INTERNATIONAL TIER 4 STUDENT INFORMATION - GRADUATE

Entry conditions for international applicants from outside the EU or European Economic Area are
governed by the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Tier 4 General Points Based System. Applicants
are expected to gain 40 points before they are entitled to a student visa.
It is absolutely vital that applicants provide all the documentation and fulfil the exact UK Visa
and Immigration (UKVI) requirements or their visa application will be refused.
For full details about what is required you should read the UK Visa and Immigration Tier 4 Policy
Guidance (version 14/11/2015)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477366/T4_Migrant_Gu
idance_Nov_V1_0.pdf
The Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) will provide you with a Confirmation of
Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is an electronic reference number which confirms that you are
applying to study at an institution which is an approved education provider, and also that your course
is at an acceptable level. The AA has a Tier 4 Sponsor status and its license number is 66RH3QNT0,
which you will find on your CAS letter.
Please note: The earliest the AA can issue a CAS is the end of June 2016. Please be aware you will
be required to hold a valid Visa, sponsored by the AA, by 19 September 2016. Accordingly, the AA
will use its discretion as to the final date we can issue you a CAS in order for you to join the course on
the 19 September 2016.
Your CAS will be sent out as an email attachment with a covering letter. Please ensure that you check
the details carefully. When completing your Visa application form please ensure you use the exact
wording as set out on the CAS form issued by the AA.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The AA cannot issue applicants with a CAS number (required for your Visa application) until we
receive the following:
No

Documents

Checklist
Done / Not
Applicable

All documentation listed on the conditional offer letter (in the format requested)

An original signed admissions form (received by post)

Confirmation that you have paid at least the initial deposit in full. We strongly
encourage you to pay the deposit plus the first term fees (if not the full fees for
one academic year) for your course as this will strengthen your visa application

A PDF copy of the financial evidence that you will be submitting to the UK Visa
and Immigration.

A copy of your new English language results (if applicable)

A copy of your TB test certificate (if applicable)

A scanned copy of your passport plus copies of your past/current PBS visas for
the UK (Tier 4, Tier 2, Tier 1 or residents permit if applicable). Please ensure
that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the time of your CAS/Visa
application.

You must keep all original documents to submit with your Visa application.

IMMIGRATION HEALTH SURCHARGE

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a financial contribution to the UKs National Health Service. You
must pay the surcharge if you are a non-EEA national and you are granted immigration permission to
enter the UK. Please be aware that if you fail to make the correct payment, your application will be
automatically refused.

Issued January 2016

1

You must pay this surcharge at the time of making your Tier 4 application online. Please use the
dates outlined on the CAS form to ensure you pay the correct amount. You must complete the
payment and return to the online immigration application in less than 30 minutes.
The charge is approximately 150 for each period of 12 months leave granted. Please see a guide of
the Immigration Health Surcharge below.
Programme

Approximate Immigration
Health Surcharge

MA/MSc (12 months)

225

MArch (16 months)

300

MFA (18 months)

300

Projective Cities / Media Practices (20 months)

375

PhD/MPhil (3 - 4 years)

675

For further information regarding the Immigration Health Surcharge please read the following link
https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/overview
HEALTH REGULATIONS (TB SCREENING)
You may be required to submit a Tuberculosis Screening Test. Please check the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa to see if this screening applies to you. It is your responsibility to
arrange a screening and submit your test certificate to the AA. If you reside in one of the listed
counties and you fail to take a TB test, your visa application will automatically be refused by the UKVI.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
You will need to meet the UK Visa and Immigration minimum language requirements based on the
Common European Framework of Reference level (CEFR). In addition, the AA reserves the right to
make a place in the School conditional on gaining a further English language qualification if deemed
th
necessary. The deadline for receipt of your English language test results is 27 May 2016.
You will need to have one of the following acceptable language qualifications listed below, unless you
are from one of the following groups:
You are a national of a majority English-speaking country as defined per the list on the UKVI
website
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477366/T4_Mig
rant_Guidance_Nov_V1_0.pdf page 36-37
You have successfully completed an academic qualification at least three years in length,
equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or above, which was taught in a majority Englishspeaking country as defined by the
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477366/T4_Mig
rant_Guidance_Nov_V1_0.pdf page 36 : or
You successfully completed a course in the UK as a Tier 4 (Child) student or as a student
under rules in force before 31 March 2009, where you were under 18 when granted leave.
The course must have lasted for at least six months, and must have ended no more than two
years prior to your visa application.
If your place is conditional on providing English language qualification the following qualifications
satisfy both the requirements of the Home Office/UKVI and the entry requirements of the AA:
IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each category. IELTS reports have a two
year validity period. Therefore, the certificate must bear a date no longer than two years ago
at the time of CAS/visa application. The AA requires a scan of the original certificate. Please
provide your SELT unique reference number on your application form. This can be found on
your TRF displayed as UKVI number.
Trinity College (Integrated Skills in English ISE III / ISE IV) at grade C1 or C2 with a
minimum pass in each category. Trinity reports have a two year validity period. The AA
requires a copy of the original certificate. Please provide your SELT unique reference number
on your application form.
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2

Applicants are required to meet the scores in each category and overall we cannot accept lower
scores. In addition, your certificate must show that you have achieved the required scores during a
single sitting of the examination.
Please be aware that in order to be eligible to apply for a bursary, applicants who require an English
language examination must have booked and passed one of the approved examinations listed above
by 29 January 2016. All other applicants must submit their English language examination results by
Friday 27 May 2016, prior to entry in Term 1.
Please note the English language qualification requirements are subject to frequent change in line
with Home Office/UKVI regulations. Please regularly check the AA website for up-to-date English
language requirements prior to submitting your application for the 2016/17 academic year.
It is the applicants responsibility to remain up to date with all English language changes, which can
also be accessed on the Home Office/UKVI website (Appendix O of the Immigration Rules)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-o-approved-englishlanguage-tests

FINANCIAL EVIDENCE FOR VISA APPLICANTS ONLY

You will need to show you have enough money to:
1. Pay the full fees of your course for one academic year; and
2. Support yourself for nine months. As the AA is based in inner London, you will need to show
11,385 for living costs.
You will need to provide evidence from your bank that the money has been in your bank account for a
consecutive 28 day period, ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application.
If possible, we strongly recommend making the payment for the full course fees to the AA before
requesting your CAS. You will then just need to provide evidence of having 11,385 in your account.
If you qualify for differential arrangement because you are considered low risk; while you are not
required to include certain evidential documents with your application this does not mean that you do
not have to provide financial evidence to the AA. It is possible that the Home Office will sometimes
ask a low risk student to send financial documents and they reserve the right to request any or all of
the evidential financial documents. Therefore, we require all students to submit financial evidence to
the AA prior to issuing a CAS.
It is important that you carefully read:
The Tier 4 Policy Guidance version 11/2015, from Page 42 onwards:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477366/T4_Mig
rant_Guidance_Nov_V1_0.pdf
The UKVI Guide to Supporting Documents listed here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/427532/pbstier-4_guide_to_supporting_documents.pdf
The Financial Evidence must be emailed to us as PDFs, with the subject header Financial Evidence
for CAS: [Name]: [Membership No]: [Programme Offered] to graduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk
Approved Financial Institutions
There are lists of both approved and unapproved financial institutions for some countries. You must
check that the bank in which the money you are using is held is not on the list of unapproved
institutions. The list is available in the following document: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigrationrules/immigration-rules-appendix-p-lists-of-financial-institutions
Currency Conversion
If you are using an overseas currency, you must convert the money shown into pounds sterling so
you can state the amount in pounds sterling on your application form. Please use the Oanda website
to find out the rate of exchange between your countys currency and British pounds sterling:
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
The amount the Home Office considers will be based on the exchange rate for the relevant currency
on the date of your application. Therefore strongly recommend you make your visa application within
7 days of being issued your CAS.

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3

FINANCIAL EVIDENCE Documentation Required

Summary of evidence that CAN be used
you must submit at least one of the below

Check
box

Summary of evidence that CANNOT be used

A personal or joint bank statement

Documents and bank statements that are not in

English. The original document plus a certified
translation must be submitted.

A personal pass book, plus a supporting

bank letter

Fixedterm bonds (shares) and other fixed-term

accounts, or overdrafts, credit cards and pension
funds are not acceptable regardless of notice
period.

A bank statement from a parent(s) or legal

guardian(s), accompanied by additional
documentation

Bank statements from other family members or

friends including grandparents, uncles, aunts,
brothers or sisters.

A certificate of deposit (the funds must not be

frozen)

Online bank statements that do not meet the

requirements listed below and mini-statements
produced by cash points.

A letter from a regulated financial institution

confirming a personal loan

Loans held in the name of your parent(s) or legal

guardian(s).

A letter from an official financial sponsor /

government scholarship

Letters from unofficial company sponsors (see

page 6)

Bank Statements / Pass Books

These documents must state:
Your name or your parent(s) / legal guardian(s) name;
Account number;
The date the document was issued;
The financial institutions name and logo; and
The amount of money available.
Please be aware:
Statements and passbooks must show all activity (transactions) in the account for the 28
consecutive day period, and a running total balance.
The period covered must not have ended more than 31 days before you apply for the visa.
If your account balance falls by 1 or 1 penny, below the required level of funds during the 28
day period, your application will be refused. Therefore, we recommend you do not transfer
large amounts to or from the account during this period.
Online bank statements must hold all of the details listed above, and be authenticated
(signed) and stamped on every page by the issuing bank. We recommend you also provide a
supporting letter from your bank on company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the
statements provided.
We strongly recommend that the money is held in your own bank account. In our experience
this makes it much easier for the UKVI to verify funds and you are required to provide less
documentation with respect to financial evidence.
If you are using a joint account, you must be named on the account along with one or more
other person.
If your fees are funded by your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) you must show that you are related to
your parent(s)/legal guardian(s). You must provide one of the following:
Your birth certificate showing the names of your parent(s)/legal guardian(s); or
Your certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal guardian(s); or
A Court document naming your legal guardian(s). The document used must be the original
legal document or a notarised copy
You must also show that your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) give their permission for you to use this
money. You must provide a letter from your parent(s)/legal guardian(s). The letter must confirm:
The relationship between you and your parent(s) or legal guardian(s); and
That your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have given their consent to you using their funds to
study in the UK

Issued January 2016

4

Bank Letters
The letter must confirm funds have been held for a consecutive 28 day period, ending no more than
31 days before the date of your application, and must show:
your name or your parent(s)/legal guardians name;
the account number;
the date of the letter;
the financial institution's name and logo; and
the money in your account (to cover your course fees and living costs)
Please be aware:
Letters should hold an original signature and stamp from the financial institution.
We cannot accept a bank letter that is not supported by bank statements/pass books/deposit
certificates.
Online statements must be accompanied by a bank letter.
Certificate of Deposit

The certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application.
At least 28 days must have elapsed between the date of deposit and the date the certificate is
issued.
There must be no wording on the document which indicates the funds are frozen or
inaccessible.
In some cases, deposit certificates will require a supporting bank letter.

Bank Loans
If you are using a bank loan to fund your studies, you must submit an original letter on headed paper
from a regulated financial institution which states:
Your name;
The date of the letter;
The financial institutions name and logo;
The money available as a loan; and
That the loan is provided by your national government, their state or regional government, a
government sponsored student or educational loans scheme
Please be aware:
The letter must be dated no more than 6 months before the date of your application.
There must be no conditions placed on the release of the loan funds to you, other than your
Tier 4 application being successful.
The financial institution must be regulated by either the Financial Conduct Authority, the
Prudential Regulatory Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, by the home regulator
(the official regulatory body for the country the financial institution is in and where the money
is held) for the purpose of student loans.
You cannot use loans held in the name of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as evidence of
money held by you.
Official Financial Sponsorship or Government Sponsorship
Financial sponsorship is where you are given money to cover some or all of your course fees and/or
living costs. You can receive official financial sponsorship from the British Government, your home
government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or
a UK Independent School. This financial sponsorship can be used as evidence of money you have.
You must submit original letter on official headed paper from your sponsor stating:
Your name;
The name and contact details of your sponsor;
The date of the letter;
The duration of your sponsorship; and
The amount of money your sponsor will be giving you.
A statement that it will cover all of your fees and living costs.
If your financial sponsor is only covering some of your course fees or living costs, you must show that
you have the rest of the money needed to meet the total tuition fee and living cost requirements.

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5

Company Sponsorship
Unfortunately, unless you are being sponsored by an official government source, or an international
organisation as listed above, we cannot accept letters or financial evidence as proof of funds.
Therefore, please either pay the AA full fees, or ask your organisation to transfer the required funds
into your bank account. Please note these funds must be in your account for 28 consecutive days.
English Translations
Any documents not in English should be accompanied with an official translation. The translation must
contain confirmation from the translator/translation company that it is an accurate translation of the
original document, the date of the translation, the translator/an authorised official of the translation
companys full name and signature, and the translator/translation companys contact details.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
If you have previously studied in the UK, your new course must constitute academic progression from
your previous course of study in order for you to be permitted to study the course on a Tier 4 visa.
In order for your new course to represent academic progress from your previous studies, it must:
be above the level of your previous course for which you were granted leave as a Tier 4
(General) Student or as a Student, or
the new course is related to the previous course for which you were given Tier 4 leave
(meaning that it is either connected to the previous course, part of the same subject group or
involves deeper specialisation); or
your previous and new course combined, support your career aspirations.

VISA APPOINTMENT
We strongly advise to apply for your Visa within 7 days of your CAS issue, rather than the 31 days
listed on the UK Visa and Immigration website.
When you go for your Visa appointment please ensure you take all your original documents and all
the specified bank information when you submit the financial aspect of your visa application. Please
ensure your financial evidence is valid for both the submission of your application to the UKVI and
Visa appointment.
Please ensure you keep the AA up-to-date with the status of your visa application and email through a
copy of your visa as soon as you receive it. Please inform the AA School of all changes to your
contact details (address/telephone/email etc) and any changes/updates to your passport/visa.
Contact us immediately if your visa is refused.
VISA REFUSAL - ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
If your visa application is refused you will receive a refusal notice from the British Embassy/British
High Commission explaining the reasons for the refusal.
You can then decide if you would like to challenge the decision by submitting a request for an
Administrative Review. An Administrative Review involves a different Entry Clearance Officer
reviewing your application with a view to either overturning the original decision and granting your visa
or affirming the original decision. You will have to submit any request for Administrative Review within
28 days of the date of your refusal.
If you are refused, please email the refusal notice to us. We can then provide specialist advice.
Please email the following email account for advice: adminreview@aaschool.ac.uk

ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR VISA

Please check your visa carefully. Your visa should state your personal details and the sponsor licence
number of AA School of Architecture which is 66RH3QNTQ. Please scan a copy of your visa and
email it to your admissions coordinator graduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk

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6

BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMITS (BRPs)

The Home Office has introduced BRPs for applicants applying for entry clearance to come to the UK
for more than six months. You will apply for a BRP at the same time as you apply for entry clearance.
If your entry clearance application is successful, you will be given a vignette valid for 30 days. This will
allow you to enter the UK. You must then collect your BRP from the Post Office branch you selected
as part of your application no later than 10 days after your arrival in the UK.
The Post Office branch you have been allocated is linked to the postcode you submitted in your visa
application. If you do not have a residential address, please use the AAs address (36 Bedford
Square, London, WC1B 3ES). The closest participating Post Office to the AA is on Oxford Street (The
Plaza, 120 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LT).
If you do not collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival in the UK you may be subject to a financial
penalty or cancellation of your leave. Therefore, the AA advises that you aim to arrive in the UK a
week before registration to ensure you have plenty of time to collect your biometric card before the
beginning of Introduction Week on the 19 September 2016.
If you fail to obtain your full BRP, and register with the AA, you will be in breach of the Immigration
Rules and will be classed as an Overstayer. We will inform the UK Visa and Immigration of all
students who fail to register.
Please note: The AA is unable to issue letters, including bank and confirmation letters, until you have
registered with your full BRP during Introduction week.

POLICE REGISTRATION
If you are required to register with the Police on your arrival to the UK, this will be clearly written in
your visa. If it states this you will need to register within 7 days of your arrival to the UK. For further
information please see: https://www.gov.uk/register-with-the-police
You must register with the police if youre from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria,
Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt,
Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova,
Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan,
Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
USEFUL INFORMATION/LINKS
You can seek advice from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
(http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/) who can offer help and advice for students planning to study in the UK.
Tier 4 (General) Visa - Applying for Entry Clearance
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/
Applying for a Tier 4 (General) student visa in your home country.
A Tier 4 visa allows the holder to come to the UK to study full time at the AA for
undergraduate and graduate courses.
A Tier 4 visa is normally issued for the full length of your course plus 4 months if the course
duration is more than 12 months.
Tier 4 (General) Visa - Extension in the UK for students currently studying in the UK
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/applying-inside-uk/
If you are already in the UK on a student visa, you may be able to apply for a Tier 4 General
student visa extension: to continue your course at the AA, or to start a new course at the AA.
Please note: in order to study at the AA you will be required to complete a new visa
application form and receive a new CAS confirming that you will be sponsored by the AA for
the remainder of your studies.
This option only applies to students registered on the Five Year ARB/RIBA recognised course
in Architecture.
A Tier 4 visa will normally be issued for the remainder of an existing course/full length of a
new course plus a few months extra time as per UK Visa and Immigration regulations.

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7

DISCLAIMER
It is important you study all the information above carefully. This document is to be used as a guide
only. The UK Visa and Immigration regulations are regularly updated and it is therefore up to the
applicant to ensure that they meet all the UK Visa and Immigration requirements. We strongly advise
that you thoroughly read all the relevant information on the UK Visa and Immigration website:
https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa and that you contact your local Embassy for further information.
Although the AA checks Tier 4 General Student Visas documents as far as possible before issuing
CAS numbers, it is the responsibility of individual applicant to ensure that they supply the
correct documents required for visa processing.
The AA holds only a limited amount of CAS numbers, and may not be able to re-issue a CAS if an
application fails. If your visa application is refused please contact the AA immediately as you will need
a new CAS number to re-apply.

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8