offer no courses to Tier 4 students below NQF 6, other than English Language pre-sessional courses. English Language Courses: Must be mapped at Level B2 on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) English Language requirements: Programmes should conform to standard published Plymouth University and Plymouth University International College (PUIC) English Language requirements for International Students which can be found . Any request for an exception to the standard requirements must be made through the ELRIS group with justification / reason for higher requirements supplied. A list of programmes that require higher than the standard English Language requirement is also maintained Information on English Language requirements must be maintained centrally and any changes made through the ELRIS group, to ensure we can justify the qualifications we are accepting in the event of a UKVI audit. (Contact UKVI Compliance Team for more information). Courses must be full time, which is defined by UKVI as – a full time course leading to a UK recognised qualification at level 6 or above on the QCF or NQF or equivalents An overseas higher education course that the student is studying for in the UK and leads to a qualification from an overseas higher education institution that is recognised as being equivalent to a UK higher education qualification (for PU this would apply to students doing an exchange or study abroad year here, who require a Tier 4 visa) A course of study below UK degree level that involves a minimum of 15 hours a week of classroom based, daytime study (08.00 18.00, – Monday to Friday) (for example pre-sessional English Language courses) In practice Plymouth University defines time” for students on degree “full courses as taking the full complement of credits in any academic year, i.e. 120 credits (UG), 160 credits (PGT). This does not to students who are repeating studies on the same programme and may only be required to repeat some modules / credits. We are permitted to continue sponsoring them under Tier 4 as long as our sponsorship duties can be and are still fulfilled, and the student began their study on a full time programme. Tier 4 students may not be recruited to a course whose mode is part time OR distance learning. Programmes with blended learning or solely consisting of self-study may also cause problems for Tier 4 students. Engagement:
offer no courses to Tier 4 students below NQF 6, other than English Language pre-sessional courses. English Language Courses: Must be mapped at Level B2 on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) English Language requirements: Programmes should conform to standard published Plymouth University and Plymouth University International College (PUIC) English Language requirements for International Students which can be found . Any request for an exception to the standard requirements must be made through the ELRIS group with justification / reason for higher requirements supplied. A list of programmes that require higher than the standard English Language requirement is also maintained Information on English Language requirements must be maintained centrally and any changes made through the ELRIS group, to ensure we can justify the qualifications we are accepting in the event of a UKVI audit. (Contact UKVI Compliance Team for more information). Courses must be full time, which is defined by UKVI as – a full time course leading to a UK recognised qualification at level 6 or above on the QCF or NQF or equivalents An overseas higher education course that the student is studying for in the UK and leads to a qualification from an overseas higher education institution that is recognised as being equivalent to a UK higher education qualification (for PU this would apply to students doing an exchange or study abroad year here, who require a Tier 4 visa) A course of study below UK degree level that involves a minimum of 15 hours a week of classroom based, daytime study (08.00 – 18.00, Monday to Friday) (for example pre-sessional English Language courses) In practice Plymouth University defines “full time” for students on degree courses as taking the full complement of credits in any academic year, i.e. 120 credits (UG), 160 credits (PGT). This does not to students who are repeating studies on the same programme and may only be required to repeat some modules / credits. We are permitted to continue sponsoring them under Tier 4 as long as our sponsorship duties can be and are still fulfilled, and the student began their study on a full time programme. Tier 4 students may not be recruited to a course whose mode is part time OR distance learning. Programmes with blended learning or solely consisting of self-study may also cause problems for Tier 4 students. Engagement:
UKVI_Guidelines_and_Programme_Approval_Ver_4.docx