Tier 4 PhD / Doctorate Extension Scheme
From 6th April 2013 students who are due to complete a PhD or other Doctorate will be able to apply for 12 months additional leave. This remains a Tier 4 application (you must obtain a CAS) with the same application form and fee as a standard Tier 4 student visa application.
You must submit your CAS request form at the same time as submitting your final soft-bound thesis for re-assessment by the examiners. See below for further details on this requirement.
Issuance of a CAS is subject to you meeting certain requirements. Please attend one of our Careers Workshops where we will explain all of the criteria that you need to meet.
Prior to obtaining your CAS you must also attend one of the standard Tier 4 Visa Workshops, no more than three months before your intended visa application date, where we will explain the application procedure. Continued sponsorship under the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme is subject to the compulsory submission of your visa application via the University Batch Scheme (or via in-person PEO appointment, by agreement with the Visa Team).
Key features of the Extension Scheme are:
- You must currently hold a Tier 4 (General) visa;
- You are expected to meet normal Tier 4 (General) criteria and the Tier 4 Sponsor must agree to continue sponsorship (i.e. continue monitoring and reporting duties) under Tier 4;
- Your visa application must be made within 60 days of the expected end date of a course leading to the award of a PhD (i.e.: before the award of PhD/Doctorate and before you are given your passlist);
- You can only apply for this visa from within UK;
- There are fewer work restrictions once the PhD is completed in full - you can gain further experience in your chosen field or seek skilled work or develop plans to set up as an entrepreneur;
- Leave will be granted for 12 months, commencing on the expected end date of the course leading to the award of a PhD (or other doctorate level study).
- NB: Further Tier 4 leave will not be granted again after obtaining a Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme visa.
Sponsorship under this category is subjected to the University's Tier 4 Sponsorhip Policy. Failure to accept and/or comply with the relevant terms and conditions during the 12 month sponsorship period may lead to withdrawal of the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme sponsorship.
April 2013 - Update. Newcastle University policy on this scheme is still being finalised. In due course it will be included in the University policy on the Tier 4 sponsorship of International Students. In the meantime, the following is a summary of our intentions.
Students who meet the Home Office requirements, summarised above, will be able to apply for a CAS for the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme along with final softbound thesis submission and prior to hardbound submission. That will normally be:
- After a PhD/Doctorate viva and an examination decision of immediate award. (PhD Examination Regulations H23(a)(i) or equivalent)
- After a PhD/Doctorate viva and an examination decision of 1 month minor corrections. (PhD Examination Regulations H23(a)(ii) or equivalent)
- Along with the revised softbound submission after a PhD/Doctorate viva and an examination decision of 6 months minor revisions (PhD Examination Regulations H23(a)(iii) or equivalent)
- After a resubmission PhD/Doctorate viva / examination decision of immediate award. (PhD Examination Regulations H32(a)(i) or equivalent)
- After a resubmission PhD/Doctorate viva / examination decision of 1 month minor corrections. (PhD Examination Regulations H32(a)(ii) or equivalent)
- the student does not submit their hardbound thesis
- the examiners discover significant issues with the resubmitted work
- the examiners are unable to complete the assessment.
In the above cases a CAS will be issued BUT does require that the passlist is issued within 60 days of the CAS issue. The student and the University are expected to make every effort to ensure that a passlist can be issued within 60 days.
If a CAS has been provided and the passlist cannot be issued within 60 days, the following are examples of when the CAS may be withdrawn:
There will be a £100 fee made payable to the University to cover administration costs associated with the Scheme. This is due to be paid after your CAS request has been approved but prior to the CAS being produced. You will receive an e-mail from the Visa Team with the relevant payment details.
Students/graduates who are issued with a CAS for the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme and who successfully complete their doctorate will be recorded/registered on the University system during their extension year. On a quarterly basis those on the Doctorate Extension Scheme will be contacted by the University and are expected to advise the University of their contact details and current employment or entrepreneurial activities; they are also expected to comply with all reasonable University requests in fulfilling the University's sponsorship duty. If a graduate does not respond to communications or comply with reasonable requests from the University then the University may revoke support for the graduate to remain in the UK under the Doctorate Extension Scheme.
Graduates who intend to establish a business whilst remaining in the UK under the Doctorate Extension Scheme MUST engage with the University's Careers Service on this matter. As soon as possible graduates should visit The Elevator in the Careers Service - Level 1, King’s Gate. Here you should talk to an Entrepreneurial Development Officer (EDO) - you can discuss your plans and they may be able to offer support.
The EDOs are available between 1pm and 4pm on Mondays and Fridays and between 10am and 1pm on Wednesday (excluding public holidays and when the University is closed). You will have a 20 minute meeting with an Entrepreneurial Development Officer.
Useful reminder! All new graduates have ongoing access to Careers Service support and resources for up to three years. You are encouraged to use the Careers Service for support with all aspects of your career, whether you are making decisions, looking for job opportunities or applying for jobs. More information on the support available can be found at www.ncl.ac.UK/careers.
