Letter of Good Conduct

If you have never lived in the UK or have lived outside the UK for a continuous period of 6 months or more in the past 5 years you will need to provide a criminal record check from the country(ies) that you have lived in during that period. We call this a Letter of Good Conduct but the name varies from country to country.

If you currently live in the UK or, have previously lived in the UK, this will be needed in addition to the DBS check and must be obtained before you enrol for the programme in September.

If you have never lived in the UK you will need to obtain this letter before you arrive in the UK and enrol for the programme in September.   Please note that you will also need to apply for DBS clearance as soon as you have obtained your visa and arrived at the unversity..

How do I apply for a letter of good conduct?

The application process for criminal records checks or letters of good conduct varies from country to country. You can find guidance on applying for overseas checks on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

You should request that the letter of good conduct is issued in English or obtain a certified translation of the certificate. Please make sure you apply for the certificate or letter that is appropriate for the type of training or placements that you will be undertaking at the university.   For example, for teacher training you should apply for a certificate or letter that confirms a check has been carried out to assess your suitability for working with children.

If you are still resident in the country that you need the letter from we advise you to apply for it before you leave as, in many cases, it is easier to obtain the letter from within the country.

When should I apply for my letter of good conduct?

If you are no longer living in the country from which you require the letter of good conduct we would advise you to apply for it as soon as possible as the application process can be lengthy.

If you are still living abroad and not planning to come to the UK before the start of the programme we would advise you to apply for the letter at the end of May. The check will need to cover the full period of your residency abroad, but you will need to allow enough time for the letter to be obtained before the start of the course. In the case of applicants who require a student visa you will also need to have provided this letter before we can issue your CAS number.

Do I have to obtain my letter of good conduct before applying for the DBS check?

If you are already living in the UK, you can still apply for your DBS check while you are waiting for your letter of good conduct. 

If you are not resident in the UK you will need to have obtained your letter of good conduct before coming to the UK and before we can issue the CAS for your visa.  Your DBS check will be carried out on arrival in the UK.

I spent a year abroad studying or in placement as part of my degree course - do I still need to get a letter of good conduct?

Yes - this requirement applies to any period of 6 months or more spent outside the UK whether for paid work, voluntary work or study.

As part of my application for a letter of good conduct I have been asked to provide an explanation of why I need the letter - where can I get this from?

We can provide you with a letter explaining why the check is needed if this is required by the embassy or police authority - please email your request to admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk.

I am struggling to obtain a letter of good conduct - what should I do?

Contact us at admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk as we may be able to give you some advice based on our experience with previous applicants.

I have now received my letter of good conduct - who do I need to send it to?

Initial Teacher Training students: please scan and email a copy of your letter to admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk . Please keep the original safe as you will need to show a copy of the letter to your training schools or employer. Salaried School Direct and PGCert Early Years (employment-based) students should scan and send a copy of the letter to admissionssupport@reading.ac.uk and also send a copy to their lead school or employer.

MPharm Pharmacy students: please scan and email a copy of your letter to mpharm.placements@reading.ac.uk