The Points Based System

Julie AllenInternational Student Immigration Manager

Simon BeattieGraduate Admissions Manager

Today

• Brief overview of the points based system ‘PBS’

• Tier 4 – the student route

• Post Study Work

• Proposed changes to Tier 4 and impact on LSE

What is PBS?

• Tier 1 – work routes

• Tier 2 – sponsored work routes

• Tier 4 – students

• Tier 5 – exchange programmes

LSE as Tier 4 ‘Sponsor’

LSE:• ‘sponsors’ students to study• has a licence to bring students in to the UK• is a ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ • issues ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’

(CAS) to students to apply for a ‘Tier 4 (General) Student visa

• students obtain ‘LSE’ visa• obligations – record-keeping, reporting

Tier 4 study conditions

Under Tier 4 students can:

• study on full time course

• travel in and out of UK

• apply inside the UK to extend their student visa

Tier 4 working rules

Tier 4 students can work:

• max 20 hours a week during term time

• (LSE advises max 15 hours a week to students)

• full time during ‘vacation’

• full time from end of course until end of student visa

Tier 4 – rules for student dependants

students on courses 6 months or less:

• cannot bring dependants

degree level students on courses of 12 months or more

• can bring dependants

• dependants can work full time

• children can attend school

Post Study Work

• students can apply to stay in the UK to work for two years after graduation

• apply when receive final results in writing

• 69% of LSE students intend to apply in 2011

Tier 4 Consultation

Coalition government has proposed:• students to return home at end of course

to obtain new visa (eg BSc – MSc students)

• work only on ‘campus’ during week• courses less than 12 months – cannot

bring dependants• abolish right to work for all dependants• close Post Study Work

Changes?

• Announcement – March 2011? May 2011?

• If close PSW – ‘not with immediate effect’

Impact on LSE

• reduction in number of students accepting offers

• admissions cycle – too late to make new offers for 2011

• current students graduating after 2011 – no PSW?

• future reduction in number of applicants to UK and LSE

LSE response to Tier 4 consultation

lse.ac.uk/isis

‘LSE Response to UKBA Tier 4 Student Consultation’

More information

lse.ac.uk/isis

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/Home.aspx