Owner: Version Effective date: Date of review: International Admissions Manager 2.0 October 2014 October 2015 This document is part of a revised series of Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures which govern the University’s academic provision. Each document has a unique document number to indicate which section of the series it belongs to. 3S International Application Assessment: Procedure 1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE 1.1 These procedures are for the International Admissions Team (IAT) and others dealing with overseas and EU applicants and offer holders. This specifically includes applicants and offer holders who require a TIER 4 visa. 1.2 This document provides an overview of how undergraduate and postgraduate international applications are assessed by IAT in accordance with sponsor guidelines as published by the Home Office and in accordance with BU admissions policies and procedures. 2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 2.1 International Admissions Administrators to apply this policy to all applicants and offer holders. 2.2 Academic staff for approval. 3. LINKS TO OTHER BU DOCUMENTS 3.1 Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) completion guidance v06April2012 “Non Bulk Data Transfer CAS”. A copy of the document can be found in I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing and Student Recruitment\Procedures\ TIER4\IAT CAS Procedures 06April2012 Non-BDT 3.2 Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures: 3B Admissions (Taught Programmes): Policy and Procedure 3C Corporate Recruitment: Procedure 3D Fraudulent Application: Procedure 3E Criminal Convictions: Procedure 3F Proof of Qualification and Identification: Procedure 3G Student Name: Policy and Procedure 3H Standards of English for International Students and English Language Qualifications 3J Academic Progression (International Admissions): Procedure 3L Fees status: Guidelines All documents listed in 3.2 can be found in https://staffintranet.bournemouth.ac.uk/aboutbu/policiesprocedures/academicregulati onspoliciesprocedures1213/ I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 1 3.3 Bournemouth University International Qualifications (BUIQ) can be found in: I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing and Student Recruitment\Overseas Qualifications Database 4. DEFINITIONS UKVI: United Kingdom Visas and Immigration. TIER 4: Level of visa which permits an overseas (non EU) student to study in the UK. CAS: Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies - An electronic number which is issued by the institution when they agree to sponsor an overseas student. The student must state this number in their TIER 4 visa application. Sponsor: The institution where the student will study (Bournemouth University). The Home Office states that an institution must have a valid license to sponsor international students UK NARIC: National Recognition Information Centre for the UK - The UK’s National Agency responsible for providing information and opinion on vocational, academic and professional qualifications from across the world. UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs SELT: Secure English Language Test - A list of English language qualifications which have been accepted by the Home Office as sufficient evidence of English language ability. BUIQ: Bournemouth University International Qualifications Database. SITS: Paperless admissions portal to fully replace OLA and unit-e by September 2015. All applications for September 2015 are processed in SITS starting from 22 October 2014 for IAT. 5. PROCEDURE 5.1 Receipt of application IAT receives applications from overseas students in a number of ways: - Direct paper application from UG and PG applicants UCAS application from UG applicants On line application from PG applicants IAT will only accept applications via international representatives where a BU Representation of Agreement is in place. Please note, where a direct paper application is received from an undergraduate applicant, the offer letter will state that the applicant must make an application via UCAS. Therefore, all undergraduate applications are ultimately processed via UCAS. 5.2 Receipt of personal information - All contact details for the applicant (and representative if applicable) are clearly recorded in SITS. I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 2 - - - 5.3 IAT ensures that all TIER 4 students hold a valid passport before issuing a CAS. A copy of the passport must have been uploaded onto the applicant’s record in SITS before issuing a CAS. The passport will have been uploaded by the applicant or his/her representative through the applicant portal. IAT will also assess the 5 year study limit for international applicants and requests confirmation from the applicant whether or not the placement option (where applicable) will be taken up prior to issuing the CAS IAT will only finalise an application once confirmation of a completed personal declaration statement has been received as part of the application (either via online application or on the paper application form). Assessing previous qualifications IAT will assess international qualifications as follows: - - - - If the qualification is not issued in English, an official translation must be submitted in addition to a copy of the original qualification. The translation should include the official translator’s details and signature. Check the level of the qualification is equivalent to the required UK qualification as stated on UK NARIC. In some cases, further research on the educational system and grading structure is required. This research may be gathered from UK NARIC, British Council, relevant Ministry of Education and BU market intelligence. Research on qualification equivalences is compiled and held on BUIQ. Check the awarding institution is a recognised institution which has the relevant awarding authority, as stated on UK NARIC. In the event UK NARIC is unable to provide information on the status of an overseas institution, further research will be gathered from the sources listed above and the overseas institution will be contacted directly for further information. Check the qualification is considered as a bona fide document and not a forgery. Where there are concerns about the authenticity of a document, UK NARIC will be consulted. If UK NARIC is unable to confirm the document is genuine, IAT will follow 3D Fraudulent Application procedure. Where an applicant holds borderline qualifications, IAT will refer to the relevant School academics for a final decision on whether the applicant can be accepted. 5.4 Assessing English language qualification IAT will require evidence of a valid English language qualification as outlined in policy 3H Standards of English for International Students. English language qualifications will be verified as follows: - Qualification verification for SELTs (where available) Process 5.3 as outlined above for selected BU assessed English language qualifications (as listed in policy 3H) If an administrator within other departments receives a SELT certificate which requires verification and the administrator is unable to access the verification services, IAT should be contacted and do the verification process. In the event that an online verification service is not available, the awarding body will be contacted for further guidance on how to verify the qualification. I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 3 5.5 Assessing Previous Study in the UK Applicants are required to declare all previous study in the UK as part of their application. IAT will assess the length of time a TIER 4 applicant has already spent in the UK to ensure that the new duration of study will not extend beyond the total length of stay they are entitled to, as defined by the current Home Office regulation. Where there is concern over the length of previous study, IAT will ask the applicant to submit copies of previous visas to confirm the total duration of study in the UK to date. Copies of previous visas will uploaded on the applicant’s record in SITS. To calculate the 5 year study cap for immigration purposes, please refer to the UKCISA guidelines: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Immigration-/Making-a-Tier-4-Generalapplication-in-the-UK/Time-limit-cap-on-study/ 5.6 References In support of an application, an applicant has to submit a minimum of one reference for undergraduate and postgraduate applications. This reference should be academic. The reference in support of a postgraduate application is only considered acceptable if it is comprehensive enough to satisfy the administrator or programme leaders’ expectations. If a reference does not provide sufficient information, the administrator shall request an additional academic or professional reference from the applicant. Where a postgraduate applicant is currently or has recently (within 2 years from the date of application) been studying, the reference must be academic. Where an applicant is currently working and has completed his studies more than 2 years prior to the application, the reference can be professional. References in support of an undergraduate application shall be academic but may be replaced by an adequate professional reference if the applicant has completed his latest academic qualification longer than 2 years prior to the application. References should be presented as follows: - - In English or with an official translation into English On letter headed paper Signed and dated by the referee The reference should not be older than two years The referee must be or must have been the tutor or supervisor of the applicant within the past two years, hence must have been in the position to experience and be able to comment on the applicants academic ability The referee’s contact details must be his/her professionals Where there is concern regarding the authenticity of a reference, IAT will contact the referee and/or institution directly for further confirmation. References submitted via UCAS and directly via BU Online Application are exempt from the above presentation requirements. 5.7 Assessing intent to study BU is required to take reasonable steps to ensure that applicants have a genuine intent to study. IAT (and School academics where applicable) will assess intent to study by examining some or all of the following (depending on course requirements): I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 4 - Personal statement Relevance of professional background Academic Progression (where applicable) Portfolio Interview Applicants are expected to convey their interest and commitment to the chosen programme of study and evidence how the programme of study will help them to achieve future professional and/or academic goals. 5.8 Assessing fee status As owner of the Fee status assessment process at BU, IAT will assess an applicant’s fee status in accordance with document 3L - Fees status: Guidelines and provide advice to colleagues in other departments within BU. If a fee status question cannot be resolved within IAT, the case shall be forwarded to ISST for final decision making. 5.9 Assessing Academic Progression If a TIER 4 student has previously studied in the UK, IAT will assess whether the new programme of study shows evidence of academic progression or not. In order to do this, IAT will ask applicants to confirm the following: Level of the course the previous CAS was issued for Level of the previous qualification gained (a copy of the previous qualification must also be provided) In the event that the chosen programme of study does not clearly show academic progression, IAT will follow procedure 3J Academic Progression (International Admissions). 5.10 Financial capability IAT will remind all TIER 4 applicants of the requirement to possess available funds for tuition, accommodation and living expenses (as outlined by the Home Office). IAT will send the following documents to applicants at the time of CAS issuance: 1. Tier 4 (General) Student Visa “How much money do I need?” (Appendix 1) 2. Tier 4 (General) Student Visa “Is my bank statement acceptable” (Appendix 2) All Tier 4 postgraduate applicants will also be required to pay a deposit of £2,000.00 to secure their place on the course, subject to fulfilment of conditions and clearance checks of their offer. IAT will only issue a CAS once the above assessments have taken place and: - The applicant has selected Bournemouth University as their Firm choice (must be via UCAS for all undergraduate applicants); A deposit of £2000.00 has been received for postgraduate TIER 4 applicants; There is no more than 3 months before the start of the course. REFERENCES AND FURTHER INFORMATION I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 5 Home Office TIER 4 of the Points Based System- Guidance for Sponsors (latest version at time of writing is 09/07/12). A copy of the document can be found in I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures\TIER 4 Home Office TIER 4 of the Points Based System- Guidance for Students (latest version at the time of writing is 09/2012). A copy of the document can be found in I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures\TIER 4 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Tier 4 (General) Student Visa “How much money do I need?” Appendix 2: Tier 4 (General) Student Visa “Is my bank statement acceptable” Appendix 1 I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 6 Appendix 2: I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 7 I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 8 I:\M&C\Collaborative\International Marketing & Student Recruitment\Procedures, V1 April 2013 9