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Changing Your Educational Institution

If you applied for your current student visa before 31 st March 2009 (Pre-points based system)

You may change your educational institution to study at Lancaster University without permission from the UKBA . You do not need to apply for fresh leave to remain until your visa is nearly due for renewal (we recommend that you commence the application process at least 3 months before the expiry date). You may apply to extend your visa once you have registered on your new course of study.

If you applied for your Tier 4 student visa before 5 October 2009

If you have a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK and you  want to leave your current education provider to in order to study at Lancaster University you must get written permission from the UK Border Agency.

To request this permission, you must complete and send a Tier 4 (PTS) application form. You can download this form and guidance notes from the UK Border Agency webpages here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/changes/#
You can start your new course before we have decided whether to approve your request - but you do so at your own risk, as we may refuse the request.

Under the Immigration Rules, the UK Border Agency may shorten your permission to stay as a student if you change your education provider without getting permission.
If your new course will finish after your current permission to stay expires, you will need to make a new Tier 4 application.

You can start your new course before the UK Border Agency has decided whether to approve your request - but you do so at your own risk.

Under the Immigration Rules, the UK Border Agency may shorten your permission to stay as a student if you change your education provider without getting their permission.

If your new course will finish after your current permission to stay expires, you will need to make a new Tier 4 application. You will therefore need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS number) from Lancaster University.

If you applied for your Tier 4 student visa on or after 5th October 2009

If you want to leave your current course in order to study with Lancaster University,  you must apply for a new Tier 4 visa.

Lancaster University is a Highly Trusted Tier 4 sponsor, and once you have an unconditional offer, we will assign a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS number) to you to enable you to make your visa application.

You can start your new course before the UK Border Agency has approved your new Tier 4 visa application if:

•  You have applied to the UK Border Agency for permission to stay and study with Lancaster University) and;

•  Your permission to stay and study in the UK with your former sponsor is still valid;

•  You must provide evidence that you have made an application for a new Tier 4 visa to the Registry when you register for your course .

•  You can start your new course before the UK Border Agency has decided whether to approve your new Tier 4 visa application

You will start your new course at your own risk, as the UK Border Agency may refuse your application .

If you are already studying in the UK when you decide to change to a different Tier 4 sponsor, you must make your new application from inside the UK.

Taken from: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/changes/#

If you are applying for a new course of study and your current visa expires more than one calendar month before the start date of your new course, you CANNOT apply to extend whilst in the UK. You must leave and make a fresh application for a Tier 4 visa from outside the UK. If you apply from inside the United Kingdom, your application will be refused. A month will be considered a calendar month (for example, if your leave expires on 14 January then the new course must start no later than 13 February).