Harper Adams University selected to join student visa pilot

Posted 18 December 2017

A pilot scheme to streamline the process for international Masters students wanting to study in the UK has been extended to Harper Adams University, the Immigration Minister announced today.

The pilot aims to streamline the process for international students looking to study on a Masters course of 13 months or less in the UK. It also provides greater support for students who wish to switch to a work visa and take up a graduate role, by allowing them to remain in the UK for six months after they have finished their course.

Universities taking part will take on responsibility for eligibility checks, meaning that students can submit fewer documents than required in the current process alongside their visa applications. Applicants who do not meet immigration rules will be refused.

All students will continue to require Home Office security and identity checks.

Harper Adams, which has been chosen because of its consistently low level of visa refusal rates, will be able to use the pilot process for international students applying to start at the university from September 2018.

Immigration Minister Brandon Lewis said: “I am delighted to announce the expansion of this pilot which is part of our ongoing activity to ensure that our world-leading institutions remain highly competitive.

“The UK continues to be the second most popular destination for international students and the number coming to study at our universities has increased by 24 per cent since 2010.

“This is a clear indication that genuine students are welcome and there is no limit on the number who can come to study in the UK.”

Dr David Llewellyn, Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University, said: “Harper Adams University is delighted to be able to participate in the extension of the Tier 4 student visa pilot programme which we see as a very positive and welcome step for the university sector.

“We have a wide range of international links in agriculture and related subjects and the ability to manage further aspects of the visa system locally will be of considerable advantage in promoting educational opportunities in the UK to students overseas.”

The most recent Home Office statistics show that the number of students applying for visas increased by eight per cent over the past year.