Tier 4- update for sponsors
Following recent reforms of the student visa category, the UK Border Agency has announced that all Tier 4 sponsors must obtain highly trusted sponsor status and receive a satisfactory review or inspection by one of the publicly recognised inspection bodies approved for Tier 4 purposes. These are Ofsted and its equivalents in the devolved administrations, the Quality Assurance Agency and the Department for Education-approved inspectorates for independent schools. As announced, the UK Border Agency stated on 13th June 2011 that the QAA and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) would extend their activities in order to offer inspections to private education providers sponsoring international students. Educational oversights by the QAA will include higher education providers and pre-sessional providers throughout the UK. The ISI will inspect further education providers in English language schools.
It is advised that mixed higher education and further education providers apply to QAA or the appropriate further education inspectorate, depending on whether the educational providers offer predominantly higher education or further education courses. It is said that the QAA and ISI have already consulted interested Tier 4 sponsors in respect of the procedures and standards, furthermore, the ISI will be publishing a final version of its standards next week (beginning of first week of August).
The UK Border Agency confirms the following:
Religious, Montessori and Steiner colleges of further education
Further colleges with a clear religious purpose will be inspected for Tier 4 purposes by The Bridge Schools Inspectorate (BSI). Further education Montessori ad Steiner providers will be inspected by the School Inspection Service (SIS). Standards of each of these will be published soon.
Further education and English language colleges in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Further education colleges and language schools in Wales are obliged to apply to ISI (or BSI for colleges with a religious purpose, or SIS for Steiner or Montessori colleges). This is in line with arrangements for colleges in England.
All further education colleges and English language schools in Scotland are obliged to apply to Education Scotland for inspection who will be confirming their procedures in the near future.
Further education colleges and language schools in Northern Ireland will be informed of their position in the near future.
Deadlines for applying for educational oversight
It must be noted that there are certain deadlines to obey.
- Existing sponsors:
- New sponsors
Overseas higher education institutions operating in the UK
Additional to the above, the QAA provide educational oversight of certain foreign providers offering full recognised overseas degree programmes in the UK. They will be working with their counterparts in the provider's country of origin.
For accredited US institutions listed on the US Department of Education website which offer US degree courses, they will be able to apply to the QAA with associate members (or third party providers) of the Association of American Study Abroad Programmes UK (AASAP/UK).
Such providers are advised to contact QAA as soon as possible in order to obtain advice as to the recognition of the provider as well as obtaining confirmation as to whether it is able to review its education provision.
Consultation on criteria for highly trusted sponsor status
The UK Border Agency announce that they are consulting on draft revised criteria for sponsors applying for highly trusted sponsor (HTS) status for Tier 4.
In the meantime, all existing sponsors can apply for Highly Trusted Status before they have received a satisfactory inspection or review report from the appropriate educational oversight body.
Tier 4 prospective sponsors which are not already on the Tier 4 register are advised to apply for educational oversight first. In order to achieve a satisfactory educational oversight outcome, such sponsors must be able to demonstrate an established track record in providing quality teaching in the UK which involves teaching UK or EEA students prior to sponsoring international students.
28 July 2011
At Ergen & Sharif, we provide a comprehensive service to prospective and existing students as well as sponsors. Simply contact us on 0207 569 3035 or alternatively email us at info@ergensharif.co.uk.
It is advised that mixed higher education and further education providers apply to QAA or the appropriate further education inspectorate, depending on whether the educational providers offer predominantly higher education or further education courses. It is said that the QAA and ISI have already consulted interested Tier 4 sponsors in respect of the procedures and standards, furthermore, the ISI will be publishing a final version of its standards next week (beginning of first week of August).
The UK Border Agency confirms the following:
Religious, Montessori and Steiner colleges of further education
Further colleges with a clear religious purpose will be inspected for Tier 4 purposes by The Bridge Schools Inspectorate (BSI). Further education Montessori ad Steiner providers will be inspected by the School Inspection Service (SIS). Standards of each of these will be published soon.
Further education and English language colleges in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Further education colleges and language schools in Wales are obliged to apply to ISI (or BSI for colleges with a religious purpose, or SIS for Steiner or Montessori colleges). This is in line with arrangements for colleges in England.
All further education colleges and English language schools in Scotland are obliged to apply to Education Scotland for inspection who will be confirming their procedures in the near future.
Further education colleges and language schools in Northern Ireland will be informed of their position in the near future.
Deadlines for applying for educational oversight
It must be noted that there are certain deadlines to obey.
- Existing sponsors:
- All existing Tier 4 sponsors wishing to be inspected or audited must apply prior to a certain date in order to be able to continue to sponsoring new international students under Tier 4.
- All applications for educational oversight by QAA are being accepted now. Those requiring inspection by the ISI will be accepted from 1 August 2011 and onwards
- New sponsors
- All higher education providers not already audited by QAA will need to apply for such an inspection by 9 September 2011.
- Private further education colleges in England and Wales with a clear religious purpose should apply for inspection by the BSI by 7 October2011.
- Private further education Montessori and Steiner providers in England and Wales should apply for inspection by the SIS by 7 October 2011
- Private further education providers and language schools in Scotland will be able to seek inspection from Education Scotland by 11 November2011
- Inspection arrangements for private further education providers and language schools in Northern Ireland will be announced in due time.
Overseas higher education institutions operating in the UK
Additional to the above, the QAA provide educational oversight of certain foreign providers offering full recognised overseas degree programmes in the UK. They will be working with their counterparts in the provider's country of origin.
For accredited US institutions listed on the US Department of Education website which offer US degree courses, they will be able to apply to the QAA with associate members (or third party providers) of the Association of American Study Abroad Programmes UK (AASAP/UK).
Such providers are advised to contact QAA as soon as possible in order to obtain advice as to the recognition of the provider as well as obtaining confirmation as to whether it is able to review its education provision.
Consultation on criteria for highly trusted sponsor status
The UK Border Agency announce that they are consulting on draft revised criteria for sponsors applying for highly trusted sponsor (HTS) status for Tier 4.
In the meantime, all existing sponsors can apply for Highly Trusted Status before they have received a satisfactory inspection or review report from the appropriate educational oversight body.
Tier 4 prospective sponsors which are not already on the Tier 4 register are advised to apply for educational oversight first. In order to achieve a satisfactory educational oversight outcome, such sponsors must be able to demonstrate an established track record in providing quality teaching in the UK which involves teaching UK or EEA students prior to sponsoring international students.
28 July 2011
At Ergen & Sharif, we provide a comprehensive service to prospective and existing students as well as sponsors. Simply contact us on 0207 569 3035 or alternatively email us at info@ergensharif.co.uk.
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