How to Apply ?
To apply, you will need to submit a college application form, enclosing copies of your qualifications. For courses at all levels, the college may accept you unconditionally; this will mean that you have shown yourself - on your application form - to be capable of benefiting from the course and of completing it successfully. The College may also respond to your application by making you a conditional offer.
This may mean that you must first complete your current course and/or that you must first obtain certification of your English Language competence. Your competence in English, spoken and written, is an important feature of your application and is normally measured by the IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge tests.Academy of Management Studies is a licensed sponsor for Tier 4 (student visa) applications.
If you require the college to support your visa application then the full fee for your course is payable to the college before a visa letter or CAS certificate can be issued. This must be paid by bank draft, credit card or by bank transfer to the College bank account. If your application for a visa is unsuccessful, the fee you have paid will be refunded to you less £50 for administration costs. Additionally, proof of sufficient maintenance funds, for the duration of the study period, is required.
No refunds can be made once a visa letter or CAS has been issued. (See Fees for further information).
The minimum English Language ability level for our academic courses is IELTS 5.5. Otherwise, on arrival you will have to study EAP (English for Academic Purpose) prior to starting the main course, in order to be of sufficient standard to continue to the further studies of your choice
.
Immigration & Visas:
Many students will need a visa in order to study in the UK. If you do not know whether you will need a visa, please contact your local British Embassy, British Council, British Consulate or British High Commission. In order to obtain a visa, the British authorities in your home country will need to see:
• The Academy of Management Studies’ CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance) or the college letter stating that you are undertaking a course of full-time study
• Your previous qualifications and certificates
• Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself
• Your passport
It is recommended that you apply for a visa three months before the commencement of your course, but this may vary from country to country; you will need to check with your local visa office. As a student from a non-European Union country, the Home Office, as a condition of your student visa, requires you to attend full-time (15 hours per week daytime study). Part-time courses are not available to non-EU applicants.
When necessary, the college can provide a visa support letter or the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference. We normally require the student to pay the full-tuition fee prior to issue of a visa support reference. This is refundable, less £50 for our administration costs if the student fails to obtain the visa. In this instance the student should forward a copy of the decision letter from the visa department of the British Embassy to the college, either by fax or by post.
Once the college receives your tuition fee you will be sent an unconditional offer of a place on a course giving details about the start and end dates and the date on which you must be present at the college to enroll. This is normally about a week before the start of your course. When you come to enroll you will have an interview with a teacher and your suitability for the course you have applied for will be assessed. If it is found that your level of English or other skills are insufficient for the course, you may be placed on a course more appropriate to your abilities.
In addition the British authorities will want to know:
• Are you a genuine student?
• Do you truly intend to gain entry to the country for the purpose of study?
• Do you know about the course you intend to study and do you have a clear and practical career plan that demonstrates why you are applying for the course?
• Do you intend to return to your country after the course?
Students are often refused visas for one or more of the following reasons:
• Failure to demonstrate that they had sufficient funds available to support themselves
• The applicant did not demonstrate that they were coming to the UK for the sole purpose of study
• The applicant did not intend to return to their country after the course
• The applicant did not know enough about the course they intended to study
• The applicant’s documents contained incorrect or insufficient information
• The applicant did not bring the correct documentation to the interview
Extending a visa
If they wish to stay longer than the duration of their visa, a student must apply to the Home Office for an extension before their leave expires. They will need to complete an FLR(S), available from the Application Form Unit, telephone 0870 606 7766 or at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
Please seek advice from the college.
Transport
The London Underground railway (the tube), is London’s quickest and most popular form of transport. It operates from about 5:30 am until just after midnight. You must buy a single journey ticket or a weekly travel pass from a ticket machine or booking office at the tube station. If you are a full time student taking a course of 14 weeks or more you may be eligible for the Student Photo card Scheme which allows you to receive a 30% discount on the tube. Please ask at the college.
Buses are cheaper but slower. Fares are paid on the bus. A single fare costs 70p for a short trip within a zone, and £1.20 for zones 1 and 2. You can also buy a bus pass for the bus only, which is slightly cheaper than a travel card. Night buses are the way many Londoners get home at night; it is useful to know that they go through Trafalgar Square.
For information on London transport call 020 7222 1234 or go to www.londontransport.co.uk
Accommodation
Accommodation is arranged through agents or the students are expected to arrange their own accommodation. For more information on finding accommodation , refer www.ukcosa.org.uk.
“We strongly recommend that if you live a long way away from London, you book short term accommodation such as Bed & Breakfast/Hotels and Homestay. Then look for something more permanent when you are here. Do not pay a deposit for private rented accommodation before you view the property.
PLEASE NOTE: Academy of Management Studies neither recommends nor inspects any of the host family accommodations. It is important that all the relevant terms and conditions are read and understood before entering into an agreement with any homestay provider.
Opening a bank account
It is becoming increasingly difficult to open a bank account so we recommend that before you leave home you consider:
- bringing a reference from the manager of your own bank
- bring bankers' drafts for the total amounts of accommodation fees/living expenses for the duration of your course
- open an internet account with your own bank (if possible)
- open an overseas account at your local branch of a UK bank that has worldwide branches.
The college will provide with the bank letters, needed to open the bank account in UK. However, takes no responsibility to open the bank account for students.
Health care
Britain is usually cold and wet between November and February. Keep warm by wearing layers of clothes, woolen jumpers and a thick jacket or coat. Wear strong shoes or boots which keep the rain out, gloves and a warm hat. An umbrella is essential. If you become ill and if your course of study is for six months or more; you can get free health care from the National Health Service (NHS).
You can register as a patient with an NHS doctor close to where you live. The same applies for dentists. Under the NHS, dental treatment is not free but is cheaper. Local main post offices should be able to give you a list of NHS dentists.
Working in the United Kingdom
Students with visas for longer than six months are allowed to work in the UK for up to 20 hours per week during term time and for 40 hours per week during the vacation period. Most international students may apply for permission to work part-time and during vacations, provided the work does not interfere with their studies and there is no suitable resident worker to fill the post.
The stamp in the passport indicates whether or not a student can apply for permission to work. If it states ‘employment prohibition’ it means the student cannot apply for permission to work. After 6 months such a student may apply to the Home Office to have the stamp changed to a ‘restriction’ stamp. Most international students will be given a stamp stating ‘employment restriction’; this means that part-time work is permitted up to 20 hours per week. New arrangements for this have been posted on the Home Office website (www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk).
Once the student has a job, he or she should take their passport and police registration document to his local Employment Service Job Centre and get the form OSS1 to complete and return. If it is then decided that the student may do the job, a letter giving permission to work will be sent to the employer. If the student has a police registration letter, the Job Centre will stamp this. If not, the student will be given a copy of the work permit letter; is he or she changes jobs they must apply for permission again.
Work experience:
It should be possible for a student to work if this is a requirement of his or her course. Advice should be obtained from the College or The Council for International Education (UKCOSA), telephone 0207 107 9922.
The UK Border Agency announced new regulations for overseas students and courses which include an element of work placement (paid or unpaid):
It is a requirement that the course should be at NQF level 6 (degree level) or level 3 (see the National Qualifications Framework for more information) to get back to the position where the sandwich arrangements were set up to allow degree students to spend time on a work-placement and the work-placement itself should not be more than 50% of the total course length.
Students on courses of any other level will be expected to complete any work-placement within their entitlement to work part-time during term-time and full-time in vacations.
National Insurance
Everyone who works in the UK must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions. Once the student has started working, they must apply for a NI number at any local DSS office, providing evidence of their identity.
Refunds
Academy of Management studies follows 'no refunds' policy, however, refunds may be considered if any of the following circumstances exist:
• The college terminates a course, which has already started
• The college is not able to provide an advertised course
• The college changes the time or location of a course from that advertised
• The college cancels an examination
• The college recommends a student transfers to a course with a lower fee
• The college has overcharged a student or assessed their fees incorrectly
• Medical conditions, certified by appropriate medical professionals, resulting in the student having to leave the college completely
If after enrolment you decide to withdraw from your course for any other reason you will not get a refund. If we have agreed for you to pay in installments then you must pay all unpaid installments immediately.
Refund applications will only be considered if received on a correctly completed form, available from all Admissions and Advice offices or Finance Office. Where refunds are declined the college may issue a credit note or voucher for another college course, as an alternative.
Where the college terminates a course, which has already started, you will receive a full refund of all amounts paid, however, all other refunds and credit notes will be subject to deductions for classes already attended, the examination fee where the college has already registered your entry, unpaid student ID card fees, unpaid fees in respect of other programs of study and an administration fee of £10.
The college has a no refunds policy and only in exceptional circumstances will refunds be given. A student who applies for and obtains an acceptance letter for a particular course is expected to complete the course except in these special circumstances; students are expected to attend at least 80% of classes. If a student has poor attendance or stops attending a course before the end date specified on the acceptance letter, the college has a responsibility to inform the Home Office. The college will also be unable to assist the student to renew their student visa.
Cost of living
It is important that students make adequate financial provision before they start a course of study. In particular, non-EEA nationals studying in the UK are expected by the Home Office to have enough money to support themselves without working and without recourse to public funds. The following is a guideline to show how much an international student might expect to spend on the basic costs of living and studying in London, including food, books and personal expenses. The costs of travel and accommodation are dealt with separately.
If the student’s food is included in accommodation costs, students should expect to spend at least £35 per week on additional food costs. For students in self-catering or private accommodation a figure of at least £55 per week for food costs is suggested. The costs of books and personal expenses will depend greatly on the availability of library resources and on the requirements of the individual course. Language students may have to spend as little as £60 per year whereas students studying other courses may have to make an allowance of up to £500. Personal expenses will also vary but it would be sensible to allow at least £20 per week for toiletries and household articles, stationery, telephone calls and laundry.
In addition to the costs mentioned above, students may have to allow for clothing, particularly if coming from a different climate, and additional costs such as field trips, entertainment and Council tax (see below).
Council Tax
Most adults over 18 years who are resident in the UK have to pay council tax. This tax is set by local authorities to help pay for services such as libraries, the police and the fire brigade. It is based on the value of the accommodation in which you live. As a student you may not have to pay council tax, this depends on where you live and who you want to live with. It is best to seek advice from a student adviser if you have enquires about the council tax.
Television Licence
If you have a television in your home then you must have a valid television licence. This normally applies even if you are staying in college accommodation. Licences are available from post offices and cost £116 for a colour TV or £38.50 for a black and white TV. If you want further information, contact TV Licensing on 0870 241 6468 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.
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