Recruiting Genuine Students – Guidance

The UKVI sponsor guidance is clear in that UWL as an educational institution must take
responsibility for all our sponsored students while we are sponsoring them. This includes
ensuring that prospective students are genuine students who can comply with the
Immigration Rules, and that students enrol, comply with their conditions of leave, and see
their course through to completion.
UWL has given reassurance to the UKVI that we will be robust in the recruitment of genuine
students. We will monitor the markets in which we recruit and will respond appropriately to
any changes. This may at times result in UWL following practice that is stricter than the
regulations require in order to mitigate against any potential risks and safeguard the
University and our applicants.
The UKVI have produced guidance on ‘Credibility: factors to be considered’ which can be
found in the public domain at:
Student and Child Student (publishing.service.gov.uk)

This section lists a number of factors that must be considered when assessing whether an
applicant is a genuine student. This is not an exhaustive checklist and applications are
considered on the individual circumstances of the applicants and include the following.

• The immigration history of the applicant and any dependant, in the UK and other
countries
• The applicant’s education history, study and post study plans, including any breaks in
study
• The personal and financial circumstances of the applicant and any dependant

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 • The applicant’s personal circumstances, where these might make it difficult to
complete a course of study
• English language ability
• Role of dependants
• Pull factors including the applicant’s motivation to choose UWL and the course

What makes a genuine student?

Study in the UK often involves the following:

• Time investment - they will spend 1 to 3 years in another country

• A break from paid work in home country
• Disruption to family life and time away from friends
• Large financial outlay. The average course fee per year is £13,000 and the annual
cost of living in London is £12,000-£15,000. This maybe higher if dependants are
accompanying them.
Meaningful research:
For this significant investment in order to study, we would expect the student to have done
meaningful research into the following:

• The advantage of obtaining the qualification and a clear idea of how that will help
them with their employment prospects and general overall career aspirations
• The suitability of different countries to undertake study
• Compare the offering of different educational institutions within a country that best
suits the student’s needs.
Access to funds:

• Students must have access to funds to cover their tuition fees and living costs whilst
in the UK.
Realistic work expectations in the UK:

• Students are allowed to work for 20 hours per week during term time. It is practical
work experience that is of value to international students. Even if the work is not
connected to their chosen field of study, work is a great opportunity to improve
spoken English and understand British working culture. The Graduate Route is there
for international students and is a pull factor and will help the UK recruit students in
the global market.
Research into UWL

• It is acceptable to look at the university website as a reliable source of information.

• However simply copying and pasting is not (be it from the UWL website, other
websites or other applicants).
• Quoting relevant and accurate statistics can be useful. Students are relying on the
information to be accurate, and this is a factor that is helping them to select.
• UWL staff check for any plagiarism when application forms are submitted.

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Gaps in study patterns must be explained.
Some examples for a break in studies may include:

• Raising a family
• Work commitments
• To work and gain experience in a chosen career path/field
• Working to save funds to pursue overseas study
A clear intention to leave the UK
The student route is for those whose primary purpose is to study in the UK.

• Post study plans should be in line with overall career aspirations and rational for
undertaking study in the UK.
• The Student visa rout does not lead directly into settlement.
Genuine student credibility

• It is important for credibility to be assessed at application stage and will also be

reviewed before issuing a CAS. These guidelines should be followed so that we can
make an appropriate assessment.

Flow chart
• Following the flow chart on the next pages will assist agents (and students) to guide
applicants through the UWL application and additional information request forms so
that they make a strong application to the University and present the strongest
academic basis for wanting to study at UWL
• It also allows International Admissions staff to gain a full, holistic picture of the
applicant to confirm their genuineness and suitability for UWL

UWL seeks to recruit genuine students and when considering an application we see how
applicants answer the following questions.

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 Genuine Student Flow Chart

Why do you wish to study this course?

2 key issues are a) What are your career aspirations? and b) Does this course fit into these?

• Use as a general qualification

• What employment opportunities in your home country or globally will this offer?
• Salary expectation as a result of outlay (in fees and living expenses in the UK)
• Company requirements in home country
• Required for an employment field you are working in or hoping to get into
• How do you explain any gaps in study

What will this qualification give you that your existing ones don’t?

What advantage or value does it give?

Were other similar courses considered?

If not, why not

Is this qualification offered in your home country?

If yes, why have you chosen to study overseas? What is the advantage to do so?

• Recommended by family /friends/ academic staff or agent/ employer

• Qualification will give an advantage in home country? If yes what kind of jobs do you think this will
help you access and at what level of salary?
• Cost & duration of course
• Visa requirements (including any previous visa refusals)
• COVID-19 situation
• Academic reputation
• Safety
• Opportunities to work during and after study?

Have you considered any other countries? E.g.: USA/Canada/Australia/ New Zealand

• University rankings / academic reputation

• Tuition fee costs & living costs
• Recommended by family /friends/ academic staff or agent/ employer
• Visa requirements (including any previous visa refusals)
• COVID-19 situation
• Safety
• Opportunities to work during and after study?
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Were other universities in the UK considered:

• Web based research

• University rankings
• Tuition fee cost
• Academic reputation
• Location to International airport and travel links within the UK
• Family/ Friends recommended
• Tutor/Employer/ Agent recommended
• Safety
• Attracted by study in the cosmopolitan, diverse and multi-cultural capital city that London is

What do you know about UWL:

You would be expected to have an understanding of the institution you wish to study at

• Do you know where it is?

• Which site will you be studying (Ealing, Brentford or Reading)
• Are you aware of the living costs in the UK?
• Travel time and cost involved
• Suitability of the accommodation

What do you know about your course:

• Duration
• Number of modules and how this will enable you to meet your study and career goals
• Subject covered
• Teaching methods

English Language ability

• The course you will study will be taught in English

• You must demonstrate this ability in reading, listening, speaking and comprehension
• You will be expected to have conversational English language ability if you are called in for a
credibility interview and when speaking to immigration officers at the port of entry into the UK

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Costs of study in the UK

• What is your budget – does it cover the cost of studying (fees and living costs) for the duration
of study in the UK? Applicants are expected to have made realistic provisions and to have
access to funds to cover them for the duration of their studies
• After tuition fees, the next most significant cost is accommodation

How will you fund your studies in the UK?

• Income from a personal/family business

• Personal savings
• What is the current salary?
• Liquidating assets (e.g. land and home)
• Taking out educational loans
• Relying on work once in the UK to meet living costs is not allowed. You will not be allowed to
engage in business whilst in the UK on a student visa

Post Study plans

• Do you intend to leave the UK after course completion? If not, why not?
• Further study – must demonstrate academic progression and in line with career aspirations
• Take advantage of 2-year Graduate Route visa to gain work experience, which could be useful
upon return in your home country or to help aid future career plans
• Settling in UK – the Student Route does not lead to settlement

Credibility interviews

For out-of-country applications, Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs) undertake interview to consider if the
applicant is a genuine student.

Interviews may be arranged and conducted in a variety of ways and may include:

• a telephone/skype interview

• an interview at a designated time and location

Failure to attend without a reasonable explanation can result in the refuse of the application.

Please contact the University if asked to undertake an interview. This is to offer support and minimise
any anxiety.