

If you are unable to leave the UK as planned, your contract for accommodation will probably come to an end too soon. The Government has issued guidance stating that students living in a hall of residence should be allowed to remain, if possible, or that your accommodation provider should work with its local authority and letting agents to help you find alternative accommodation. It states that no students should be made homeless and makes special reference to international students (see 'For those with no alternative residence').

Accommodation provided by education providers is exempt from immigration checks. From 30 March, other landlords can check your 'right to rent' using scanned, rather than original, documents - see Coronavirus (COVID-19): landlord right to rent checks. However, landlords are still required to carry out checks - see Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students.

You might be staying in private accommodation. If they want you to leave a property, landlords are now required to give you at least six months' notice, in most cases. You should continue to pay your rent if possible but, if you can no longer pay it, you must talk to your landlord. The Government has made arrangements to support landlords - see Covid-19 and renting guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities and Aid for private rental landlords (Scotland).

The Welsh goverment has detailed guidance for private renters. Information in Scotland is aimed at private landlords and letting agents. Housing Advice Northern Ireland has helpful advice for students in all forms of accommodation (note that information about benefits is unlikely to apply to you).

Get in touch with your education provider or students' union as a matter of urgency if you are worried about becoming homeless. Although you may not be able to see or speak to someone, because many staff are working at home, universities, colleges, schools and students' unions all have email and webform contacts you should use to let them know about your situation. Remember that they are dealing with a lot of people, so get in touch as early as possible if you are in danger of losing your accommodation.

You may be able to find alternative accommodation in the private sector, and friends might be able to help, though social distancing makes this less likely. Your local authority might be able to provide information but if you are subject to the condition No recourse to public funds, you cannot usually take local authority accommodation. Although the UK Government has instructed authorities to relax this restriction (see detailed information provided by the No Recourse to Public Funds Network), many people will be trying to access local authority support, so you should start by asking your education provider for help.

If you are worried about being ill or living with others who have Coronavirus symptoms, see General support for international students.

Ending a tenancy early

You might want to end your tenancy early or cancel it. Shelter England, Shelter Scotland and Housing Advice Northern Ireland provide information about how to deal with this situation. Housing or money advisers at your university, college or students' union may also be able to offer help free of charge with negotiations with landlords, including discussions about storing belongings that you might have had to leave in your accommodation. Some providers of student accommodation are offering to let you end your contract early without penalty, as long as you let them know by their deadline. For details of which education providers and accommodation providers are helping their students in this way, see regularly updated information provided for housing suppliers by the ANUK/Unipol National Codes.

Collecting belongings

The UK governments have issued guidance for students in England, Wales and Scotland about when and how you can collect belongings you had to leave in your accommodation. It also sets out the arrangements that education accommodation providers should put in place for you if you cannot return to collect your luggage: you may be charged storage costs but the provider should not make a profit.

Unfortunately, this guidance does not apply to private landlords. If they charge you full rent for a room occupied only by your belongings, you should seek help from the organisations and advisers listed above in negotiating a change to the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement.

Other sources of information

The National Union of Students has written to Universities UK, which represents higher education providers, to the British Property Federation and to the National Residential Landlords Association, asking them to take action to support students.

Universities UK has put together a series of frequently asked questions, with answers, about accommodation matters. The Office for Students has published a briefing note on student accommodation, including examples of good practice, advice and links to relevant information.

What have we added? Notice period in private renting in England increased, from 29 August, from three to six months

Work (updated 4 August)

The Graduate Route (new two-year work route) is still due to launch in summer 2021 - see Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students. We continue to wait for full details. However, the Government has confirmed that time spent studying outside the UK will not count against you as long as you enter the UK before 6 April 2021 and you spend your last semester in the UK with Tier 4 immigration permission, or its replacement under the new system.

Not all students may work in the UK - see Who can work and working hours. If you have work permission, make sure that you do not breach its requirements. Even if you are no longer able to attend classes or undertake research in person, if you are in term time, and you are studying online, you are still restricted to working 10 hours a week, or 20 hours a week, depending on the level of your course.

You may work full time during vacations. Vacation dates have not changed just because you are not attending classes and lectures in person. However, if your course of study has been suspended, you are treated for work purposes as if you are on vacation, so may work full time - see Covid-19: Guidance for Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students. Employers should not employ you full time unless your education provider confirms that you are on vacation (including suspension of study, which means you are not studying your course online), or have completed your course or are undertaking a work placement as an assessed part of your course.

If you lose your job because of workplace closures, you can apply for other jobs, though it might be difficult. Some employers are recruiting additional staff to deal with changes in their way of working.

From 30 March, employers can check your right to work using scanned, rather than original, documents - see Coronavirus (COVID-19): right to work checks. It is not currently possible to apply for a National Insurance number, but you may start work before you do this and apply for one when the service resumes. For confirmation for this, see Apply for a National Insurance number.

You may be eligible for financial help provided under special schemes set up the UK Government to prevent hardship for workers - they are not 'public funds'.

Check with your employer if you have to take time off work and might need statutory sick pay. Your employer should let you know if you are eligible for payment under the Coronavirus job retention scheme for furloughed workers. For details of both these schemes, see COVID-19: guidance for employees. If you are on furlough from one job, you may take up other work (see government guidance) and the working hours from your furloughed job should not be added to the hours of work from your new job, as long as you remain on furlough - check first that the terms of your contract for your furloughed job do not prevent this, and that you will be able to resume that job without exceeding your permitted hours if your employer requires it.

There is currently less provision for you if you are self-employed, perhaps under the doctorate extension scheme or the Start-up route, but check if you qualify under the UK Government's self-employment income support scheme.

If your immigration permission expired, or will expire, between 24 January and 31 August and you cannot leave the UK or make another application, the Home Office has stated in its guidance that "From 1 to 31 August 2020, the conditions of your stay in the UK will be the same as the conditions of your leave. So, if your conditions alowed you to work, study or rent accommodation you may continue to do so during August 2020 ahead of your departure".

There are special provisions for specified medical and allied health professionals, including students working or volunteering for the NHS or an independent healthcare provider in one of these professions who may work longer than their usual permitted term-time hours. For information about volunteering as an volunteer responder, see Covid-19: Guidance forTier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students.

You can start a Tier 2 or Tier 5 job in the UK before you receive a decision on your immigration application, as long as you made your Tier 2 or Tier 5 application before your current or most recent immigration perrmision expired and the job you want to start is the same job described on our certificate of sponsorship - see Home Office guidance for sponsors and applicants.

What have we changed? Removed reference to the free extension scheme as it came to an end on 31 July; updated information on support for the self-employed

No recourse to public funds, financial hardship (updated 7 May)

Financial hardship

If you have financial difficulties, let your education provider or Students' Union know and ask if they can help you in any way. International students are defined by the Office for Students as vulnerable, which means that you should have guaranteed appropriate accommodation, immediate access to hardship funds if necessary, and support with obtaining food, cleaning and medical supplies.

Your country's embassy or high commission might also be able to help. For example, the Indian High Commission has lists of organisations, businesses and individuals offering support, including Indian student organisations.

Education and accommodation providers have been instructed by the UK Government to exercise flexibility if you cannot afford to pay your tuition fees, rent or other expenses, so contact them as soon as you think you might have difficulties. Education providers may also have hardship funds. They do not always publicise their hardship funds, so ask them directly if you cannot find any information on their website or elsewhere.

Universities UK has written a statement about tuition fee refunds (dated 20 April) which you will find in its FAQs about tuition, assessment and fees. See also a Pie News article on this subject, UK: new guidance on refunds applies to students, says CMA.

Local authorities, councils and neighbourhood, cultural and religious groups can help you with shopping and other aspects of daily life - check Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK for sources of help local to you.

Money Saving Expert provides regularly updated information about how to manage your money, including sources of help, how to help others and how to avoid financial scams.

Public funds

All Tier 4 students and short-term students are subject to the immigration condition, no recourse to public funds. This means that you cannot apply for certain welfare benefits and social housing - see Public Funds.

The UK Government has recently set up schemes to prevent hardship for workers. Statutory sick pay, job retention scheme payments and the self-employment income support scheme are not defined as 'public funds'. For confirmation of this, see Home Office information, Coronavirus (COVID-19): get support if you're a migrant living in the UK.

Some people, even if they are subject to the condition, no recourse to public funds, can claim certain benefits. This depends on a range of matters, including nationality or the nationality of family members. For information about whether one of these exceptions might apply to you, see Home Office guidance for caseworkers on public funds. If you are not sure, it is important that you ask for advice before you claim public funds - see Further advice.

The House of Commons Library research briefing Coronavirus: Calls to ease No Recourse to Public Funds conditions provides details of what is and is not covered by the definition of 'public funds' in addition to setting out options open to the Government. If the Government decides to lift the no recourse to public funds condition, we will update this information.

What have we added? Link to a Pie News article dated 5 May on refunds for tuition fees

Student finance and scholarships (updated 3 June)

Questions we cannot answer yet

Last modified: 06 August 2020

We have asked the Home Office (UKVI) for policies and information to deal with the questions below. Until we receive answers or amended guidance, we cannot provide more information on these topics on our website or on our advice line. As soon as we have clear answers, we will update this information.

The Home Office has assured us that no one will be penalised because of something outside their control. But if you have questions about any of these matters and need to hear from them directly, we recommend that you contact the Home Office’s Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre and explain your concerns in detail to them.

Hear from other students and join in with positive campaign actions through the #W eAreTogether campaign.

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Doctorate extension scheme and Tier 2 applications (updated 30 June)

How absences will be treated in future settlement applications (updated 9 June)

The long-term consequences for the future

General support for international students

Last modified: 10 July 2020

The wellbeing of international students is our top priority at UKCISA and we are doing everything we can to ensure that you have the support you need during this unprecedented global pandemic.

Universities and colleges are working online but staff will continue to work to support you in your own institutions. We advise all students to check information and advice on your institution’s websites and to keep in touch with academic and support staff. Be sure to let your institution know if you are planning to leave the country.

All the latest advice from the UK government.

Latest health advice and information from National Health Service.

Latest health advice from Public Health Wales.

Latest health advice from Northern Ireland.

Latest health advice from Health Protection Scotland.

Looking after our mental health is more important now than ever and social distancing can be extremely difficult to cope with. There is lots of useful information about looking after your mental health during this pandemic on the Student Minds website. One of our #WeAreInternational Student Ambassadors, Khoa Nguyễn, has offered tips for looking after your mental health in a lockdown situation via a blog found here.

We understand that many students live in shared accommodation and this can be worrying if you or your housemates start to feel unwell. If you are living in student halls of residence and are worried about your own health or the health of students that you live with, contact staff at your accommodation to inform them that you are unwell, and use this link to guide you on to next steps.

The Department for Education (DfE) has produced guidance on self-isolation and social distancing for students living in university or college halls of residence.

The DfE has an email address to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education.

Staff, parents and students can contact: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

For support or clarification on any of the information given here, you can phone our student advice line on +4420 7788 9214 which is open Monday to Friday (except for public holidays) from 1.00pm to 4.00pm (UK time)

Before calling us, please check Questions we can answer and Questions we cannot answer yet

Statement from UKCISA

Last modified: 27 March 2020

Joint statement from UKCISA and Universities UK International: Covid-19 impact on international students

19 March 2020

Everyone at UKCISA and Universities UK International understands that it is a difficult time for many international students. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and advice from institutions, and from the governments in the UK and other countries is understandably being updated on a very frequent basis. Student and staff wellbeing is the top priority for ourselves and our university members and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that everyone has the support they need.

Please be reassured that we are working constantly with UK government departments, our members, and other sector organisations, taking every possible measure to ensure the university community is well-informed, supported and safe. The health of all students and staff is of the utmost importance to university leaders and operational and contingency planning to manage the outbreak is underway across our institutions. This is a constantly-evolving situation and universities are planning for all possible scenarios.

UK universities understand that a university ‘closure’, which can mean a variety of things, may cause anxiety for students who cannot return home. Universities understand that a student’s halls are usually their main home for much of the year and universities will support those students who cannot or do not want to go home.

We are seeking specific advice from the government on self-isolation in shared accommodation. The focus for universities who have students in this situation would be to ensure every possible measure is being taken to support them during self-isolation, to ensure this is effective but also that their needs are met.

For support or clarification on any of the information given here, you can phone our student advice line on +4420 7788 9214 which is open at the following times:

Monday to Friday (except for public holidays) from 1.00pm to 4.00pm (UK time)
Additional extended hours until the end of May 2020:
Tuesday morning and Thursday morning from 10:00am to 12:00pm (UK time)

Before calling us, please check Questions we can answer and Questions we can not answer yet.

Update: 23 March

The UK government has now issued guidance on isolation for residential educational settings.

It notes that 'It is important that institutions operate a ‘non-eviction’ policy if students have no alternative residence' and that this 'is particularly important for international students who may not be able to return home due to travel restrictions.'

Joint statement from Universities UK International, Universities UK and the UKCISA on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Chinese staff and students at UK universities

5 February 2020

The health, welfare and safety of students and staff is the top priority for university leaders following the Coronavirus outbreak. UK universities have been supporting all students and staff who might be concerned about their health with up-to-date advice from health services. Our universities have a strong history of welcoming Chinese students and staff to the UK and they are very much part of our international community. UK universities will not tolerate racism in any form, and we encourage students and staff to report any incident of racial harassment and seek support from their university.

We understand that students and staff may be worried about friends and family members in China and our thoughts go to all those affected by this situation. At this difficult time, we ask that students and staff support their fellow friends and colleagues in solidarity with the whole of the international higher education community.