Points-based rules apply to UK-bound students from March 31

Sunday March 15, 2009

By PAUL GABRIEL

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a new experience for Malaysians applying to study in Britain with the points-based visa system to be enforced from March 31.

Under Tier 4 (student tier) of the system, foreign students will have to pass an online points-based assessment (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk) and need 40 points to qualify for a general student visa.

Thirty points are awarded if a letter of acceptance is issued by a British institution registered with the UK Border Agency, and 10 points if the student shows proof of enough funds to support course fee and living expenses for the first year.

This time, the minimum amount of funds needed is listed (see chart). There was no fixed amount stated in the past.

The new rules state, among others, that an approved student can swap courses at the same institution without contacting the agency but must seek its permission to change institutions. UK Border is a shadow agency of the British Home Office.

A student who is denied a visa can seek an administrative review which must be done within 28 days of the refusal notice.

British Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Moody said the new system was “much simpler, and more straightforward and transparent.”

“Students will be protected as there will be quality assurance, and only go to an approved education provider which will have to get a licence from the UK Border Agency.

“This makes it much safer for them, as there will be no bogus outfit involved,” he said.

“The self-assessment system is much quicker too as there is a very clear checklist of things. All a student has to do is to be honest.

“For example, if you have been refused entry before you must say so, as we will have a record to check against it,” he said in an interview.

Also present was UK Border Agency visa manager Nicola Bowling, who is visiting local educational institutions to brief students on the new points-based system.

Last year, the High Commission issued 8,380 student visas. Despite the gloomy economy, the High Commission expects more Malay-sians students to apply to study in Britain due to the better exchange rate now.

Moody said nine out of 10 Malaysian students who qualified went on to obtain their student visas.

“This year, we will ensure that there is enough staff so that visas can be issued within the normal time range, which is between five and 15 days,” he said.