Dear Mr. Bassie,

I would like to further my studies in the UK. Could you please tell me what are the requirements for obtaining a student visa?

- L.F.

Dear L.F.,

If you wish to travel to the UK to study, you will be required to apply through the British High Commission under Tier 4 of the newly-introduced Points Based System. This will determine if you have sufficient points to qualify.

Tier four concentrates on overseas students and is to provide a more user-friendly and transparent route.

When applying for a student visa at this level, students are divided into three categories.

The first category is general student. This refers to students who intend to study in the UK at or above degree-level in a publicly-funded institution or engaging in more than 15 hours of study per week. Students who meet this category are permitted to work for 20 hours each week, rising to full-time hours during holiday periods. Dependents are permitted to join the successful applicant in this category.

Full-time study

The second category refers to students who intend to engage in full-time study at an independent school and who are up to age 18. In this category, working hours are the same as the general student category. However, dependents are not permitted to join the applicant.

The third category relates to students who intend to pursue courses of work experience or placements. Working hours will be the same as the other two categories and dependents will be permitted only in instances where the principal student applicant will be in the country for a period in excess of 12 months.

Bona fide establishment

The applicant's institution needs to show that it has attained the status of approved sponsors and a bona fide establishment, rather than a non-accredited, purely commercial operation. Any educational organisation must be included on the 'Department for Education and Skills' Register of Education and Training Providers'.

The institution will then provide a certificate of sponsorship which will act as verification from the institution that the student making the UK visa application will abide by the rules and requirements of the course. The institution is obliged to report any non-enrolment and non-attendance of the student.

If you are successful, you will be granted leave to enter the UK for the purpose of completing a course of study at a specified institution. If you change from one course to another at the same sponsoring establishment then you will not be required to make a new visa application.

However, if you wish to change your sponsor or wish to make an application to obtain a visa extension then you will have to make a further application.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/ attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a Supreme Court-appointed mediator and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com or editor@gleanerjm.com.