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How do I sponsor a migrant?

An interview panel

Tier 4 - students

This page explains the requirements you must meet if you want to get a licence to sponsor migrants under tier 4 of the points-based system.

The tier 4 implementation plan explains the phased delivery of tier 4.

What education providers must show

If you are an education provider and you want a licence to be a tier 4 sponsor, you must show that:

  • you have been inspected, audited or reviewed by an appropriate body (if you are subject to public review);
  • you hold valid accreditation from an appropriate body (if you are not subject to public review); or
  • you directly offer short-term 'study abroad' programmes in your own premises in the United Kingdom (if you are an overseas higher education provider).

See below for more information about these requirements.

Procedures are in place for our approved accreditation bodies to inform us promptly if your accreditation is removed, and to act quickly to check on education providers if our staff report concerns. If you need accreditation but you subsequently lose it, we will withdraw your licence.

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Inspection or auditing

If you are subject to the system of public reviews, you must show that you have been inspected or audited by:

  • the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (UK-wide);
  • the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted);
  • Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (Scotland);
  • Estyn (Wales);
  • the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland); or
  • the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

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Accreditation

If you are outside the system of public reviews, you must show that you hold valid accreditation from one of the following:

  • the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted);
  • Accreditation UK - a British Council scheme offering an accreditation service for English language schools;
  • the British Accreditation Council (BAC), which offers a general accreditation service covering a wide range of educational establishments and their courses;
  • the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC), which offers a general accreditation service covering a wide range of educational establishments and their courses;
  • the Accreditation Body for Language Services (ABLS), which offers accreditation for English language schools; or
  • the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) - for private QAA subscribers only.
  • the Church of England - Ministry Division. The Churches' Quality in Formation Panel, led by the Church of England, which offers a quality assurance and accreditation service for institutions offering training for Christian ministry in the participating churches.

If you have been trading as an education provider for less than 18 months and you are in the process of applying for accreditation, we will accept a provisional accreditation (known as Stage 2) from one of these accreditation bodies, on the condition that you obtain full academic accreditation (Stage 3) within 12 months.

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Overseas higher education providers

If you are an overseas higher education provider, you do not need United Kingdom accreditation as long as the courses you offer in the United Kingdom are short-term 'study abroad' programmes provided directly by you in your own premises. Students for these courses must be enrolled in their home country and be coming to the United Kingdom for one or two semesters before returning home to finish their degree course (which must be equivalent to a United Kingdom degree).

You will still need to apply for a tier 4 licence, and will need to provide proof that:

  • you hold overseas accreditation, which can be confirmed by the national agency UK NARIC, as a provider of degree programmes that are equivalent to United Kingdom degree-level qualifications; and
  • you only teach part of your higher education programmes in the United Kingdom (so that, for example, students are enrolled at the overseas university and study only part of their degree in the United Kingdom before returning overseas to finish their studies); and
  • you have full legal control of the premises you use.

If you are teaching full programmes to students enrolled full-time in the United Kingdom, you will need United Kingdom accreditation before you apply for your tier 4 licence. If you are delivering a 'study abroad' programme through a third party (such as a United Kingdom university), the third party will need United Kingdom accreditation before it can apply for a tier 4 licence.

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