Studying on a Student visa

A period of intermission, also referred to as a deferral of studies, is likely to have implications for a Student visa. 

Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students 

An undergraduate student or taught postgraduate student who is approved to intermit will normally stop studies for the remainder of the academic year. The University is required to notify UKVI of this change in circumstances and withdraw visa sponsorship. UKVI will subsequently curtail the visa to 60 days. Once a return to study has been approved, the University is able to issue a CAS to support a new visa application from overseas to resume study if further study is required in Cambridge  

The visa implications are the same for undergraduate Engineering students who request to intermit to undertake a placement year approved by the Faculty Board. Further information is outlined on the Department's website.  

Postgraduate research students 

For a period of intermission of up to 60 days*, the University may be able to continue visa sponsorship providing the student can still complete their course within the validity of their existing visa.  

In exceptional circumstances, such as a student's serious illness, injury or maternity/paternity leave, visa sponsorship can be continued during a period of intermission providing the student can still complete their course within their existing visa expiry. The maximum period of continued sponsorship would be four months within the duration of the visa. The University determines if circumstances are considered exceptional as this extended sponsorship during a period of intermission must be justified. 

Any previous intermission will be taken into account when considering whether visa sponsorship can continue within the timeframes outlined above. In addition, sponsorship cannot continue where there have been wider concerns with academic engagement prior to the requested period of intermission. 

*Visa sponsorship cannot be continued for any duration of intermission where you have chosen to undertake activity unrelated to your course, such as, but not limited to, an internship or volunteering opportunity, participating in sporting events or studying a different course. 

If continued sponsorship is not possible during intermission, the University will be required to withdraw visa sponsorship.

If you complete your course earlier than originally stated in your CAS, the University is required to report this to UKVI. Your Student visa is likely to be cancelled, but it should be curtailed to give you the standard post-study period you are entitled to following the end of your course. If your visa has been cancelled and you leave the UK - or you are already outside the UK at the time of curtailment - you cannot re-enter the UK on your Student visa. This would impact on your eligibility for the Graduate visa. If you intend to apply for the Graduate visa, you should submit the application and receive the new visa before travelling overseas. 

If you cease to be a student because your studies at Cambridge are discontinued, the University is required to notify UKVI of this change in circumstances and withdraw visa sponsorship. Examples include:  

• a student who withdraws from their studies  
• a student who is withdrawn by the University
• ​a research postgraduate student who does not submit their thesis for examination by their deadline
• ​a research postgraduate student who will exit with a lower level award 

UKVI will subsequently curtail your visa to 60 days from the date action is taken, within which time you will be required to leave the UK or apply for a new visa. 

Your visa only allows a course change if all of the following apply: 

• The new course is at the same or higher level as the course for which your visa was granted.  
• The new course can be completed within the validity of your current visa.  
• If you have previously studied in the UK, you fulfil the academic progression requirements.  

The University must report permitted course changes to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).  

If the course change does not meet the requirements outlined above and further study is required in Cambridge for the new course, a new visa must be obtained from outside the UK before returning to the UK and continuing study on the new course. There is an exception for undergraduate students applying to extend their visa to progress from a Bachelors to a Masters of an integrated programme.  

If ATAS clearance is required for the new course, this must be obtained either before starting study or for the new visa application, whichever is applicable.  

If you required ATAS clearance for your course, you will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate in the following circumstances:   

• If there are any changes to the course content or research proposal. Changes are those other than minor changes to the areas of research or the use of any new research technique.
• If you change Supervisor. 
• If your course end date is postponed by more than 3 calendar months. 
• If you are changing Department, even if your research is the same. 
• Before starting your PhD if you are on a 1+3 programme.  

Your visa will have been issued on the basis that you are engaging with your studies either on a full-time or part-time basis. It is therefore not possible to switch mode and continue studying on the same visa. UKVI views this as a change of course.  

Students who require Student visa sponsorship will need to consider that the University will only sponsor a part-time Student visa if the reason for studying part-time is owing to a disability and the student will be based for the majority of their study in Cambridge. A part-time Student visa does not permit any work or allow dependant family members to live in the UK.   

Otherwise, part-time students will be based overseas, studying for most of time outside the UK, and only coming to Cambridge for short periods of study at agreed points during the year under the Visitor immigration route.   

Masters students 

A Masters course does not meet the UKVI requirements for 'academic progression' to extend a Student visa in the UK. If you request an extension to your submission deadline, you will not be able to extend your Student visa. 

Masters students who require additional time to complete their studies may no longer be eligible for the Graduate visa if their degree is not formally approved before their current Student visa expiry. 

PhD students 

You may not be able to complete your PhD within the validity of your current visa if: 

• you have had an extension to your submission deadline approved, or 
• you need more time to complete the examination process after submitting your thesis.

In these circumstances, if you are currently in the UK and wish to remain in Cambridge to complete your studies, you should contact the International Student Office around 3 months prior to your current visa expiring.  

If a Student visa extension is appropriate, you will require a new CAS to support the application. The following is taken into consideration:  

• If you need new ATAS clearance, you will normally need the new certificate before the CAS can be issued.
• If you have not yet submitted your thesis for examination and your submission deadline is prior to your current visa expiring, you will need to submit your thesis before the CAS is issued.
• If your viva is scheduled to take place prior to your current visa expiring, or if the outcome will be confirmed before that date, you will need to wait before a CAS can be issued. 
• If concerns have been raised about progress or engagement, the International Student Office will liaise with your Degree Committee and Department for further information before confirming if visa sponsorship is possible.  

It is not necessary to extend your Student visa if the following apply:

• You choose to complete the requirements of your PhD from overseas. You will need to obtain formal permission from the University to be away from Cambridge via the Leave to Work Away process for ‘writing up’ or to undertake corrections. This ensures your record accurately reflects the reason why you did not hold a valid study visa for a given time. 
• You leave the UK and wish to return to undertake your viva. After submission, this is possible using Visitor immigration permission. ATAS clearance would still be required if applicable. 

If you switch into a different immigration category from a Student visa while you are a registered student, you must inform the International Student Office and provide a share code so your record can be updated with your new eVisa. 

You will normally either need to apply for a new Student visa from overseas to resume studies or, if you will be returning to re-take part of your course or re-sit examinations following an examination allowance and the period is less than 6 months, return to the UK under the Visitor route. 

For undergraduate students undertaking a period of study abroad as part of the course or postgraduate students approved to 'work away' (such as for fieldwork or 'writing up'), it is normally possible for the University to continue visa sponsorship, as you will be continuing to engage with your studies during the permitted activity and will be returning to Cambridge to complete your studies.  

Masters courses 

A small number of Masters courses include an internship, or the option of an internship, as an integral part of the course. The University must notify UKVI of the work placement details.  

PhD courses 

The academic year for postgraduate research students is continuous throughout the year without the vacation periods between terms which apply to undergraduates and some taught Masters. 

This means that both the University and Student visa term-time working restrictions apply continuously until submission of thesis for examination, which means internships will have implications for your Student visa. The implications depend on whether or not the internship is integral to your PhD research or mandatory requirement of your funded doctoral training programme. 

Read the full guidance at:

• Working in the UK ('Internships and work placements') - further details about the visa implications of internships
• ‘Internship information for doctoral students’ - information about the University's requirements and processes.