Student Visa Responsibilities

Documents

Goldsmiths are required to review and keep copies of your documents for our records. Sometimes we need to see the original documents in person. You must be able to provide these documents to us at or before enrolment, otherwise your studies can be affected. This can include:

• Passport
• Online Immigration Status (a share-code to prove your status can be generated here)
• Visa vignette in your passport (if you received one – these may be decommissioned in 2025)
• ATAS certificate (if applicable)
• Documents used to obtain your offer, such as:
• English language evidence
• Qualifications

It is very important that we have up-to-date documents at all times. Therefore, if during your studies, you receive a new Passport or Visa, for example, please do contact our team via email to let us know.

Working during your studies

If you are currently studying full-time with Goldsmiths on a Student visa, you need to be mindful of the following requirements regarding your working conditions:

• If you are studying at degree level (Bachelor degree level or above) you can only work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time
• If you are studying at below degree level, you can only work for a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time
• You can work full time during vacation periods i.e. Easter and Christmas breaks – please check the Goldsmiths website to confirm your term dates
• You can work full time between the official end date of your programme (as stated on your CAS statement) and the expiry date of your visa if you successfully finish your studies
• If you are studying on a Master’s level or PHD level programme, then the summer months are still considered to be term time for you
• You can prove your “Right to Work” to an employer using the Home Office online service
• You cannot be self-employed or engage in business activities. Business activity includes working for a business, not as an employee. For example, as a contractor
• You cannot set up a business, or be involved in the management of a business, for example, as a director
• Any voluntary work that you wish to do (paid or unpaid) is classified as work so is included in the 20 hours per week work condition as set out above. Please contact us if you are considering volunteering, which has slightly different rules.
• If you have a compulsory work placement associated with your course and it was listed on your CAS, then you can do this placement in addition to the 20 hours per week work condition on your Student/Tier 4 visa. However, if the work placement is optional then you will need to keep to the conditions set out above

Attendance and Absence

All students are expected to attend any classes and seminars set by their department. However, if you have a Student/Tier 4 student visa, there is a requirement attached to your visa that you should be aware of. You should not miss classes without authorisation and unless you have a serious reason to do so. If you do not attend when you should do, it could affect your visa status. If you have concerns about your attendance you should speak to your tutor, or the senior tutor in your department.

If you plan to leave the UK during term-time, please firstly gain the approval of your course department. Please then send confirmation of their approval (for example, email confirmation from a tutor) to our team so that we can make a note on your record of the days that you will be outside of the UK and your reason(s) for this.

Change of circumstances

 Goldsmiths, as your visa sponsor, is required to keep the Home Office up to date about your studies.  If your information is not up to date, or your circumstances change and you don’t tell us, then it could affect your visa status and studies.

 Please email us as soon as possible if any of the following happens:

• You change your visa type, for example, if you obtain a work visa or a spouse visa
• You plan to take an interruption in your studies
• You plan to, or have, withdrawn from your studies
• You complete your course earlier than expected
• You wish to change courses
• You obtain a new passport
• You have concerns about your visa status, or any of the conditions associated with your visa

You should also make sure that your contact details are up to date on your student record. You can do this using MyGoldsmiths or by visiting the Student Hub in the Rutherford Building.

Goldsmiths has a legal obligation to notify the Home Office in the following circumstances:

• You stop attending your course, or miss too many classes
• You do not enroll on your course by the latest enrolment date
• You withdraw from your studies
• You complete your course earlier than expected

Please be aware that if we do notify the Home Office of a change in circumstance, we will always email you first to advise you, which is another important reason why you must keep your contact details updated via MyGoldsmiths.

Changing courses

It is difficult to change courses if you have a student visa. If you are considering this, then please be aware that it is not always possible to transfer programmes. If you request to change programmes, then the process involves the Immigration Advisory Service liaising with you about your visa status and assessing whether the change is permitted. You should continue to attend classes on the course you were issued a visa for until it is confirmed by the Immigration Advisory Service that you are legally able to change programmes.

It is very important that you abide by the conditions of your visa; failure to do so can have serious consequences for your current student visa status and any future immigration applications you may make.

Other important things to note

• For good practice, we also advise you to make copies of all your personal documents (including your passport and visa vignette if you have one), keep all Home Office letters safe and report any change of circumstance to us as soon as possible
• More information on protecting your Student/Tier 4 status can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.