How to Prepare for Credibility/Visa Interview

Points to remember while preparing for the interview:

• Read the offer letter and SOP.
• Understand the course modules well.
• Do not give vague or generic answers. Do research, be specific and give
detailed answers. All your answers must align with your course and
career goals.
• Read your responsibilities as a student Visa Holder
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-
Immigration/Protecting-your-Student-status
• Go through the university specific YouTube videos to find how they
conduct interview.
• Remember source of information i.e., names of websites, education
fair, brochure, etc.
• The interviewer may ask question in a different way or can cross
question; hence students must do their own research and avoid
mugging up the answers.

1) Tell me something about you?

- Tell your name, place, educational background, work experience,
achievements and only if asked talk about family (in short) and hobbies.

2) Why do you want to study in UK? How many countries are there in UK (along
with their respective capitals)?
- Mention at least 8 to 9 points.
- Do not mention your intentions of working in the UK.
- Go through the following links.
• https://www.ucas.com/studying-
uk#:~:text=High%20quality%20education,-
The%20UK%20is&text=They%20also%20have%20a%20reputation,t
o%20drive%20forward%20their%20careers
• https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/why-study
• https://www.kaplanpathways.com/student-life/uk/
• https://www.kaplanpathways.com/about/news/top-9-reasons-
why-you-should-study-in-the-uk/
3) Why did you not choose any other English-speaking countries or your home
country?
- Which universities did you check in other countries (Talk about at least 1 or 2
similar ranked universities from each country you considered to study)
 - You can compare based on education system, course fees, cost of living,
climate, socio-economic issues, etc.
- Please check world ranking from
• https://www.timeshighereducation.com/
• https://www.topuniversities.com/
4) Why do you want to choose this university?
You can talk about
- World ranking, national ranking, Teaching Excellence Framework, If the
rankings are high.
- Accreditation with independent professional bodies e.g., AMBA, EQUIS,
AACSB, CMI for MBA, CMI, CIMA for Other business courses, ACCA, for
Accounting CFA for Finance RIBA for Architecture, British Computer Society
for Computer Science and so on (check course specification)
- Subject Ranking (check Guardian League Table)
- Student satisfaction rate (NSS 2020), Student employability rate
- 1 Higher Education), positive feedback you have read, etc.
- Read the university website very thoroughly.
- Compare with at least 4 other UK universities providing similar course –
comparison can be made based on
• Course modules: What modules can you study from your university
but not from other universities. Find the difference between their
modules.
• Accreditation: Check if course is accredited in other universities
(Only if your course is accredited)
• Student satisfaction rate, employability rate, course fees, facilities
available, etc.
- Go through the following links.
• https://www.timeshighereducation.com/
• https://www.topuniversities.com/
• https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/national-
student-survey-2020-overall-satisfaction-results
• https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-
interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table
• https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/tef-2023-
results
•
5) Know the location of university well.
- Remember website URL.
- Name of your campus
- What are the other campuses?
 - Postal Address
- What do you know about the city/town?
- Why did you choose this campus/city?
- Which is the nearest international airport?
- Names of major cities around your university
- How will you travel from India to UK and from the airport to the university?

6) Why did you choose this course?

- Tell the name of course as it is written on your offer letter.
- Explain your decision-making process on what attracted you to this specific
course.
- Also discuss the modules and their contents, learning outcomes and
progression routes.
- Articulate the justification by engaging with the modules and linking them
with your previous studies and future job title’s duties.
- Also, explain how this course is related to your previous studies.
- If you are switching your field of study, provide strong and valid justification
of the same e.g., if you are switching from an engineering background to
MBA or International Business, etc.
- Full form of MSc: Master of Science
MA: Master of Arts
MEng: Master of Engineering
BSc: Bachelor of Science
BA: Bachelor of Arts
BEng: Bachelor of Engineering
- If your course is foundation, International Year One, Pre-Masters,
Extended master’s courses, know what they mean.
- Also, while mentioning your previous course avoid saying abbreviations.
Use full forms only e.g. Don’t use BCA, mention Bachelor of Computer
Application
- Do you have any academic gaps? Why do you want to return to full time
studies now?

7) Did you consider any other course?

8) Know the structure of course well.

- Remember names of modules.
- What you can study from each module
- How many credits points each module carries?
- Total credit points for PG are 180 and UG is 360.
 - How many semesters do you have? PG: 3 semesters, UG: 2 semesters/year
(6 Semesters)
- How you will be assessed?
- What is the entry requirement for your course?
- Duration of the course, start date, end date (Check offer letter)
- Which module will be the most challenging and least challenging for you and
why?

9) What is your future career plan?

- Explain what your plans are after you graduate?
- What skills and knowledge will your course at the university provide for your
future career?
- How will the knowledge and skills you gain from this course help you with
the type of work you hope to do?
- What research have you done about the job market, including job titles, job
requirements and expected earnings?
- What value addition you can do to the organization?
- e.g., After the course I will apply for “Job Title” and companies like “Name 1,
Name 2 and Name 3”. Explain the job title’s responsibilities in 2-3 lines and
engage with the applied course’s modules. Explain briefly how ABC modules
will help you perform your duties at the respective job title and what skillsets
will get enhanced.

10) How will you support yourself financially?

- If family member is supporting, know their annual income and source of

income.
- How many funds do you have and in which bank? You may be asked to show
the source of where this money come from?
- How many people are dependent financially on your sponsor?
- If you have applied for education loan, explain in which bank and branch?
Why are you taking loan? What is the rate of interest? How will you repay
this loan? What security you have given against the loan?
- Although you can work a part-time job under a student visa, you should not
be relying on that income for your maintenance funds.
- What is your tuition fees (Check offer letter)
- If you are going for a course with more than one year duration, you should
also be able to explain how you will be paying your next year’s course fees
and living expenses. You can talk about the family’s income or property
which can be used to pay for fees and living expenses. e.g., if you are going
 for a 3-year bachelor course you must be able to explain how you can
manage your finances for each year.
- Calculate funds required including course fees and living expenses.
First year unpaid tuition fees + Nine months of living expenses
For universities inside London nine months living expenses: £12006.
For universities outside London nine months living expenses: £9207.

11) What about your accommodation?

- A student must research accommodation webpage on the university website
and should make himself aware about the properties available for the
students.
- For private accommodations check
• https://www.gumtree.com/
• https://www.casita.com/
• https://www.spareroom.co.uk/
• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

- What is the address?

- What is the rent and what facilities are available?
- How far it is from the university.
- How will you travel from the accommodation to the university?
- Shortlist at least 3 accommodations
- How will you travel from your home country to your University Campus?
- Which airport will he/she be landing in UK?

12) Can you tell me how much your monthly living expenses will be?

- If asked specifically the student must be able to explain the actual cost of
living with breakup in Rent, Food expenses, Conveyance cost, other monthly
bills like Sim Recharge, Entertainment etc. There is difference between show
money required for visa and actual cost expected incurred while in the UK.
13) Do you have any immigration history?

14) Do you have any visa refusals? If so, why was it refused?
- It is important that you tell interview about any refusals you have and
explain the reason. You need to demonstrate that you understand the
reason for the refusal and explain why this will not happen with this
application.

15) Do you intend to work in the UK? Do you know how many hours you are
allowed to work?
 - During term you are allowed to work 20 hours per week and during vacation
you can work for 40 hours per week. But be clear that work is not a priority
for you. You should mention that study is priority and after that if you find
some spare time then only you will consider working part time and gain
some experience, it will give opportunity to know and connect with the local
people and do networking.

16) Do you know anyone in the UK?

17) Have you written any English Proficiency Test?
18) If you have not given English Proficiency Test, how your English language
requirement got waived off?
(through 12th English marks or interview)
19) Who is your agent? Did your agent choose this university for you, or you have
selected it?
20) Which subjects did you study in your previous course? Can you explain anyone
of them?