TIER 4

CREDIBILITY
WHAT IS A CREDIBILITY INTERVIEW? Your living arrangements, including how close this will be
Before making a decision to grant someone leave to enter to the University
the UK, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) interview all Details about the University’s location in the UK
potential students to ensure they have a genuine intention
Your personal life and your family history
to study.
All of this information should have been part of your initial
All interviews are conducted in English
research and should have informed your decision to study
and normally via video link.
at the University of Salford. The information won’t be
new to you, but you may wish to go back to your original
research and your personal statement in order to be
DO I NEED TO PREPARE? prepared for the interview.
You should already know why you wish to study at the
University of Salford but for many students it may be the
first time you have been interviewed by a government
official and for some, this can be a nervous experience.
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
You are likely to be asked about your career goals.
Your study options should match your overall career
The best way to combat your nerves is to ensure you
goals and aspirations. If your career goals would mean
prepare for your interview beforehand and provide
that your earning potential may be less than your current
honest answers.
income then you should be prepared to justify why you are
interested in this career area. You may also be asked to
provide information about any gaps in your employment
WHAT AREAS WILL THE CREDIBILTY or study history.
INTERVIEW COVER?
You are likely to be asked a series of questions in relation
to a number of areas. The UK Visas and Immigration
official will ask questions in key areas such as:

Your career aspirations, including your post-study plans

and reasons for these plans
Information about your course of study, including
modules and course content
Information about the funding of your studies in the UK
Your understanding of the rules and regulations for your
Tier 4 visa
YOUR COURSE You should have also detailed your intended UK
You may be asked to provide specific information address on your Tier 4 visa application. It is advisable to
regarding your chosen course of study. You should find accommodation in close proximity to the University.
have researched all of this information prior to applying If you have to travel for more than two hours a day
for a course of study in the UK and before you accepted to get to university then this isn’t ideal. You may need
an offer at the University. However, there may be some to rush to University to hand in an assignment because
additional information that you need to think about before of an unforeseen event or attend an appointment before
you attend your interview. a specified deadline.

YOUR FUNDING TIER 4 RULES AND REGULATIONS

You may be asked some questions to ensure you
You may be asked questions to assess if the way
understand the responsibilities that come with holding
you fund your studies and living costs is sustainable
a Tier 4 visa as part of UKVI’s assessment that you are
throughout your time in the UK. For some students
a genuine student. Many of the responsibilities that you
part time work helps but, as an international student,
will have as a Tier 4 student are listed in the Tier 4
you should not rely on this as a sustainable income
Policy Guidance.
source. UKVI will expect you to be able to have funds
available throughout the whole of your stay in the UK
You may wish to review what the University of
and that you are able to explain and provide evidence
Salford expects of you whilst you are here by visiting
of the source of your funds.
our website. You may also be asked questions in relation
to your previous immigration history so you should be
open and honest on your Tier 4 visa application form
YOUR PERSONAL LIFE and in your credibility interview.
Your visa will be issued on the basis that you have
a genuine intention to study and an intention to return If you have previously been refused a Tier 4 visa, be
home once you have completed your study. If you have clear about why you applied for the visa you were refused
family or personal ties to the UK, these should not be for and make sure you have a clear understanding as
your primary reason for coming to the UK, particularly to why you were refused.
if you are applying for entry clearance under Tier 4.
You may be required to demonstrate that there are
no reasons for you to permanently settle in the UK by
answering questions surrounding your life back home
and your ties there.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Be sure you understand where the University is located
within the UK, where you are living and the proximity of the
University to where you intend to live. Information about the
University is published on our website. The Home Office
expect you to have a UK address as part of the conditions
of your Tier 4 visa.
WHAT
AM I LIKELY
TO BE ASKED?
HOW DO YOUR STUDIES FIT INTO WHAT TIES DO YOU HAVE TO YOUR
YOUR CAREER PLANS? HOME COUNTRY?
You should be able to demonstrate that there are no
Whilst you are preparing for your interview, reasons for you to permanently settle in the UK by
you should consider the following: answering questions surrounding your life back at home.

What do I want to do after studying my course? If you have children and you are bringing them with you,
then also be prepared to answer questions about their
How does this course fit with my career objectives? care and education whilst you are studying and make
Will the course I want to study enable me to compete sure you have included them on your application as
within the working environment? your dependants.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO LIVE?

UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD? Be sure to have an understanding of where you are living
We may have been recommended to you by a friend, and where this is in relation to the University campus.
family member or even an agent. However you should If you have not yet arranged accommodation it is vital
have made an informed decision to come here by you do so before you arrive at the University.
yourself. Be clear about how you found out about the
University and why you chose to study here, including
what the University offers which other institutions YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY
do not. OVERSTAYED. WHY WAS
THIS THE CASE?
If you have previously had a refusal, your visa was
HOW WILL YOU FUND curtailed or you have overstayed on a previous visa,
YOUR STUDIES? you should understand the reasons why and be able
How you fund your studies is one of the vital things you to explain this to the entry clearance officer if asked.
need to consider whilst you are studying with us. Whilst It is vital, where you have not informed the University
there are minimum funding requirements you must meet of Salford that you speak to a member of the Home
when making your visa application, you may need to Office Compliance team at the University if any of
consider if the funds available to you are sustainable and those issues affect you.
you should be able to explain where you have sourced
them from.
ADDITIONAL
As part of the #weareinternational campaign, the University of Salford, in conjunction with a number
of universities across the UK, have produced two videos about the visa application process in China and India.

You can also access the University of Salford’s Visa and Immigration web pages where there are a number
of additional resources. It is also advisable to review the web pages before you attend your Credibility Interview.

CONTACT
The University’s Admissions team is responsible for any issues surrounding your CAS. Ensure you check the
CAS before you use it in a Tier 4 visa application and advise the Admissions team of any errors before submitting
your visa application online.

If you are a new student and your visa application is refused you are advised to take the following actions:

Email your full visa refusal notice to [email protected]

Provide the supporting documents you submitted with your visa application

If your visa application is refused on the grounds of credibility, provide permission in the body
of your email for the University to request the transcript of your interview from UK Visas and Immigration

You can also contact the Admissions team on +44 (0) 161 295 4493.

Our Home Office Compliance Team is responsible for all Tier 4 visa advice and support. If you have any further
questions in relation to your visa application and arriving at the University of Salford please contact the team using
the details below. The team can also provide information in relation to:

ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme)

BRP (Biometric Residence Permit i.e. visa) collection

Attendance monitoring

You can contact the Home Office Compliance team by:

Calling: (0) 161 295 0023. Please select option 3 and

then option 2 to speak to an appropriate member of staff

Emailing: [email protected]