If you are being sponsored to study full-time at Cambridge on a student visa, it is important you are aware of the conditions attached to your visa and co-operate with the University in fulfilling its sponsor duties.
Our guide, Your responsibilities on a student visa, explains the requirements of studying on a student visa at Cambridge and provides information on protecting your immigration status in the UK. A summary of the requirements is outlined below but we advise students to read through the full guide prior to commencing their studies at Cambridge.
Students must undertake the following visa responsibilities:
- Provide your passport and evidence of your visa in person to your College prior to commencing studies. Your visa will be checked and your record updated. Your College will be in contact about the arrangements for this prior to the start of your admit term.
- Correct any errors identified on your visa.
- Engage with studies actively and consistently on an ongoing basis. Students should be studying in Cambridge unless approved to undertake a period away as part of the course.
- Keep your UK contact details (address and telephone number) up to date on self-service.
- Notify your College if you change your immigration status, or receive a new passport.
Students must also adhere to the following visa conditions:
- Only work within the restrictions of your student visa
- Do not access public funds.
- Notifying the Home Office of certain changes in your circumstances.
- Do not overstay in the UK on your visa; there is no grace period.
As your visa sponsor, the University holds a Student sponsor licence from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and is required to act in accordance with student visa policy. At Cambridge, the International Student Office is responsible for overseeing institutional compliance with student immigration legislation. The University is required to:
- Hold a copy of your current passport and up-to-date immigration documents.
- Keep up-to-date UK contact details, including both address and telephone number.
- Inform the Home Office if you do not arrive as expected.
- Monitor and record your engagement with studies.
- Notify the Home Office if there is a change of circumstances with your studies, for example if you change course, intermit, stop studying prior to completion or complete earlier than the course end date given in your CAS.
- Inform the Home Office if we believe you are breaching the conditions of your visa (e.g. working over the permitted allowance).
Part-time students on a student visa should read the responsibilities guide for part-time students.