The International Office
Advice online
Do I need to notify the Home Office of changes to my studies?
Students often ask us whether they need to notify the Home Office
if they change their study plans or whether the University will
also notify the Home Office in these circumstances. Changes
to your studies could include switching to a different course or
a different university, or suspending from or withdrawing from your
course.
The immigration rules do allow you to switch to a different course
and/or university after you arrive in the UK, as long as you continue
to meet the student rules:
- You must study on a full-time degree course or a weekday daytime course of 15 hours or more per week; and
- You must have sufficient funds to pay for your tuition fees and
living costs in the UK without needing to work.
Currently, if you change your study plans, you are not required
by law to notify the Home Office, but they do encourage you to do
so (see below). It will not affect any future application
to extend your student permission if you have changed course or college
without notifying the Home Office.
From 2009, student visas or entry clearances will be issued for study
at a specific college or university. It may still be possible
to apply to switch to a different university, but the Home Office
has not yet announced the details of how this will work.
Universities will also, from 2009, be required by law to notify the
Home Office in some circumstances such as if someone accepts a
place on a course but never arrives, or if someone leaves a course
for no apparent reason.
How do I notify the Home Office?
If you wish to notify the Home Office of a change to your study plans,
you can send them the following details:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- UK address
- Nationality
- Name and address of the college you are currently studying at and include the enrolment/confirmation letter.
The address to send them to is
Melanie Pond,
Compliance Team South - Notifications,
Border & Immigration Agency,
3rd Floor (West) - Block C,
Whitgift Centre,
Croydon CR0 1AT
Alternatively you can email your details to Melanie, and scan your
enrolment letter: ICC7@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Do not use these addresses for any other matters.