INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Guidance for International Students

South Cheshire College welcomes applications from students who are not UK residents, whether you already live in the UK, or currently live overseas. We are a Highly Trusted Sponsor organisation under the Tier 4 immigration framework. If you would like to study at South Cheshire College, you will need to read the information below very carefully and go through the following steps:

FEES - Find out whether or not you will have to pay 'overseas student' fees to study at the College.
COURSE - Choose your course and complete an application form
VISA - If you will require a student visa to study in the UK (whether you currently live in UK or overseas), then you will need to make a visa application.

We have produced these guidelines to assist you with the application process to South Cheshire College. Applying to a college from overseas and applying for a visa at the same time can be a complex matter. Please do not underestimate the time it takes to complete all the necessary formalities. If you need any assistance please Contact Admissions at the Information Centre on +44 (0)1270 654654.

1. Fee Status - Will You Have To Pay To Study At College?

All students are classed as either 'home fee' or 'overseas fee' payers. The prices for full and part-time courses shown on the website are those that apply to 'home fee' payers only.

'Home fee' payers include UK residents, most EU residents and some students from other countries who meet other funding criteria.To find out whether or not you would qualify for 'home fee' status, you will need to complete and return to the Admissions team our fee status questionnaire along with your application form and a photocopy of your passport. We will use the information in the questionnaire to determine whether you will need to pay the 'home fee' or 'overseas fee'.

You can refer to the student guidance notes on the UKCISA website (Fees and Student Support) to help you to assess your fee status.

Assessing Your Fee Status

Please download and complete the fee status questionnaire (Adobe Acrobat file - 91kb). Please note that when filling in the questionnaire, all full-time courses commence early in September each year.

If we determine that you are a 'home fee' payer, then please refer to the course information on the website to find out what costs, if any, you will have to pay to study.

If we determine that you are an 'overseas fee' payer, then you will need to pay the tuition fee applicable to overseas students before you can start a course at the College.

Fees for one academic year must be paid in advance, and no Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS - which is necessary in order to obtain/renew a Tier 4 student visa) will be issued until fees have been paid or documentary evidence produced confirming that you have a Government award or scholarship. Fees should not be paid until specifically requested by the College. We will send you an invoice for the course.

The overseas student tuition fee for one academic year for full-time courses was £5000.00 for 2011. This figure will be revised each academic year. If you study for an English qualification (ESOL) prior to or during your full-time course, the cost of this is currently £11 per hour.

If you have any doubt as to your fee status, please contact the Information Centre on +44 (0)1270 654654.

Living Expenses And Accommodation

The estimated living expenses for a student from overseas attending a full-time course in South Cheshire are approximately £500 per month, exclusive of course expenses. This amount is required to cover rent, food, heating/light, laundry/dry cleaning, travel, clothing and other expenses. There is no college accommodation available. However students to whom places are allocated will be given advice and help in seeking accommodation. [BACK TO TOP]

2. Choosing The Right Course

It is important that you choose the right course at the right level of study for you. Once you are in the UK, it may be difficult to change courses and this could delay your academic progress.

All programmes of study at South Cheshire College lead to national qualifications recognised by employers, universities and professional bodies in the UK
The website of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority provides outlines of all the qualifications you may study in the UK. Please refer to South Cheshire College Courses For 16-19 Year Olds for specific courses available.
Alternatively contact the College for a copy of the UKCISA guidance notes for students or visit the UKCISA website.
It is a condition of the Immigration Authorities that overseas students intending to follow a course of study in excess of 6 months in the UK must do so on a full-time basis.
Students from overseas who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK can only apply for courses at Level 3 or above.

Entry Requirements

The table below details each level of qualification and the general entry requirements. Entry to some of the courses may depend on qualifications in specific or relevant subjects.

Guidance on overseas equivalent qualifications can be found on the NARIC website (National Academic Recognition Information Centre)

Successful participation of the course is dependent upon a good knowledge of English. As general guide, students whose first language is not English should be able to reach the level of the Cambridge Proficiency Certificate (or equivalent) before commencing the course. We require a letter written by you without assistance explaining why you wish to study in England. This will help us to assess your ability at English. Students must also be 16 years or over to commence a course at the College.

Level of Study	Course Programme	Guide to Entry Requirements*
Level 4	Foundation Degree NVQ Level 4	BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma NVQ Level 3 4 GCSE's and 1 A-Level (or equivalent) Mature students by interview
Level 3	AS and A-Level	5 GCSE passes, grade A* to C (or equivalent) including English Language. Some A-Levels have higher grades required in specific subjects.
Level 3	NVQ Level 3 BTEC Level 3 Diploma Advanced Diploma	Approximately 4 GCSE passes, grade C or above (or equivalent) including English Language
Level 2	GCSE NVQ Level 2 BTEC Level 2 Diploma Higher Diploma	Usually 4 GCSEs at grade D (or equivalent), including English Language or Maths grade D
Foundation Learning	NVQ Level 1 BTEC Level 1 Diploma Entry Level	Subject to interview. Formal qualifications may not be required

*Please check individual courses for specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

A good knowledge of English is essential for all our courses, and is now a requirement of the UK Border Agency for any students applying from overseas to study in the UK.

Overseas students must have attained a level of English that is a minimum of level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). For some courses, the level of English required may be higher. You will need to provide evidence of this level of English when making your application for the course, by sending us your qualification certificate to demonstrate the level of English you have achieved. UKBA have an approved list of English Language tests (Adobe Acrobat file) on their website which shows only those qualifications that will be accepted as evidence of a suitable level having been achieved.

Students who are being sponsored by their government to study in the UK will not need to have reached level B1 in English to apply to South Cheshire College. [BACK TO TOP]

Completing Your Application

Before submitting your application form, please check that you have completed it fully (including the letter of application) and attach a photograph. Make sure you have also enclosed copies of certificates and the academic reference (unless this is being sent to us direct by your referee).

You may send documents by e-mail or separately by post if you are completing the on-line application form. Please make sure you identify all documents with your full name. [BACK TO TOP]

The Stages Of Application Process

Your initial enquiry
Please familiarise yourself with these guidance notes for overseas applicants and refer to the UKCISA website for student guidance notes on Fees and Student Support to help you to assess your fee status.
Complete a South Cheshire College application form and your fee status questionnaire (Adobe Acrobat file - 87kb) using the checklist of documents required for application.
You will be accepted onto your chosen programme of study subject to entry requirements / interview. A telephone interview may be possible.
A provisional offer letter and invoice will be posted to you requesting your course fees. Please do not pay your fees before they are specifically requested by South Cheshire College. If you are a 'home fee' payer and there are no fees to pay, then you will simply receive an offer letter.
For 'overseas fee' payers, a receipt and a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or offer letter will be posted to you once your fees have been received. Details of how to enrol will follow.
The Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the College should be used by you as part of the Tier 4 student visa application process. Please refer to the UK Border Agency website for full details on how to apply for a visa and what you will need.

Checklist Of Documents Required For Course Application

Your fully completed application form, signed and dated.
One passport sized photograph with your name clearly written on the back (or digital photo for online applications).
Letter of application detailing why you wish to study in England. This letter must be written by yourself to help us to assess your ability of English.
Academic Reference.
Copies of your qualification certificates.
Copy of your English Language test certificate.
Fee status questionnaire (Assessing Your Fee Status).

All correspondence should be addressed to Admissions Officer, Information Centre, South Cheshire College, Dane Bank Avenue, Crewe, Cheshire, CW2 8AB, ENGLAND or by e-mail to admissions@s-cheshire.ac.uk. [BACK TO TOP]

3. Applying For A Visa

If you will require a student visa to study in the UK (whether you currently live overseas or are already in the UK), then you need to meet very clear conditions to successfully apply for a visa.

The Tier 4 Student Visa is issued on a points basis, and there are 2 key criteria which students must meet if they are to receive the required number of points:

You must be able to produce a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a trusted sponsor organisation in the UK. South Cheshire College is a Highly Trusted Sponsor organisation, and if we offer you a place at the College and you pay the fees in advance, we will issue a CAS to you to enable your visa application to go ahead.
You must be able to provide evidence of funds to support you in the UK for one academic year. The UK Border Agency has set this figure as £600 per month living costs for 9 months (£5400 in total), as well as the £5000 fee (for 2011 - will rise for 2012) for your first year of tuition. This is a total of £10,400 in funds which you must show evidence of possessing. Please refer to the UKBA website for further information about how you must provide evidence of funds when applying for your student visa. When you pay tuition fees in advance to the College, we will send you a receipt, which you can use as part of the evidence of funds you provide to the immigration authorities when applying for the visa.

There are a number of additional conditions that may be applicable to your specific circumstances when applying for the visa, so please do visit the UKBA website and ensure that you are confident in meeting all the criteria before applying for a visa.

Useful Contacts

The British Embassy, the High Commission or The British Council in the country from which you are applying may also provide details on immigration issues and preparations for travel. [BACK TO TOP]