Immigration Conditions

If you withdraw from your course, either by your choice or the decision of the University, your withdrawal will be reported to UKVI, who will then begin the process to cancel your visa. UKVI will send you a letter to confirm that your visa has been shortened to expire in 60 days, and you will have to return to your home country regardless of how much time you originally had left on your visa. The University will send you an email to confirm that you have been reported. The University will recommend that you make arrangements to leave as soon as possible. We will recommend that you make those arrangements and leave the UK within 60 days from when the report has been made and you have been notified by us.

If you wish to take a leave of absence or an Authorised Break from Studies (ABS) due to personal, financial, or academic reasons, then this will also be reported to UKVI. Similar to a withdrawal, you must return to your home country as your visa will be shortened so as to expire within 60 days. The University will send you an email to confirm that you have been reported. The University will recommend that you make arrangements to leave as soon as possible. We will recommend that you make those arrangements and leave the UK within 60 days from when the report has been made and you have been notified by us.

The University will provide another CAS closer to your expected return on the course to allow you to apply for another visa. You will need to get in contact with the Visa team at visa@derby.ac.uk to start the process for obtaining another CAS.

• Early completion: If you complete your course earlier than the date that was originally given in your CAS, this will have to be reported to UKVI as well. Your visa will be shortened to expire two months (if your course was less than 12 months long) or four months (if your course is 12 months or longer) after your course's new end date. This means that you will still get the ‘wrap-up period’ that you are entitled to. You will be emailed to confirm that you have been reported to UKVI. The official date of your course completion will be stated in the email that you will receive as a guide on how we establish your new expiry date. You will also be informed when Visa Team reported your completion to UKVI, if applicable, so you can apply for the Graduate route if you wish to do so
• Completion on or after the expected date of completion: When you complete your studies on or after the date given in your CAS, you will receive an email to inform you of your course completion and that the Visa Team reported your completion to UKVI, if applicable, so you can apply for the Graduate route if you wish to do so
• Graduate Route and other routes that you may want to consider after your course finished: To extend your stay in the UK, you may apply for a Graduate Route visa, Start-up visa, Skilled Worker Visa, or any other type of visa you may be eligible for. If you wish to extend your stay in the UK, you must apply for a new visa before the expiry date of your Student Visa or any other category of visa you are studying on. You will not be eligible to apply if you are awarded a lower qualification unless the lower qualification is a full degree(e.g. Bachelor's Degree). For example, you will not be eligible if you finish your course with a PG Cert., PG Diploma or PG Award upon course completion

Your visa will state how many hours you can work each week. You can work whilst on a Student Visa as well as study, although the maximum hours you are allowed to work depends on the level of study you choose to take:

• Bachelor’s degree and above: you are allowed up to 20 hours per week
• Courses below degree level (e.g. International Foundation Programme): you can work up to 10 hours per week

Find more guidance on work conditions for overseas students

Student visa holders can work full time during the University Christmas and Easter holiday periods, the dates of which can be found in the and confirmed to you with a confirmation letter once you are enrolled.

Undergraduate students may also work during the summer holiday period, subject to you having successfully completed your academic study at that point in time and obtaining a letter from your College Student Centre to confirm your term dates. Postgraduate students do not have a summer break.

Students who have completed their studies at the University of Derby will require a letter from their College Student Centre to confirm they have successfully completed their course of study before they can exceed their restricted working hours.

If you are a postgraduate research (PGR) student, you must have the written permission of your Director of Studies before engaging with any work.

Students who are on a compulsory work placement as part of their courses can work full-time hours on placement. If you are studying on a Short-term Study or Standard Visitor visa you cannot work at all.