The existing Tier 4 student route closes on 5 October when the new student and child student rules come into effect. The new rules are intended to simplify the current rules, introduce flexibility and to allow for increased switching between various immigration routes. 

The main changes the new rules bring in are:

  • They apply to EEA nationals from 1 January 2021.
  • They permit increased switching within the study route and increased switching between the routes within the Points Based System.
  • The eight-year time limit on studying courses at postgraduate level has been removed.
  • Students will only be required to prove the required level of English language to the Home Office once.
  • Applicants who are already in the UK and have met the maintenance requirement on their current route will not be required to meet it again if they have been supporting themselves for more than a year. There is also more flexibility around meeting the maintenance requirement e.g. relying on a wider range of accounts. 
  • The rules make provision of a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (“CAS”) a validity requirement (failing which the application will not be considered) rather than an eligibility requirement as under the current rules.
  • The applicant must be awarded 70 points for study (CAS, course requirement, approved qualification, level of study and place of study requirements – 50 points),  financial requirement -10 points and English language requirement -10 points. 

To find out more about how these changes affect you, you can contact us.