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UKVI Guidance for Students

We are proud of the support we provide to International Students studying with us, and the contribution that you make to the University community. In order to allow International Students to study at the University, we hold a Student Visa Sponsor Licence. In being granted our licence, a number of requirements are placed on the University and on international students.

International Student Visa Advice and Guidance

  • Visa advice can only be given by the International Office. You should not rely on advice from family, friends, or other staff in the University.
  • You can receive support from the International Office by emailing International@qmu.ac.uk. You can also receive support from the International Office by coming to the drop-in advice sessions on Monday 2pm-4pm, Wednesday 10am-12pm and Friday 10am-12pm. They are held in rooms next to the Registry Information Point. All drop in sessions are held on campus.

New International Student Registration

  • Passport Checking
    We need to check and hold copies of passports and immigration documents for all International Fee status students, and those with a domicile, country of birth or dual nationality outside of the UK.
    For students with a non-UK passport we also need to check and hold copies of Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), visas and passport vignettes.
    • Please bring your documents to the International Office for verification
    • If you do not show your passport, you will not be able to receive your smartcard
    • You must provide immigration documents to the International Office. 
  • Monthly Student Visa Sign-In
    Please follow the guidance for the monthly Student Visa Sign-In below.
  • Passport and Visa changes, and Material Changes in Personal Circumstances
    You must inform the International Office of any changes to your visa or passport, or to your personal circumstances. Contact details are below.
  • Hours of Employment
    You are responsible for ensuring you do not exceed the employment hours outlined in your visa. 

Continuing International Students

  • Monthly Student Visa Sign-In
    Please follow the guidance for the monthly Student Visa Sign-In below.
  • Passport and Visa changes, and Material Changes in Personal Circumstances
    You must inform the International Office of any changes to your visa or passport, or to your personal circumstances. Contact details are below.
  • Hours of Employment
    You are responsible for ensuring you do not exceed the employment hours outlined in your visa. 

International Student Attendance and Engagement

For ALL Student Visa International students, new and continuing

All Student Visa students are required to attend all classes as per their personalised timetable. Their attendance must be recorded by swiping their student card against the card reader outside the relevant teaching room at the start of the class. You must swipe between 15 mins. before and 15 mins. after the class start time. Attendance in class and engagement with online sessions will be monitored.

Students who are unable to attend a timetabled event should submit an authorised absence request via the QMU portal. Students who do not attend or do not engage may be at risk of losing their QMU IT access and of putting their immigration status at risk.
Please see the Attendance Policy for more information: /about-the-university/quality/committees-regulations-policies-and-procedures/regulations-policies-and-procedures/

Student Visa Sign-In

For ALL Student Visa International students, new and continuing

All Student Visa students are required to Sign-In regularly to confirm their attendance. Even if you do not have any scheduled classes, you are still expected to sign-in. Students must Sign-In at the Registry Information Point once during each week below. Sign-In is available Monday to Friday during the following hours: 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm.

Semester 1 Semester 2
Monday 7th Oct. to Friday 11th Oct. 2024 Monday 3rd Feb. to Friday 7th Feb. 2025
Monday 4th Nov. to Friday 8th Nov. 2024 Monday 3rd Mar. to Friday 7th Mar. 2025
Monday 2nd Dec. to Friday 6th Dec. 2024 Monday 7th Apr. to Friday 11th Apr. 2025

Each time you Sign-In we will check your smartcard against the information held on your student record and confirm your current address and contact details. Please keep your contact details up to date via the QMU Student Portal.
If you are on placement during a Sign-In week you will not be required to sign-in in person, although your attendance on placement will be confirmed with the placement provider.
If you are absent and cannot make it to Sign-In you must complete and submit an Absence Form on the QMU Student Portal (or by contacting GraduateSchool@qmu.ac.uk if you are a doctoral research candidate)

The Week Before Each Sign-In

  • We will email you to remind you to Sign-In.

The Week After Each Sign-In

If you don't Sign-In and you don't have an authorised absence or weren't on placement:

  • We will email you asking you to Sign-In urgently.

2 Weeks After Each Sign-In

If you still haven't come to Sign-In and you don't have an authorised absence or weren't on placement:

  • We will restrict your access to QMU services and online systems.
  • We will investigate your absence and report this to UKVI if appropriate.
  • This will likely result in you having to withdraw from your studies. 

If you do not have any classes during a sign-in week, you must still sign-in on campus unless you
have an authorised absence.

Transcript Guidance

For ALL Student Visa International students, new and continuing

·         It is important to understand how the decision of the Board of Examiners shown on your transcript affects your Student Visa.

 

·         You can view your published transcript on the in June (and August if you have reassessments). Your transcript may also be published outwith these times. Check the Academic Calendar for specific dates.

 

·         If you complete your course, withdraw, or are required to withdraw, Registry will send a hard copy of your transcript to your home address.

 

·         You can find guidance on understanding the layout of the transcript on the Student Portal

The Decision of the Board of Examiners and Your Student Visa

The Decision of the Board of Examiners, found near the bottom of your transcript as shown in the example below, can be thought of as your final result for academic year.

Below we will show the different decisions you may find on your transcript and how they may affect your Student Visa.

The following decisions are unlikely to affect your student visa.
Make sure you do not need to extend your visa to continue the course.
•Continue - Passed all assessments.
•Proceed to placement
The following decisions may affect your student visa.
You should discuss your options with the international office.
•Continue - but required to be reassessed in failed/deferred module(s)in next academic year.
•Continue - but required to repeat failed module(s)in next academic year.
•Continue - offered opportunity to repeat failed module(s)
•Continue in part-time registration.
•Decision deferred - outstanding assessment as a first diet
•Decision deferred - outstanding reassessments.
•Offered opportunity to repeat entire level in next academic year before continuing.
•Required to be reassessed in failed module(s) before continuing.
The following decisions will affect your Student Visa.

If your course has finished, if you have decided to take a year out or if you have decided to study via distance learning, you may have to leave the UK earlier than your visa expires or change your visa.

•Course Completed Successfully
•No re-assessment possible - required to withdraw from course.
•Withdrawn
•Year Out

 

Students can appeal the decision of the Board of Examiners within 21 days under specific circumstances.

Please click here to view our Appeals Process.

Contacts
We are here to support you with visa advice and guidance: International@qmu.ac.uk
We are here to support you with attendance and engagement:  SEM@qmu.ac.uk
We are here to support you with the Student Visa Sign-In Process:  SignIn@qmu.ac.uk
Your Transcript registry@qmu.ac.uk
The Appeals Procedure union@qmu.ac.uk