Self-assess for HE progression: T4 sponsor update
Published 20/04/2020
New Tier 4 guidance issued on April 20 from the UK government includes concessions allowing a more flexible approach to the language testing of international students.
The latest guidance says that sponsors who are universities with a “track record of compliance” will be allowed to self assess students as having a B1 level of English, where progression on to the main course is dependent upon passing the pre-sessional course.
This applies for students who are required to take a SELT overseas but who cannot access a test centre.
The UK Home Office will also not take enforcement action against Tier 4 visa sponsors whose students are absent because of the coronavirus, the government has revealed in the new guidance.
Covid-19 related absences do not need to be reported and sponsors will not be forced to withdraw sponsorship if a student is unable to attend for more than 60 days.
“It provides welcome clarity on sponsor obligations, and on important temporary concessions for English Language testing”
This absence needs to be the result of Covid-19, and the student must intend to resume their studies, the guidance explained.
The guidance was welcomed by members of the UK’s HE sector, including UKCISA and think tank, the Higher Education Policy Institute.
“The education sector is highly compliant, and Tier 4 sponsors take their obligations very seriously,” said Anne Marie Graham, chief executive of UKCISA.
“We have been calling for clearer guidance for both students and sponsors, and this does address many (if not all) of the queries our members and international students have raised with us.
“It provides welcome clarity on sponsor obligations, and on important temporary concessions for English Language testing.”
And HEPI director Nick Hillman told The PIE News, “At first glance, this looks sensible and welcome.”
“The Home Office has shifted to a much more flexible approach in recent weeks and these are the sorts of changes that are essential in these odd times if we are to support our education sector and the students it serves.
However, Hillman said he doesn’t regard temporary concessions as “excessively lenient”.
“I also hope they will ease the way to a recalibrated future migration regime that better balances the encouragement of educational exports against the need for security than, as a country, we have generally managed to do over the past decade,” he added.
Other details in today’s guidance include a note that Tier 4 visa applications can still be made using CAS that were previously issued.
“The start date for the course may now be later than that stated on the CAS for the original course or the CAS may have expired. The Home Office will take a pragmatic approach to considering applications to study courses with significantly different start dates to those stated on CAS or expired CAS,” stated the document.
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