Please be aware that if you are a Tier 4/Student visa holder, there are certain requirements you must meet in order to be able to change your programme and remain on your current visa. 

You must ensure you are aware of the possible implications for your Tier 4/ Student visa before making a decision about changing your programme. 

You may be able to change your programme without needing to apply for a new Student visa if your new programme:

• Has the same mode of attendance and
• Is within the same subject area and
• Is at the same level (or the lower qualification of an integrated programme) and
• You can finish your new programme within the validity of your current Tier 4/Student visa

If your request does not meet these requirements, you may have to leave the UK in order to apply for a new Student visa in order to start your new programme.

Scenario 1: I want to change to a programme at the same level, but longer

For example, you may wish to: 

You will need to apply for a new Student visa if you cannot complete the longer programme before your current visa expires. 

If you are adding a study abroad or work placement year, you can apply for your new Student visa either before or after your work placement or study abroad year. You can make this Student visa application from within the UK or from overseas. We advise applying for your new Student visa after the work placement or study abroad year has taken place. If you want to obtain your new Student visa first, then you should bear in mind you may not be able to start your work placement/study abroad year with your new Student visa application still pending so you should ensure you allow sufficient time to obtain a new visa. 

If the change of programme is approved, the University of Reading will report the change to UKVI and advise them of your new programme and new expected end date. 

If the reason is anything other than adding a study abroad or work placement year (for example, if you decide to re-enter on a different programme) you will need to obtain a new Student visa before you can start your new programme, and you can only make this application from overseas.   

Scenario 2: I want to change to a programme at the same level, but shorter

For example, you may wish to: 

• Change from a 4 year to a 3-year degree
• Remove a work placement year

It is usually possible to change to a shorter programme at the same level without needing to apply for a new visa. If the change of programme is approved, the University of Reading will report the change to UKVI and advise them of your new programme and new expected end date. 

Once you have completed the shorter programme, the University of Reading will report to UKVI that you have completed earlier than the expected end date on your CAS and they will cancel (shorten) your visa in line with your new completion date and associated ‘post-study’ period. Once this report has been made, you will receive an email from the International Student Advisory Team with information about what you should do next. 

Please also see the section below on the visa implications of completing your programme earlier than expected. 

Scenario 3: I want to change to a programme at the same level and same length

For example, you may wish to: 

• Change from a 3-year UG degree to a 3-year UG degree
• Change from a 1-year Masters to a different 1-year Masters

If the programme is at the same level and can be completed within the validity of your current visa AND you meet the  UKVI’s academic progression requirements which are:
• the new programme is related to the previous programme you were granted leave as a Student, meaning that it is either connected to the previous programme, part of the same subject group, or involves deeper specialisation, or
• the previous programme and the new programme in combination support your genuine career aspirations

The change of programme will usually be permitted, and you can use the same visa to study your new programme. 

You may need to provide a written statement confirming how the previous programme and the new programme in combination support your genuine career aspirations to demonstrate how you meet the academic progression requirements.

If the change of programme is approved, the University of Reading will report the change to UKVI and advise them of your new programme and new expected end date (or that the end date remains the same.) 

If you do not meet the academic progression requirements above, you will need to apply for a new Student visa from outside the UK and sponsorship of your current Tier 4/Student visa will be withdrawn. The University of Reading must report this to UKVI who will cancel your visa, and give you a new visa expiry date which is usually 60 days from the date they cancel your visa to give you time to leave the UK, if you have not already done so.  

Scenario 4: I want to change to a programme at a higher level and longer length

For example, you may wish to:

• Change from a 3-year Bachelor's degree to an integrated 4-year Master's degree

You will need a new Student visa before you can start the new programme, but you can make this application from within the UK or from overseas. 

Scenario 5: I want to change to a lower-level programme

For example, you may wish to:

• Change from PhD to MPhil.

If you want to change to a lower-level programme or this outcome has been decided by the University of Reading, you will not be able to study the lower-level programme on your current Tier 4/Student visa, and sponsorship of your current Tier 4/Student visa will be withdrawn. The University of Reading must report this to UKVI who will cancel your visa, and give you a new visa expiry date which is usually 60 days from the date they cancel your visa to give you time to leave the UK, if you have not already done so.  

If the University of Reading decides we can sponsor you for a new Student visa, you will need to make the visa application from overseas before you can continue onto the new programme. 

If you are changing your study location because you are starting an official work placement or a study abroad year as part of your programme, the University of Reading must provide the details of your new location and work placement/study abroad provider to UKVI. This information will be provided by the relevant work placement/study abroad team to the International Student Advisory Team. 

If you suspend your studies for longer than 60 days, the University of Reading must report the suspension to UKVI who will cancel your visa, and give you a new visa expiry date which is usually 60 days from the date they cancel your visa to give you time to leave the UK, if you have not already done so.  

Once this report has been made, you will receive an email from the International Student Advisory Team with information about what you should do next.

You must not attempt to re-enter the UK to resume your studies after your suspension using your Tier 4/Student visa as it will no longer be valid for re-entry to the UK. You will need to obtain a new Student visa in order to resume your studies after the period of suspension, and this visa application can only be made from outside the UK. You should contact the International Student Advisory Team at immigration@reading.ac.uk for advice when you are ready to resume your studies. 

If you are studying at degree level or below, it is important that you understand that there are time limits on study and you should seek advice if you have studied with a Tier 4/Student Visa at degree level or below in the past or if you have any retakes or placements which may extend the length of your course.

If you are required to re-sit an exam(s) before you can proceed to the next stage of your studies, the University of Reading must report that you are suspended pending re-examination to UKVI who will cancel your visa and give you a new visa expiry date which is usually 60 days from the date they cancel your visa to give you time to leave the UK, if you have not already done so.  

Once this report has been made, you will receive an email from the International Student Advisory Team with information about what you should do next. 

You must not attempt to re-enter the UK to re-sit your exam(s) using your Tier 4/Student visa as it will no longer be valid for re-entry to the UK. You should contact the International Student Advisory Team at immigration@reading.ac.uk for advice on what type of visa you will need to return for your re-sit exams. 

If you need to re-submit an assignment or dissertation after the expiry date of your Tier/Student visa, your School will need to put forward a written case to the University’s Home Office Compliance Office to explain  why you need to stay in the UK to do this. Unless there are specific reason(s) why you cannot complete and re-submit the work from overseas, it is unlikely that the University of Reading will be able to provide you with further Student visa sponsorship and you will need to leave the UK to complete your assignment/dissertation resubmission.

Extensions to assignments/dissertation deadlines 

An undergraduate or Masters student would not meet UKVI’s rules on academic progression to be able to extend their Tier 4/Student visa in the UK to cover an extension to an assignment/dissertation deadline. 

If you complete your programme earlier than the expected end date on your CAS, the University of Reading must report this to UKVI and withdraw sponsorship of your visa. UKVI will cancel your visa in line with your new expected end date and associated ‘post-study’ period.

Once this report has been made, you will receive an email from the International Student Advisory Team with information about what you should do next. 

Please note that if you leave the UK once your visa sponsorship has been withdrawn and your visa is cancelled by UKVI whilst you are outside the UK, your visa will become invalid and you will not be able to use it to return to the UK.  In this scenario, you would not be able to return to the UK to apply for the Graduate Route, if eligible. You should contact immigration@reading.ac.uk for advice on travelling after you have completed your studies earlier than expected.

If you have been issued with a CAS number by the University of Reading and decide to defer the start of your programme to a later term or the following academic year, the University of Reading must report your deferral to UKVI. If you have not yet applied for your visa, the CAS will be withdrawn meaning it is no longer valid for use in a visa application. You will need to request a new CAS to apply for a Student visa in good time before you start your course. 

If you have already been issued with a visa using the CAS and decide to defer, the University of Reading will report your deferral to UKVI and your visa will no longer be valid to enter or remain in the UK. You will need to request a new CAS to apply for a Student visa in good time before you start your course.

If you withdraw or are withdrawn by the University from your studies, the University of Reading must report this to UKVI who will cancel your visa and give you a new visa expiry date which is usually 60 days from the date they cancel your visa to give you time to leave the UK, if you have not already done so.  

Once this report has been made, you will receive an email from the International Student Advisory Team with information about what you should do next.

If you intend to enrol at another University, please be aware that the Tier 4/Student visa issued to you to study at the University of Reading cannot be used to study elsewhere. You will need to contact your new University for further advice.