Thesis Visa — Postgraduate Students Writing Up a Thesis Qualify for a Visa!

Summary

Postgraduate student may qualify for admission to the UK for up to 12 months for the purpose of writing up a thesis.

Requirements

A person seeking leave to enter/remain for the purpose of writing up a thesis must demonstrate that:

• he meets the requirements for admission as a student and
  
  
• he continues to meet those requirements;
  
  
• where the thesis relates to postgraduate studies in certain designated subjects leading to a Doctorate or Masters degree by research or a taught Masters degree, he has produced an ATAS clearance certificate if. A certificate obtained at the time of the last grant of student leave is acceptable provided it continues to remain valid (only applies where his student leave was last granted before 30 November 2007); and
  
  
• he intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of the stated period;
  
  
• he can provide evidence from the college/university that he is a full-time / part-time / writing up postgraduate student;
  
  
• the application is supported by the UK educational institution;
  
  
• he is not at the end of a period of government or international scholarship, agency sponsorship, or if so;
  
  
• he has the written consent of the sponsoring agency to a further period of study and satisfactory evidence that sponsorship funding is available; and
  
  
• he has not been given previous leave to enter for 12 months to write up the same thesis.
  
  

Extension

Discretion may be used to grant a second period of 12 months only where the university presents a strong reason why the thesis was not completed within the initial 12 month period (e.g. where the student has suffered a prolonged illness, or where the thesis has been submitted but has not reached the required standard and must be re-written).

Switching

Students, who successfully complete UK degree level courses or above, may be eligible to switch into Work Permit employment on completion of their course.