How do I sponsor a migrant?
Tier 4 - students
This page explains the duties you have as a sponsor under Tier 4 of the points-based system.
Your specific duties as a sponsor of students
In addition to your general sponsorship duties, you must also comply with the following duties.
You may not assign a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) under Tier 4 unless you are satisfied that the student both intends and is able to follow the course of study concerned.
It is your responsibility to assess the student's ability to follow a course of study. In the student's CAS, you must quote the evidence you have used to make this assessment. You must decide how best to make the assessment, depending on the individual circumstances, but examples might include:
- checking the student's English language ability;
- confirming any qualifications that the student already holds which make them suitable for the course the sponsor is offering (for example, by checking or verifying a Master's degree where the student is going to undertake a PhD).
If a student is coming to the UK to undertake an English language course, you must be satisfied that they are already competent in English language to at least CEFR level A1. All students coming to the UK to study English language must be able to demonstrate that they are not complete beginners, as they can only enrol on courses at or above CEFR level A2.
You must do all you can to ensure that the students you sponsor arrive to take up their course, and see the course through to completion. If we find that unacceptable levels of students are not arriving, or not completing their course, we will investigate and take the necessary action, up to and including withdrawal of your Tier 4 licence.
You are also expected to meet the Tier 4-specific criteria relating to accreditation or inspection and the types of courses you may offer. For example, sponsors of Tier 4 (Child) students must have been inspected or accredited on the basis that they teach children under the age of 18.
If you are sponsoring a child student who is going to be cared for in a private foster care arrangement during their stay, you must send the local authority in the area where they will be living:
- the name of the foster carer; and
- the address where the foster carer and the child student will be living.
You must send this information as soon as you become aware of the child student's arrival in the UK or, if the child enters into a private foster care arrangement some time after their arrival, as soon as you become aware of this.
If a student defers their studies after they have arrived in the UK, their permission to be in the UK will no longer be valid because they will not be actively studying. You will need to tell us of the deferral and advise the student to leave the UK. When the student is ready to continue their studies, they will need to make a new visa application.
Expected contacts
As part of your general reporting duties, you must tell us if a student misses 10 expected contacts. For students in schools, further education colleges and English language colleges, this will normally be where the student has missed two weeks of a course. In the higher education sector, where daily registers are not kept, 'expected contacts' include:
- attendance at any lesson, lecture, tutorial or seminar (as relevant to the level of study);
- attendance at any test, examination or assessment board;
- submission of assessed or un-assessed coursework;
- submission of 'interim' dissertation/coursework/reports;
- attendance at any meeting with a supervisor or personal tutor;
- attendance at any 'research method' or 'research panel' meetings. or at 'writing up' seminars or 'doctoral workshops';
- attendance at a viva;
- registration (matriculation/enrolment); and
- attendance at an appointment with a welfare advisor or an international student adviser.
This list is not exhaustive - other types of interaction with students may also count as expected contacts.
It is your responsibility to judge whether a student's absence from their course is authorised or unauthorised. For example, if a student is going to be absent for a prolonged period (perhaps owing to illness or pregnancy), you may want to class this as an authorised absence. However, it is for you to judge whether the student will be able to pick up their studies again straight away without having to repeat a period of study. If a repeat will be necessary, it is likely that you and the student will agree that they need to defer their studies. Any deferment must be reported; once a student has deferred, their permission to stay in the UK will be curtailed and they will need to return home. The only exception is for students sponsored by the Foundation Programme Office, whose sponsorship will continue until they leave the Foundation Programme permanently or switch into another immigration category (for example, Tier 2 for an out-of-programme experience) .
Managing potential abuse
If significant numbers of students drop out or fail to enrol, this will raise concerns about your recruitment processes and your overall suitability as a licensed sponsor, and we will investigate.
If it turns out that it was because of poor administration, or deception on the part of the students, we may downgrade your licence to a B rating, and put in place an action plan to stop further abuse. If we find that you are aware of the abuse, we will suspend your licence immediately and possibly withdraw it if our in investigation proves this.
See also
Terms explained
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B rating
This term is applied to a sponsor under the points-based system for coming to the United Kingdom to work, train or study. It is the rating awarded by us when a sponsor joins the register of sponsors. A B rating is a transitional rating for a sponsor who is under a sponsorship action plan.
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Working days
Monday to Friday are counted as working days. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are not counted as working days. Ten working days may be two weeks or less, depending on where the weekends fall.