Mandatory requirements: Student Visas

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

Nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area are required to apply for a visa prior to arrival in the UK. If your Programme of study is 6 months or less and you intend to leave after it finishes (i.e. you will be in the country for no longer than 6 months) then you should apply for a General Student Visa or Student Visitor Visa*. If your Programmes of study is more than six months or you think you may want to extend your stay, then you should apply for General Student Visa.

*Note that if you apply for a Student Visitor Visa, once you have entered the UK you will not be allowed to extend your stay or switch to the General Student category. You can find out more about UK visa requirements on the internet, by visiting http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk

Mandatory requirements: Attendance

International students may only enroll on full-time courses that involve a minimum of 15 hours’ organised daytime study per week.

SDS COLLEGE ATTENDANCE POLICY - The Short Version

ALL STUDENTS are expected to:

• Attend the first contact-point (Start Date) of their course.
• Attend all subsequent contact-points. This includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, labs, examinations and any other scheduled appointments.
• Provide a doctor’s note or other suitable documentary support, should they have a valid reason for non-attendance.

Should any student fail to meet the above requirements, they will be subject to disciplinary action that may lead to the termination of their enrollment with the college.

ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS must also be aware of the following:

If you fail to report to the college for enrollment at the expected time, or if you miss 10 consecutive contact-points, the college will be forced to terminate your enrollment at the college. In such cases the college is also obliged to report you to the UK Border Agency. The Home Office will then take up your case.

Please telephone or email the college any time, to request the “long version” of our Attendance Policy.

Mandatory requirements: Contact details

For international students, the college acts as your sponsor for the duration of your stay. This means that the college must know exactly where you are living in the UK, and how you can be contacted in an emergency. This is very important.

SDS COLLEGE RECORD KEEPING POLICY - The Short Version

The College MUST have the following contact details on file:

• Your current address
• Your current home telephone number
• Your current mobile telephone number

Should you change any of the above details, please inform the Registrar immediately, and/or amend the information yourself, using the Electronic College Management System.
In addition to your contact details, the college must also have the following on file:

• A copy of your current passport
• A copy of your current visa/ ID card

Should you fail to inform the college, your enrollment will be terminated and you will be reported to the UK Border Agency. The Home Office will then take up your case. The college reserves the right to keeps detailed records on terminated students, indefinitely, for reporting purposes to the Home Office or any other regulatory agencies.

Unless permitted by you or your authorized representative, we do not share your information with any other third parties.
Please telephone or email the college any time, to request the “long version” of our Recordkeeping Policy

Mandatory requirements: Work

If you are in the UK on a General Student Visa, you are permitted to work no more than 20 hours per week during term time. If you work more than 20 hours per week, during term time, you will be in breach of UK Immigration Law, and liable for prosecution.

Mandatory requirements: UK-recognised awarding bodies

International students may only enroll on full-time courses, at or above NQF Level 3 or equivalent, leading to qualifications from UKBA-recognised awarding bodies. Awarding body registration is mandatory and, unless stated otherwise, at the student’s own expense.

AT SDS COLLEGE, ALL QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE TO OVERSEAS STUDENTS ARE AWARDED BY UKBA-RECOGNISED BODIES.