international opportunities and immigration helen challis & angela lin international office
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International Opportunities and Immigration
Helen Challis & Angela Lin
International Office
International Opportunities Overview
Collaborative PhDs
Summer Schools
Student Grants
Conferences
Joint PhD Programmes Overview
Three options...
Joint PhD Programmes Overview
One programme of collaborative research: supervisors at both institutions
Any discipline (project-permitting)
Joint degree: one certificate with both institutions’ names and logos
Time split according to research, with a minimum of 12 months at Imperial
Asian Summer Schools: Early-Stage PhD Students
Singapore / Hong Kong
1-week course + 3-week research placement
NUS, NTU or A*STAR/ University of Hong Kong
48 students per course drawn
from participating institutions
IDEA League
Summer School
40 students from five partner institutions
Residential 4-day course
Research skills, Communication, Teamwork, International Collaborations
Five partners: Imperial, TU Delft, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen, ParisTech
Student Grants
€1,000/month
Research placement2 weeks – 6 months in duration
€18,000 available per year
Tsinghua Summer School
Employability and Entrepreneurship
Grant-writing, commercialisation of research
Alternates between Beijing and London
Late-stage PhD students
1-week
International Office can help you with…
• Visa renewals• Dependent visas• Correcting Entry Clearance mistakes• Travel visas• Family visits• Working during your studies
•Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies
International Office can help you with…
• Visa renewals• Dependent visas• Correcting Entry Clearance mistakes• Travel visas• Family visits• Working during your studies
•Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies
International Office can help you with…
• Visa renewals
•Working during your studies•Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies
Points Based System
Tier 1: Highly Skilled / Post Study Work
Tier 2: skilled workers with a job offer, to fill gaps in the UK labour force
Tier 3: low skilled workers to fill specific temporary labour shortages (dormant)
Tier 4: students
Tier 5: youth mobility and temporary workers
Student Entry Clearance Rules
The applicant needs to prove that s/he:
• Has been accepted on to a full-time course• Has the ability and intention to follow the course
(CAS number: 30 points)
• Has adequate finances(bank statement:
10 points)
Student Visa Rules
• Enrolled on full-time course (no part-time study)
• No ‘gap’ years
• Degree level course OR
15 day-time hours/week at ‘bona-fide’ college
• Enough money without needing to work
Three ways to apply
1. In person at Public Enquiry Office, Croydon -fast but expensive (£650)
2.By post independently - cheaper (£357) but slower)
3.Using the International Office Student Batch Scheme - same cost as postal (£357), added support of College
Student Visa Renewal
Write visa expiry date in diary
1 month before it expires:
• Print & complete visa renewal form
• Collect your supporting documents
• Book appointment / attend a visa clinic in the International Office to get your application checked
Working in the UK during your studies
Non EEA students can work:
• 20 hours per week in term time• Unlimited hours in holiday time• PG students – 20 hours max during dissertation
Special rules for new Europeans, Romanians & Bulgarians
Permission to Work: visa wording
Work / Business as in Tier 4 Rules
No recourse to public fundsWork (and any changes) must be authorised
Limited Leave to remain in the UK. No recourse to public funds. Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State.
Work after your studies
Student visa holder after end of course
(short-term but full-time)
Long-term and full-time (current options)
Tier 1 Post Study Work (2 years)
Tier 1 General: Highly Skilled (3 years)
Tier 2 Skilled Worker (Work Permit)
Tier 1: Post Study Work
• Launched June 2008• Permission to remain in the UK to work and look for work for up to 2 years• Postal application = £550 (in person = £850) • Apply up to 12 months from date when course completion is confirmed
• Guidance from International Office: www.imperial.ac.uk/international/visas
Tier 1 General: Highly Skilled
• Points for Qualifications, Age, Previous Earnings, UK experience, English Language and Maintenance
• Check points at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator
Tier 2
• Job offer (sponsor) required
•Points for Qualifications, Future Salary, Certificate of Sponsorship, English Language and Maintenance
General Tips on Points Based System
• Things are changing – check you have latest advice, application form and follow UKBA guidance
• Maintenance requirement: £800 in UK, £2800 overseas
• Don’t breach your student visa conditions!
• Complete applications only – keep a copy
International Office
• Room 164, Level 1, Sherfield Building
• www.imperial.ac.uk/international
• Tel 020 7594 8040
