HOME OFFICE COMPLIANCE REQUIRED INFORMATION

NOTE: This is a temporary word version of the checklist. This will shortly be replaced by an online version.

International students (i.e. non Home/European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss) can only be recruited to programmes
that meet the requirements for student visas. Information about the University’s policy in relation to programme design
and international students can be found here.

The following checklists consider the requirements for Tier 4 (General) student visas and Short-term Study visas. If you
wish students to join your course on other visas, please email homeofficecompliance@salford.ac.uk.

The checklists help ensure that the University can provide appropriate admissions advice to potential international
applicants. The Home Office Visa and Immigration regulations are subject to change at short notice and this checklist will
be updated to reflect the latest rules and guidance.

The checklist should be completed while considering all of the programmes for admission. Where an answer will conflict
between the different deliveries, please contact Quality and Enhancement Office (QEO-General@salford.ac.uk) for
advice.

NOTE: These responses show a programme that may not be suitable for each visa type. When implemented online, this
choice will automatically tell the user whether the programme will be suitable or not suitable for Tier 4 (General)
student visa or a Short-term student visa.

Tier 4 (General) Student Visa Checklist

Is the programme open to students
under 16 years old at the time of YES
registration?
Is the programme taught at the
main University of Salford campus
which includes MediaCity?
Does the programme lead to
an approved qualification?
Will this programme be marketed as
being suitable to readily combine YES
work and study?
Does the programme incorporate or
offer experience to students post YES
award?
Is the programme full time?
Students under 16 years are not eligible for Tier 4
Not Suitable for Tier 4
(General) student visa status.
This does not apply to any placement locations, it
refers to all other taught elements of the
programme.
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4
UK off-campus delivery is not be available to Tier
4 (General) Students.
This includes qualifications from an overseas
higher education institution that is recognised as
being equivalent to a UK qualification. This would
apply to students completing an exchange, or
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4
study abroad year at the University and require a
Tier 4 (General) student visa.
The list of approved qualifications can be found
here.
If the programme is actively marketed as suitable
Not Suitable for Tier 4 to complete while working, it will not be suitable
for a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
If the programme offers or requires students to
undertake work experience, an internship or any
Not Suitable for Tier 4 work based learning after the degree is
complete, then it may not be suitable for Tier 4
(General) Students.
Full time study is defined as 120 UG Credits or
180 PG Credits per academic year. Tier 4
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4
(General) student visas are not available to part
time students.

Does the programme have distance
learning/online learning as an
YES
essential part of its mode of
delivery?
At level 4 and above, does the
programme have a minimum of 8
hours a week contact time over 23
weeks a year?
At Level 3, does the programme
have a minimum of 15 hours a
NO
week contact time over 23 weeks a
year?
At level 4 and above, are the
contact hours spread over three or
more days a week?
At level 3, are the contact hours
spread over four or more days a
week?
Does the programme have an
integral placement or work based
learning element that accounts for
more than 50% of the programme
length?
If any of the above questions flag that the programme is not suitable for Tier 4 (General) Students, then you must clearly
identify that students requiring a Tier 4 (General) student visa will not be able to join this programme, or that particular
intake of the programme.
Further questions should be addressed to the Home Office Compliance Team email
homeofficecompliance@salford.ac.uk.
The ability to recruit, or not recruit international students must be made clear on all marketing materials as well as
Coursefinder.
Programmes with blended delivery are not
suitable for international students.
In order to be suitable for Tier 4 (General)
Not Suitable for Tier 4 Students, any online teaching materials must
support independent learning and complement,
rather than substitute, the main face-to-face
teaching.
This applies to levels 4 and 5 of an undergraduate
programme and the PG Cert and PG Dip stages of
a Master’s programme.
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4 We are aware that contact time may be reduced
during the final project or dissertation stages.
For further information on what can be counted,
please click here
Contact hours at level 3 are explicitly laid out by
the Home Office Visa and Immigration service.
This applies to all level 3 programmes, but also all
Not Suitable for Tier 4 programmes that contain a level 3 element, such
as a foundation year.
For further information on what can be counted,
please click here
To be suitable for Tier 4 (General) Students,
contact hours should not be limited to one or
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4
two days a week as this facilitates full time work
alongside study.
At level 3, the number of contact days is further
NO Not Suitable for Tier 4
extended.
Integral placements are defined as placements
that are not optional and are assessed as part of
the overall programme.
YES Not Suitable for Tier 4 Placements that are optional do not count to this
total, although students will need to seek advice
if they wish to join a programme that includes a
placement.
Short-term Study Visa Checklist
Is the programme open to students
under 18 years old at the time of YES
registration?
Is the programme taught at the
main University of Salford campus NO
which includes MediaCity?
Will this programme be marketed as
being suitable to readily combine YES
work and study?
Does the programme incorporate or
offer experience to students post YES
award?
Does the Programme require
students to be in the UK for 6 NO
months or less?
During the time for which a Short-
term study visa is required, is
distance learning/online learning an YES
essential part of its mode of
delivery?
During the time for which a Short-
term study visa is required will
YES
there be any gaps in study of more
than 60 days?
During the time for which a Short-
term study visa is required are there
YES
placements or workbased learning
(whether assessed or not assessed)?
If any of the above questions flag that the programme is not suitable for a Short-term study visa, then it must not be
offered to international students on this basis.
Further questions should be addressed to the Home Office Visas and Immigration Compliance Team.
The ability to recruit, or not recruit international students must be made clear on all marketing materials as well as
Coursefinder. Including details of what visa will be available to students.
Suitable for Short- Students under 18 years are not eligible for a
Not
term study Visas Short-term study visa.
This does not apply to any placement locations, it
refers to all other taught elements of the
Suitable for Short- programme.
Not
term study Visas
UK off-campus delivery is not available on a
Short-term study visa.
If the programme is actively marketed as suitable
Suitable for Short-
Not to complete while working, it will not be suitable
term study Visas4
for a Short-term study visa.
If the programme offers or requires students to
undertake work experience, an internship or any
Suitable for Short-
Not work based learning after the degree is
term study Visas
complete, then it is not be suitable for a Short-
term study visa.
Programmes that require students to be in the
Suitable for Short-
Not UK for more than 6 months are not suitable for a
term study Visas
Short-term study visa.
Programmes with blended delivery during their
time at Salford are not suitable for a Short-term
study visa.
Suitable for Short-
Not In order to be suitable for Short-term study visas,
term study Visas
any online teaching materials must support
independent learning and complement, rather
than substitute, the main face-to-face teaching.
During the students time at Salford, there cannot
be any significant gaps in study. Any gap that is
Suitable for Short-
Not more than 60 days will require the student to
term study Visas
return home. They will then be unable to return
on a Short-term study visa.
Placements and workbased learning cannot take
place whilst the student is on the UK on a Short-
term study visa.
Suitable for Short-
Not
term study Visas
Placements, work and work based learning can
take place outside the UK in the period outside of
the Short-term study visa.