Dear student and parents, we have put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions by our international community of students so you can quickly find out what is happening at universities and international colleges in the UK following the COVID-19 global outbreak.
Can I still apply for courses starting in September 2021?
Yes – universities and colleges are all still accepting applications for courses starting in 2020. You won’t be able to get on campus for open days, but there’s lots of information online to give you a feel for what studying at different providers is like. This includes virtual open days and Unibuddy – where you have the chance to speak to current students about their experiences.
When you’re ready, you can start your application.
Can I expect my course to start as normal in September 2021?
We are happy to inform that most of our university partners have now confirmed that teaching will start as planned in September 2020, universities will follow government guidelines to ensure students’ health and safety. We are continuously monitoring the situation and all institutions are liaising closely with Public Health England (PHE) (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus).
My school is closed. Can I apply with pending documents?
The vast majority of offers made to applicants by universities are conditional offers. Specially in these exceptional circumstances all institutions will consider your application if you provide essential documents, your advisor will guide you through this process.
In case I pay my deposit and change my mind later, can I request my money back?
Given the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19, institutions in the UK will refund any deposit paid to you. If you still want to accept your offer of a place, any deposit you paid is put towards your tuition fees, so your money is safe. If, however, you no longer wish to take up your place with then your deposit will be refunded. Ask your advisor to get this confirmation from your university as each university reserves the right to its own terms and conditions.
I am an international student and have a 'conditional' offer requiring that I take an English language test. What will happen if I am unable to do so because of the suspension of testing in my country?
All institutions in the UK are aware that English language testing has been suspended in several countries. In most cases, testing is scheduled to resume in the weeks ahead and you should register to take a recognized test at the earliest opportunity. In the event of extended disruption to testing universities will consider alternatives.
Universities in the UK are also offering year-round Pre-sessional English (PSE) courses, which will include some online learning options and will be acceptable towards your degree unconditional acceptance.
I want to study a Pre-sessional English language course but can't travel, can I study online?
Yes. For 2020 entry most Institutions in the UK are offering Pre-sessional English courses taught 100% online. If your degree offer is conditional on the English language, this Pre-sessional programme will allow you to meet your conditions without the need to take a further IELTS test. Check with your Advisor for further details regarding any specific institution.
I have an unconditional offer, can I apply for visa and request a CAS?
All UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) are closed at the moment but we expect them to reopen on time for September 2020. We are monitoring the situation carefully and will update applicants as soon as we know more. For further updates to the status of VACs in your country, contact:
- TLS contact if you’re in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East
- VFS global for all other countries
Can I defer my application or offer of a place to September 2021?
Yes, you can. However, in the current situation we recommend that you delay making your request until plans around the award of qualifications are announced. People choose to take gap years for a wide variety of reasons, and we hope that you will consider all the facts before making this important decision.
We recognise that we are all facing extraordinary, unprecedented global challenges and having to make decisions about future commitments with an ever-changing backdrop of information. Please be confident that BritishUni Team will act towards your best interest and will liaise with all institutions to ensure you have the best options and are able to change your mind in case you need to do so.
