An important condition of your Student/Tier 4 visa is that you register, and remain registered, on your programme of study. 

At the beginning of your programme you will need to show us your passport and immigration status (visa), usually before you can register. You will be emailed instructions on how to do this at the start of your studies as part of your induction schedule (see International Student Clearance for details). In each subsequent year of study you will need to make sure you complete the online registration process to remain a registered student.

The University is required to keep a copy of your passport and current visa, which will usually be in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a digital immigration status.  We will not share this information with anyone else (other than UK Visas & Immigration) unless you give us your permission to do so.  

If you have a new passport or visa you need to show us during your studies, you should email a scan or clear photo of the document (or share code if you have a digital immigration status) to immigrationcompliance@exeter.ac.uk. If you are sending us a scan of your BRP card, please ensure you include the front and back of the card. 

It is extremely important that ensure that your visa remains valid throughout your period of study. 

At the start of your course, you should be given a Student/Tier 4 visa which covers the duration of your studies plus some wrapping up time (contact us if this is not the case). If you require extra time to finish your programme you will need to apply for a new Student visa before your current visa expires. We will send you a reminder approximately 2 months before your visa is due to expire if you are still studying with us.

If you do need to extend your visa for any reason, our office will issue you with a new CAS number and can also check your application and supporting documents.

Another Student visa requirement is that you make sure that the University always has a record of your current address and other contact details. You will be required to provide these when you register, but please ensure you inform us of any changes to this. You can do this in iExeter.

*You may have to pay an additional £19.20 if you are required to attend a biometrics appointment as part of your application.

MCC forms are free.

Change of name or nationality

If you change your name or nationality and you are outside the UK, you will need to apply for a BRP replacement single entry visa to return to the UK.

Once your visa is granted you will be issued with a vignette (sticker) in your passport that will allow you to enter the UK. When you have returned to the UK, you can apply for a new BRP card using this online form.

Passport

If you have renewed your passport while you are outside the UK, you can travel back to the UK with both your old and new passports. Once here, follow the instructions in the table above.

If you have lost your passport while you are outside the UK, follow the instructions on this page.

If you only have a digital immigration status, you will need to make the changes online by signing into your UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) account. You can find further details on the types of changes you can make online and the link to sign into your UKVI account here.

If you have a digital immigration status and a BRP card, follow instructions above for 'BRP card'.

This section is only relevant if you have the full length of your visa issued on a vignette (sticker in your passport). This is not relevant to those with a 90 day entry visa.

*You may have to pay an additional £19.20 if you are required to attend a biometrics appointment as part of your application.

MCC forms are free.

Passports

**If you have a new passport and your visa is a vignette (sticker) in your old passport, you do not need to transfer your visa to your new passport as long as you can travel with both passports. However, if you have lost your passport that contains your vignette or want to enter into a tenancy agreement with a private landlord or you want to work, your visa must be on a BRP card or in a current passport.  In this situation you will need to submit a Transfer of Conditions application online.

For other benefits to transferring your Student/Tier 4 visa to a BRP card, see UKCISA.

If you have extended your visa and have an 'old' BRP card, you should cut your old BRP card in half and send it in a plain windowless envelope to this address:

Returns Unit
PO Box 195
Bristol
BS20 1BT

You should include a written note to explain that you have successfully applied for a new visa so are returning the old/expired BRP card. You can send it from a Post Office.