What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?

After your arrival in the UK, you will need to collect your BRP from the Post Office.  Your BRP replaces the sticker in your passport and it is your legal evidence that you have immigration permissions for the UK. IT IS NOT JUST A PROOF OF AGE CARD. 

Do not carry your BRP with you on a daily basis as you may lose it and this can affect your travel plans or your ability to prove your right to work in the UK.

My visa is only valid for 90 days?  Why is it wrong?

The sticker you receive in your passport when your visa is successfully grant overseas, is only intended to be used for you to travel to the UK to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). Once you have collected your BRP, you will need that for travel and it supersedes the sticker in your passport.

You do not need to/it is not possible to extend your sticker to match the length of your BRP so you can use this for travel.

Sometimes the sticker on your passport can be incorrect. If you do not have a BRP at the Post Office and your vignette is not valid for 90 days from the issue date, please contact Student Advice and Engagement for advice as you may need to get this corrected. It is better to get any errors amended before travel where possible.

For periods of study of less than six months, you will not be issued with a BRP.

Checking errors on your BRP or visa

FAQ: My BRP expires on the 31 December 2024 but my programme finishes after this.  What do I do?

You do not need to tell UKVI if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but your immigration status (for example, your visa) allows you to stay longer.

You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You’ll be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP.

UKVI will update their information on how to prove your immigration status in early 2024. You do not need to do anything and your immigration status will not be affected.

Mistakes are often made when vignettes or BRPs are issued, so it's very important you check this as soon as you receive your decision letter or BRP because you have a limited period of time in which to get these successfully corrected. Failing to get errors on your BRP corrected within 10 days of collecting it, may mean you miss out on opportunities such as part-time work or being eligible for the Graduate Route.

Find out more about errors and how to get them corrected in our info sheet.
Possible errors may be:

• It expires too soon. The end date of your student visa depends on the length of your course:
  
  9/10 month programme will receive an additional two months at the end of the visa
  12 + month programme will receive an additional four months at the end of the visa
• If you have received too much time at the end of the visa you should still report this e.g. being granted six months in error at the end of the visa
• Your working conditions are incorrect e.g. you have only 10 hours instead of 20. You must get this corrected before you can work your permitted hours.

I have lost my passport or BRP.  What do I need to do?

If you have lost your passport or BRP, you can find out what steps you need to take in our infosheet:

Lost Passport or BRP

Sometimes your circumstances may change when you are studying at the LSE.  If you are on a student visa, it is important that you understand how this change may affect your visa.

If you change your address after obtaining your visa, you need to take the following steps:

• Update your address on LSE for You.

• If you applied for your visa in the UK, you should inform UK Visas and Immigration. 

• If you are required to register with the Police, you must add your new address to your Police Registration Certificate within 7 days of moving.  You can do this at your local Police station.

New student visa/Change of Visa Route/Collected your BRP

If you have applied for a student visa in the UK to start your studies at LSE, have extended your visa or collected your BRP after being temporarily registered you should:

• Take your new student visa/BRP to the Student Services Centre so that they can update your record if you are an undergraduate or postgraduate (taught) student;

• Take your new student visa (including DES visas) to the PhD Academy if you are a PhD student;

• Provide the Overseas Visitors Records Office with the details of your new visa within 7 days if you are required to register with the Police.

If you have changed visa category  whilst you still have studies to complete e.g. you become a PBS dependant, please contact us for advice.

It is a condition of your Student visa and LSE's regulations that you attend teaching as expected.  Attendance is monitored during classes, seminars and by submission of assessments.

If you fail to attend as expected, then you are putting your visa at risk. LSE may choose to withdraw sponsorship of your visa due to poor attendance. LSE's Engagement Monitoring policy can be found in the 'Student Regulations' section of the following web page:

Policies and Procedures

It is an exceptional circumstance for a student to require an absence from their studies during term time.  However, should you face an issue where you need a leave of absence e.g. a genuine family emergency or a visa refusal, you are permitted a maximum of three weeks absence.

This absence can only be granted by your department and will be dependent on your academic progress on your programme. The Student Advice and Engagement Team in the Student Services Centre will need to be informed of any approved absences for taught students and the PhD Academy for PhD students. Departments are able to turn down any requests for an absence duing term time, especially if they believe it will affect your studies.

If you are concerned an absence will affect your visa contact the Student Advice and Engagement Team for advice.

Travel in the UK

If you plan to see more of the UK during your time at LSE, UKCISA has some tips on travel and transport:

UKCISA: Travel and transport

You may wish to look into getting a discount rail card or coach card to access cheaper travel, although for longer journeys a domestic flight can sometimes prove as affordable.

The Republic of Ireland is in the Common Travel Area but is not part of the UK, so you will need to check what immigration permission you may need.

Travel to Europe

Your Student visa for the UK only grants you immigration permission for the UK.  It doesn't grant you permission to travel to any other country and you will need to check the immigration requirements you wish to travel to.

Even though many countries in the EU are part of the Schengen zone, each country has it's own requirements for a visa application.  You should check the specific requirements of the country you are applying to.  Find out more about Schengen visas on the following web page:

UKCISA:Travel in Europe

You should note that many countries require you to have a UK bank account for at least three months to be eligible for a Schengen visa.  

The Student Advice and Engagement Management Team are only able to advise on the UK immigration rules for students.

FAQ: I need a letter of 'no objection' for my Schengen visa application. Can LSE provide me with one?

A Certificate of Enrolment should work for these purposes.  We haven't had any students inform us that their Schengen visa has been refused because they provided this letter and not a letter of 'no objection'.

Travel to other countries

We are only able to advise on the UK immigration rules for students. If your programme has a year abroad e.g. a dual degree or an exchange, then you will need to seek immigration advice from your host institution on your visa options.

The Home Office does permit you to transfer programmes at LSE once you have campus enrolled. However, you may need to obtain new permission from the Home Office depending on the level and length of your new programme. Not all transfers are possible and you may need to return home to apply for your new visa. 

Case One: Transfer to a new programme which is the same length as your current visa

If you transfer to a new programme which you can complete without extending your visa and it is at the same level of study, you will be able to start your new programme. 

The Student Services Centre will be required to report to the Home Office that you have a minor change in your circumstances.

Case Two: Transferring to a new programme which is longer than the length of your current visa.

If you plan to transfer from your current programme to a new programme which is longer than your current visa, you must contact the Student Advice and Engagement Team before the transfer is approved.  If you were granted a visa for the LSE and USC MSc Global Media and Communications, but decide to transfer to the classic track after arrival this is still possible.   But you must note:

• You will be unable to extend your visa to get the four months grace period at the end;
• Your visa will expire before you receive your results and ceremonies - we cannot extend for this purpose
• You will not be eligible for the Graduate Route because your visa will have expired before you have been awarded your degree.

Case Three: Transferring to a new programme which is shorter than your current programme

If you transfer to a shorter programme e.g. from a 12 month Masters degree to a 9 month Masters degree, the Student Services Centre will be required to report both your transfer and your early completion to the Home Office.

Your visa will be curtailed by the Home Office, meaning your immigration permission will end earlier.  You will be classed as completing early, which means you should still receive the extra time at the end of your visa and will be able to work full-time at the end of your course.

Case Four: Transferring to a new programme at a lower level of study

It is not possible to transfer to a programme at a lower level of study e.g. transferring from year two of programme to year one of another programme.

Repeat teaching or transfers due to non-progression

If you have a visa and are considering applying for repeat teaching, we strongly recommend that you seek immigration advice as well as academic advice.  The Student Route rules cap degree level study at five years for undergraduate students, plus where you can apply for your visa. There is no cap at postgraduate level under the Student Route.

Transferring to a new programme after failing to progress

If you fail to progress from the programme that you were issued a visa for and plan to transfer to a new programme, you will not be able to extend your visa in the UK. 

You should note that whilst the immigration rules may allow you to apply for a new visa from outside the UK, the LSE's own regulations will no longer permit you to transfer to a lower level or re-start on a new programme.  

Contact our team for advice before planning to do this.

Mode of Study

The immigration rules now permit part-time study on a Student visa at Masters level or above, but the conditions are far more restrictive:

• You cannot work - if you planned to transfer to part-time to work you will not have this condition on your immigration permission;

• You cannot bring your dependants with you - if you transfer to part-time, your dependants may lose the right to be in the UK;

• You cannot undertake a work placement;

LSE will only support applications under the Student part-time route if this is the only possible option for a student to be able finish their degree. Contact us before completing a request to change your mode of study.

Early Completion

If you complete your programme early e.g. because you have transferred to a shorter programme, the Student Services Centre will be required to report your early completion to the UKVI.  You will be given a new expiry date of your visa, which will be the original wrap-up time granted on your initial visa.If you are a PhD student who has submitted their thesis early, you will not be reported unless you complete all the requirements and are awarded before your original programme end date.

IMPORTANT: We have been informed by the UKVI that if you are reported for early completion and are in the curtailment period, if you travel outside the Common Travel Area (UK and the Republic of Ireland) you should consider that your leave has lapsed and you no longer have Tier 4/Student permission.

For example:

• Student completes early due to a transfer to a shorter degree programme;Student is reported to UKVIStudent is granted a four month curtailment period which matches the four months they were granted at the end of their visa;
• Student is permitted to work full-time as it is vacation;
• Student travels outside the Common Travel Area (UK and Republic of Ireland) during the four months (e.g. for a holiday or to do with their work) - their Tier 4/Student visa is automatically curtailed and they are unable to re-enter the UK.

We advise against early completion because you wish to work full time sooner because of the risks to your status in the UK. 

If you are facing difficulties with your studies, there are a number of services in the School that may be able to help.  You should seek advice before choosing to interrupt your studies so that you understand the process and the implications for your studies and visa.

If you choose to interrupt your studies, you are unable stay in the UK during your period of interruption. LSE is required to report to the Home Office that we are no longer sponsoring your visa, within 10 working days of your interruption being processed.  This will start the curtailment (cancellation) of your visa. You can find out more about curtailment on the UKCISA web pages:

UKCISA: Protecting your Student Status

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. We advise that once the report has been submitted, because you will not know when your visa is curtailed:

• if you are working, you should inform you employer of your change in circumstances so they are able to assess your right to continue working;

• you no longer have the right to access the NHS once your visa is in the process of being curtailed;

• anyone who is dependant on your visa will also lose the conditions of their visa and will need to return home with you;

• your reason for being in the UK (studies) no longer exists - we advise that you should plan to leave the UK within 60 days of receiving the email from the Student Services Centre. This is because some students did not receive the notification from the UKVI and overstayed their new expiry date;

• you should not plan to travel out of the UK and attempt to return on your current visa. Once you leave the UK,  the UKVI advise that you should consider your visa as cancelled.

• If the Student Services Centre have emailed you to say that they have informed the UKVI that we are no longer sponsoring your studies, you no longer have the right to study in the UK.  Even if you are allowed to enter the UK by a Border Force Officer or you have not been informed of your curtailment date by the UKVI, you do not have the right to study so will be unable to attend teaching or take exams on your old visa.  You must contact Student Advice and Engagement for advice in these circumstances and do not expect to be able to undertake studies once you are reported.

• You will not receive a refund of the Immigration Health Surcharge that you have paid.

The Home Office will contact you either by letter or by email advising you of the new expiry date of your visa.  This is usually 60 days from the date of the letter or email. This information can sometimes be delayed, so we advise it is best to plan to leave the UK as soon as possible, ideally within 60 days of the Student Services Centre confirming you have been reported to the UKVI.

Completing your MSc programme without a dissertation

LSE sponsors 12 month MSc students on a visa for the length of their programme.  If your degree programme gives you the opportunity to 'load-up' on your units and complete in nine months without the need for a dissertation, then you should be reported to the UKVI at the end of the summer term for early completion.  This is because you no longer have any teaching to take place, even though you  will not be awarded until November. Being reported in June risks your eligibility for the Graduate Worker visa as your visa will be curtailed and it may expire prior to you receiving your results. Please note that if you change the structure of your degree by dropping a dissertation and only taking exams, this does not mean that you can work full time after the end of summer term. 

Completing 'take home' or online assessments during the Summer Exam period 

Even if your assessments are 'take home' or online assessments during the Summer Exam Period, you are expected to be in the UK during this time if you hold a Student visa.  The UKVI expects from that if you are being sponsored on a Student visa that you are taking your assessments whilst in the UK. Sponsorship may be withdrawn for students who complete all assessments overseas excluding them from the Graduate Route.

If you have deferred any of your assessments, LSE may be required to report you to the UKVI depending on whether you are able to progress/complete your studies within your expected end date.  The report will withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa and this starts the curtailment process.

If you are an undergraduate student who is able to be entered into the summer re-sit period, you should note that this does not automatically mean we will not report you to the UKVI. This will depend on when you defer your assessments and the number of assessments you defer.   If you are considering deferring your assessments, please ensure you have read the process for deferrals.

If you are a Masters student with a visa expiring in August/October and you defer assessments, you will be unable to extend your visa to stay in the UK until the Resit and Deferral Assessment period in the following January.  You can only apply for your visa outside the UK. This is because the gap between the expiry of your visa and the start of sponsorship for RDAP exceeds the premitted length for extension in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

If you are a Masters student with a visa expiring in January and defer assessments, you will need advice for your individual case. You are likely to be reported in October and will need to apply for a new visa from overseas for the January resit/deferred assessment period.

FAQ:  I am a postgraduate/undergraduate student. If I defer assessments or have resit exams in January, will my eligibility for the Graduate Route be affected?

If you are a postgraduate/undergraduate student considering deferring/who has deferred assessments, you should note that this may affect your ability to remain sponsored. 

The re-sit and deferred assessment period (RDAP) for the majority of postgraduate students will be held in the January following their main assessment period. Students on the two-year MSc Economics programme who have to defer/resit first year exams may be able to take these in the summer IRDAP.

9/10 month MSc students who have resit/deferred assessments in the January RDAP should note that the visa they will be granted for January 2024 is unlikely to be long enough to remain in the UK and apply for the Graduate Route in mid-March. This is because your official results will be released after the expiry date of your visa.

If you choose to defer your assessment again to the next assessment period, you should not rely on being able to extend your visa in the UK. You are likely to have to return overseas to apply for your visa because the period of engagement between the deferral and the next assessment period is more than 60 days.  The immigration rules are set by the Home Office and whilst we will always work to achieve the best outcome for all students, this is not always possible. 

For those students who were able to be sponsored because they did not have a valid visa, you should receive an additional two/four months at the end of your visa based on your original programme start date and the amount of additional leave you originally had.  

You must check your visa as soon as you receive it. If you have only been granted an additional seven days at the end of your visa, this is an error and you will need to get it corrected preferably before travelling to the UK. This is explained on the following web page:

Correcting an incorrect vignette

What happens if I am reported to the UKVI after deferring assessments?

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. 

This will start the curtailment (cancellation) of your visa. You can find out more about curtailment on the UKCISA web pages:

UKCISA: Protecting your Student Status

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. We advise that once the report has been submitted, because you will not know when your visa is curtailed:

• if you are working, you should inform you employer of your change in circumstances so they are able to assess your right to continue working;

• you no longer have the right to access the NHS once your visa is in the process of being curtailed;

• anyone who is dependant on your visa will also lose the conditions of their visa and will need to return home with you;

• your reason for being in the UK (studies) no longer exists - we advise that you should plan to leave the UK within 60 days of receiving the email . This is because some students did not receive the notification from the UKVI and overstayed their new expiry date;

• you should not plan to travel out of the UK and attempt to return on your current visa. Once you leave the UK,  the UKVI advise that you should consider your visa as cancelled.

• If the Student Services Centre have emailed you to say that they have informed the UKVI that we are no longer sponsoring your studies, you no longer have the right to study in the UK.  Even if you are allowed to enter the UK by a Border Force Officer or you have not been informed of your curtailment date by the UKVI, you do not have the right to study so will be unable to attend teaching or take exams on your old visa.  You must contact Student Advice and Engagement for advice in these circumstances and do not expect to be able to undertake studies once you are reported.

The Home Office will contact you either by letter or by email advising you of the new expiry date of your visa.  This is usually 60 days from the date of the letter or email. This information can sometimes be delayed, so we advise it is best to plan to leave the UK as soon as possible, ideally within 60 days of the Student Services Centre confirming you have been reported to the UKVI.

FAQ:  I am a postgraduate/undergraduate student. If I defer assessments ,will my eligibility for the Graduate Route be affected?

If you are a postgraduate/undergraduate student considering deferring/who has deferred assessments, you should note that this may affect your ability to remain sponsored. You should seek advice prior to deferring your assessments, but your ability to complete your academic requirements should always take precedence over your immigration options at the end of your studies.

Fitness to Study Policy

If you choose to defer your assessment again to the next assessment period, you should not rely on being able to extend your visa in the UK. You are likely to have to return overseas to apply for your visa because the period of engagement between the deferral and the next assessment period is more than 60 days.  The immigration rules are set by the Home Office and whilst we will always work to achieve the best outcome for all students, this is not always possible. 

Students with re-takes/deferred assessments in January.

If you have re-takes or deferred assessments in January, your immigration options will depend on whether your visa has expired and whether the exams are in-person:

• Students whose visa expires in August will be unable to extend their visa due to UKVI rules stating that there must be nor more than 60 days between periods of academic engagment.  LSE will sponsor under the Student visa for January exams but as it is only one week you may only receive an additional seven days at the start of your visa and an additional seven days at the end of your visa.  You may wish to consider returning on a Standard Visitor visa as your eligiblity for the Graduate Route may be affected in both circumstances.
• If you have both January and summer re-takes/deferred assessments, you will be unable to be sponsored for both periods on the same visa.  Again, this is because there are more than 60 days between the January exams and the summer exam period.
• 9/10 month MSc students who have resit/deferred assessments in the January RDAP should note that the visa they will be granted for January 2024 is unlikely to be long enough to remain in the UK and apply for the Graduate Route in mid-March. This is because your official results will be released after the expiry date of your visa.
• You are not required to take any action if the following applies to you:
  • You haven't deferred any assessments to RDAP in January 2023
  • Your results have been confirmed in November and you need to complete a resit to RDAP in January 2023
  • Your student visa is due to expire in January
  • If all of the above points apply to you, your student visa should already cover the RDAP period for your re-takes. However, you are now eligible for a visa sponsorship extension based on your new expected end date (13 January 2023 instead of September 2022). If you would like to extend your visa on this basis, please request a new CAS from here. Please note that the length of your student visa may have an impact on your eligibility to apply for the Graduate Route and you can only be eligible for the Graduate Route visa if your student visa is valid when the final results are officially published. As you might know, the School can only verify your award to UKVI after your final ratified results are released in March 2023. For more information about the Graduate Route application, you can review the Graduate Route info sheet here.
    
    You will still need further studies in place to be able to apply for a Student visa extension.  You cannot extend once your end date has passed.
  • If you have deferred assessments for RDAP in January 2023, LSE will sponsor under the Student visa for the January exams. Please request a new CAS here.
  • If you require individual advice and guidance after reading this information, please contact the Student Advice and Engagement Management Team as outlined here. 

Students with re-takes or deferred assessments in May/June (the main examination period) 

LSE will be able to sponsor you to take your assessments in the UK. You will need to request a CAS and apply for a new Student visa:

LSE:Request a CAS

You should note that if you have had a gap in your studies and your period of sponsorship is less than six months, even though LSE will state your original programme start date on your CAS, you may only be issued with a visa that covers the full length of the re-sit period plus seven days at the start and end of the visa.  

I have a non-study visa or Tier 4/Student visa for another institution.  Can I use this for my re-take/deferred assessments?

This depends on the visa that you hold and your commitments in the UK.  Please contact us for advice using our online query form.

If you have failed any of your assessments and are not able to progress/be awarded your degree, the Student Services Centre will be required to report you to the UKVI.  The report will withdraw sponsorship of your visa and this starts the curtailment process.

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. This will start the curtailment (cancellation) of your visa. You can find out more about curtailment on the UKCISA web pages:

UKCISA: Protecting your Student Status

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. We advise that once the report has been submitted, because you will not know when your visa is curtailed:

• if you are working, you should inform you employer of your change in circumstances so they are able to assess your right to continue working;

• you no longer have the right to access the NHS once your visa is in the process of being curtailed;

• anyone who is dependant on your visa will also lose the conditions of their visa and will need to return home with you;

• your reason for being in the UK (studies) no longer exists - we advise that you should plan to leave the UK within 60 days of receiving the email from the Student Services Centre. This is because some students did not receive the notification from the UKVI and overstayed their new expiry date;

• you should not plan to travel out of the UK and attempt to return on your current visa. Once you leave the UK,  the UKVI advise that you should consider your visa as cancelled.

• If the Student Services Centre have emailed you to say that they have informed the UKVI that we are no longer sponsoring your studies, you no longer have the right to study in the UK.  Even if you are allowed to enter the UK by a Border Force Officer or you have not been informed of your curtailment date by the UKVI, you do not have the right to study so will be unable to attend teaching or take exams on your old visa.  You must contact Student Advice and Engagement for advice in these circumstances and do not expect to be able to undertake studies once you are reported.

The Home Office will contact you either by letter or by email advising you of the new expiry date of your visa.  This is usually 60 days from the date of the letter or email. This information can sometimes be delayed, so we advise it is best to plan to leave the UK as soon as possible, ideally within 60 days of the email confirming you have been reported to the UKVI.

Academic Appeals

If your visa has expired and you are submitting an academic appeal, you are not required to be in the UK for this process. LSE will not continue sponsorship on Tier 4/Student for an academic appeal. Also, depending on which point in your studies you submit your appeal, you may be reported to the Home Office and your visa may be in the process of being curtailed. If you no longer have any studies to complete, we advise against remaining in the UK.

Before withdrawing permanently from your studies, you should seek advice from your department and the Advice Team, by completing this enquiry form, to discuss the options available to you. 

If you do decide to withdraw, the LSE will be required to inform the Home Office within 10 working days that we are no longer sponsoring your Student visa.  This will start the curtailment (cancellation) of your Student visa.This will start the curtailment (cancellation) of your visa. You can find out more about curtailment on the UKCISA web pages:

UKCISA: Protecting your Student Status

You will receive an email from the Student Services Centre confirming a report has been submitted to the Home Office. We advise that once the report has been submitted, because you will not know when your visa is curtailed:

• if you are working, you should inform you employer of your change in circumstances so they are able to assess your right to continue working;

• you no longer have the right to access the NHS once your visa is in the process of being curtailed;

• anyone who is dependant on your visa will also lose the conditions of their visa and will need to return home with you;

• your reason for being in the UK (studies) no longer exists - we advise that you should plan to leave the UK within 60 days of receiving the email from the Student Services Centre. This is because some students did not receive the notification from the UKVI and overstayed their new expiry date;

• you should not plan to travel out of the UK and attempt to return on your current visa. Once you leave the UK,  the UKVI advise that you should consider your visa as cancelled.

• If the Student Services Centre have emailed you to say that they have informed the UKVI that we are no longer sponsoring your studies, you no longer have the right to study in the UK.  Even if you are allowed to enter the UK by a Border Force Officer or you have not been informed of your curtailment date by the UKVI, you do not have the right to study so will be unable to attend teaching or take exams on your old visa.  You must contact Student Advice and Engagement for advice in these circumstances and do not expect to be able to undertake studies once you are reported.

The Home Office will contact you either by letter or by email advising you of the new expiry date of your visa.  This is usually 60 days from the date of the letter or email. This information can sometimes be delayed, so we advise it is best to plan to leave the UK as soon as possible, ideally within 60 days of the email confirming you have been reported to the UKVI.