Student Services
Visa advice: Tier 4 Doctorate extension scheme
This scheme was introduced on 6 April 2013. It is a great opportunity for PhD or other doctorate students to extend their immigration permission for 12 months to look for and start work in the UK.
The Doctorate extension scheme falls under Tier 4 of the Points Based Immigration system - the University is required to sponsor students under this scheme and continue to monitor contact with students.
Home Office information about this scheme is available in the Tier 4 policy guidance.
- Am I eligible?
- Expected end date
- When to apply
- The application process
- What if my immigration permission expires before the expected end date?
- What if my actual completion date is later than the expected end date?
- What if I apply under this scheme but the doctorate is not awarded?
- What funds do I need?
- When does the 12 months begin?
- What type of work can I do and when can I start?
- What happens when the 12 months finish?
- Family
Am I eligible?
In order to be able to apply you must:
- be a doctoral candidate. This means you must be studying for a PhD qualification or an acceptable doctorate qualification. Research Master's degrees are not acceptable.
- be in the UK (you can only apply for this scheme in the UK)
- have current (unexpired) Tier 4 or pre-Tier 4 student visa. You will NOT be able to apply if you currently hold a Student Visitor Visa
- have completed your viva but not yet had results confirmed at Board of Studies (referred to as ‘expected end date’ by the Home Office)
- be within 60 days of your expected end date
- meet general Tier 4 requirements
IMPORTANT: You must apply BEFORE it has been confirmed that your doctorate has been awarded (your expected end date / date the board of studies meets). Note that this is likely to be several weeks before your graduation ceremony. The University CANNOT provide you with supporting documentation (a CAS) after it has been confirmed that your doctorate has been awarded.
Expected end date
The University of Bath will not be able to set this date until you have had your viva. At this point, it should become clear how much further work and time is required before your doctorate will be awarded. The expected end date will be the date of the Board of Studies (not your graduation ceremony). We will include this date on your CAS. See below for information about what to do if your current immigration permission will expire before the expected end date.
When to apply
- You can apply under the doctorate extension scheme after your Tier 4 sponsor (the sponsor awarding you the doctorate qualification) has assigned a CAS for this scheme and you have the other supporting documentation ready.
- You must apply before the expected end date on the CAS.
- You must also make a valid application before your current immigration permission expires.
- Remember that you must have held your funds for 28 days or longer before the date of your application so you need to plan ahead and make sure that the level of your funds does not go below the minimum required level at any time during this 28-day period.
The application process
- Contact the International Student Advice Team in Student Services, 4 West, as soon as possible following submission of your thesis or 3 months before your visa expiry date - whichever happens sooner. We will need to know your visa expiry date and exptected viva date. We will also discuss your options and the application process with you.
- After your viva, request a CAS via the Student Services Helpdesk accessed through SAMIS online. We will need to know the date of your Board of Studies before we can produce your CAS.
- Prepare Tier 4 general supporting documents.
- Make a Check and Send appointment to complete your application with an adviser.
- Sign legal agreement - during your Check and Send appointment we will ask you to sign a legal agreement which tells you what we expect from you. If we are satisfied that you understand the requirements of the scheme and your responsibilities, we will provide you with your CAS, check your documents and form and send to the Home Office on your behalf (our Check and Send Service).
- You will be contacted by the Home Office to invite you to provide Biometric data. Your application will not be processed until you have given your biometric data.
- Collect your documents and visa - your visa (on a Biometric Residence Permit card - BRP) and documents will be returned directly to the International Student Advice Team - we will log details of your new visa on SAMIS and contact you once everything has been received. The wording on your visa should make it clear that you have permission to stay under the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
- The University is required to monitor contact with you on the scheme. We will contact you 3 times during the 12 month period by email (as per the legal agreement) and expect you to respond within 10 days each time.
- If you fail to comply with the terms of your visa as outlined in the legal agreement we must report you to the Home Office and your visa will be cancelled.
What if my immigration permission expires before the expected end date?
If your current immigration permission expires before your expected end date, you must contact the International Student Advice Team as a matter of urgency. You may need to make a further Tier 4 student application before you are able to apply under the Doctorate extension scheme.
What if my actual completion date is later than the expected end date?
If, after your CAS has been assigned, you find out that you are likely to receive confirmation of your award later than the expected end date on the CAS, you can still apply under the scheme as long as you do this before the expected end date and before your current Tier 4 leave expires. However, you will not be able to work without restriction until your award is confirmed. As your Tier 4 sponsor, we are required to report your actual completion date to the Home Office. You will not be able to apply to extend your immigration permission under this scheme, so you will not be able to spend the full 12-month period working without restriction.
What if I apply under this scheme but the doctorate is not awarded?
Your Tier 4 sponsor is required to let the Home Office know when you complete your course. It is also obliged to notify the Home Office if you fail your course, do not complete it or if you are awarded a qualification that is lower than a doctorate.
If you fail your course or do not complete it, or if you are awarded a lower qualification, your application will be refused if you are still awaiting a decision.
Please seek advice from the International Student Advice Team.
What funds do I need?
You will need to meet Tier 4 maintenance requirements - x 2 months living costs (currently GBP1,600 in total) in your bank account. You must have held the funds at the required level for a period of 28 days before you apply. Evidence of your funds must meet exactly the requirements explained in the Tier 4 policy guidance - use our bank statement flowchart to check your statements.
When does the 12 months begin?
If your application is successful, you will be granted Tier 4 immigration permission for a period of 12 months from the expected end date on your CAS.
What type of work can I do and when can I start?
Under this scheme you can take most types of work. The only restrictions are that you cannot work as a doctor or dentist in training, or as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
Once you have made an application and your award has been confirmed (this can be before or after your expected end date on the CAS) you can start work under the Doctorate Extension Scheme even though a decision is pending.
You are not required to take employment at any particular level. However, if you wish to stay longer in the UK for work, you need to find a Tier 2 employer so that you can apply to extend your stay under that scheme. More information about work after study >>
What happens when the 12 months finish?
You can apply only once under the doctorate extension scheme - it cannot be extended. If you want to stay in the UK for longer than this, you need to apply under a different route. Switching is allowed in the UK into Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Settlement in the UK - note that the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme does not count towards settlement.
Family
The following family members can join you or stay with you in the UK:
- spouse or civil partner
- unmarried partner or same sex partner who is not a civil partner
- children aged under 18 if they are outside the UK
- children of any age if they are applying in the UK and they currently have immigration permission as your dependant and are not leading an independent life.
Family members can apply at the same time or separately from each other.
If your family members are applying for entry clearance outside the UK, they are not required to have any particular type of immigration permission and need never have been to the UK. If they are applying to stay with you in the UK, they must have dependant immigration permission, but it need not be Tier 4 dependant leave.
Family members (dependants) will need to meet maintenance requirements - x 2 months living costs (currently GBP900 in total). The money must have been held for 28 days before the date of the application.
Please discuss with an adviser if your family are applying separately.