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 new 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?

International students laughing and joking

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. If you currently live outside the UK/EU it is almost certain that you will need to pay the 'overseas fee'.

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 (Adobe Acrobat file - 87kb) 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 - 87kb). 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 the majority of our courses is at present £5000.00. This figure may 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

There are two restrictions which the UK immigration authorities place on any international students wishing to come to the UK on a student visa:

You can only receive a student visa to study on a FULL-TIME COURSE
You can only study a full-time course at Level 3 or 4

Please keep these restrictions in mind when making your application to the College - check the length and level of the course before you apply, to avoid disappointment. If you wish to study for 6 months or less, you will need to apply for a student visitor visa instead of a general student visa.

Entry Requirements

The table below shows the general entry requirement for starting on a HE course. However, please see the individual course information on the Courses for Adults page to find out what specific requirements there may be for the course that interests you.

Level of Study	Course Programme	Guide to Entry Requirements
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	BTEC Level 3 Diploma NVQ Level 3	Approximately 4 GCSE passes, grade C or above (or equivalent) including English Language
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

If you have studied overseas and have non-UK qualifications, then you will need to work out the equivalence of your qualifications, to determine whether or not they are likely to be sufficient to study a HE course at the College. Guidance on overseas equivalent qualifications can be found on the NARIC website (National Academic Recognition Information Centre)

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.

South Cheshire College's policy is to only offer a place on an Adult Learner course to overseas students whose level of English is currently at least level B2 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.

If your level of English is below level B2, then you may be able to study at our Language School to improve your English prior to starting the course. South Cheshire College offers English language (ESOL) courses at all levels, and could help you to reach the level of English required to be able to successfully complete a HE course. If you do not meet the level B2 English language requirement then we may offer you the opportunity to study for 1 year at our Language School as part of your studies in the UK. UKBA class English Language courses as 'pre-sessional', and you can apply for this at the same time as applying for a full-time course.

Students who are being sponsored by their government to study in the UK will not need to have reached level B2 in English to apply to South Cheshire College, but if your English is below level B2, then you will be offered a place on an ESOL course prior to your HE course.

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 - 91kb) 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).
Evidence of Level of English - this needs to be a qualification certificate showing that you have reached at least Level B2 on the CEFR (Cambridge level PET).
Academic Reference.
Copies of your qualification certificates.
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 new conditions to successfully apply for a visa.

The new 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. Remember that we cannot issue a CAS unless you have provided evidence of your level of English, and it meets the UKBA requirements.
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 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]