STY3 The British Council
The British Council
Last updated
23 March 2009
This is internal guidance for use by entry clearance staff on the handling of applications made outside the United Kingdom (UK) for dependants of students and prospective students. It is a live document under constant review and is for information only.
Guidance
Further information
STY3.1 How can the British Council help ECOs and students?
The British Council gives advice to international students, who are thinking of coming to the UK, on their study options and opportunities. They offer a range of resources to ensure the student gets the most out of their education, including information on courses, qualifications, institutions, English requirements, visas and travel.
Entry clearance staff should develop and maintain regular contact with local British Council staff dealing with both scholarship students and self-funded students.
The British Council administers most of HMG's scholarship schemes for Foreign and Commonwealth sponsored students (including Chevening). It also manages many schemes sponsored by the UK private sector. Liaison with the British Council provides an efficient system for processing candidates for entry clearance. The British Council will be able to tell Posts what criteria have already been fulfilled at the scholarship approval stage (for example, ability to follow the course of study should already have been demonstrated).
The British Council website [link to www.britishcouncil.org] has a great deal of information and advice relevant to international students and their aims and needs, and can give entry clearance staff a better idea of what to expect with student applications including:
• “First steps” – A guide to entry clearance for international students coming to study in the UK 2006 – 07. (link to www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-immigration.htm)
• Information on UK qualifications -International students for the UK - Guidance note for entry clearance officers. (link to www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-immigration.htm) Further information can be found at www.educationuk.org.
• A list of institutions accredited by the British Council (link to www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm)
• List of local British Council offices ( link to http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-contact-us-countries.htm)
See Also