BNU.AC.UK International Pre-arrival Guide – Part 1 Before you travel to the UK
A warm welcome
Thank you for choosing to study at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU).
What happens next?
You have your offer to study with us so please read the checklist below to help you prepare to move to the UK.
1. If your offer letter had any conditions, you need to submit your documents on to CAS Shield.
2. Prepare for your admissions interview and your sponsorship checks and / or financial checks.
3. Make your deposit payment as instructed in your unconditional offer letter.
4. When our checks are complete, you will receive your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS).
5. You will then need to apply for your Student Route visa. It is important that you make sure to let us know of your visa interview date on CAS Shield.
6. Find accommodation ensuring you live within a 30km radius of your campus.
7. Book your flights and confirm your travel/arrival details once your visa is confirmed.
CAS Shield is a web-based platform allowing you to upload all your important documents and submit all relevant personal information, visa status and travel plans. When you apply to study with us, you will receive an email to set up your log in details.
Important Once you have your accommodation option confirmed and flights booked, please inform us of these details using CAS Shield. Ensuring you provide visa status and arrival information helps us to make your transition to the UK is as smooth as possible!
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Meet our Compliance Team
Say hello to our Compliance Team!
They can help with your CAS and visa.
Contact them for:
- Requesting your CAS letter once you’ve met the conditions of your offer
- Collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
- Reporting changes of circumstance
- Advice on Student Route visa and immigration issues
TOP TIPS
1. 2. 3.
Be prepared for your move and your responsibilities as an international student. Visit the UKCISA website ukcisa.org.uk and click on the ‘Information and advice’ tab for useful information.
Check your email so you do not miss our emails.
Make sure all details on your application for your student visa are correct. Contacts us with any queries.
CAS Letter
When you receive your CAS letter, make sure all your information is correct. You can then submit your visa application.
The earliest you can apply for your visa is three months before the start date of your course stated on your CAS.
Before you apply read the student visa policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pointsbased-system-student-route
The visa application form and how to apply is available at: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
It is your responsibility to complete the application correctly and submit the correct fee and supporting documents. You must provide original documents with your visa application. If your visa application is refused, it is unlikely the University will allocate another CAS.
Tuberculosis Screening (TB)
Students from some countries applying to come to the UK for more than 6 months must provide a Tuberculosis screening certificate. If you are from one of these countries listed, you must provide your original TB certificate with your visa application.
https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
Marshall Nyajeka Compliance Officer
Daphne Tadyanehondo Compliance Manager
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Preeti Gopaul Compliance Manager
Visa refusals and things to avoid
If your visa is refused you may not have enough time to make a new application before your course starts. Please contact us before application with any questions.
The main reasons for refusals:
- Insufficient funds held (tuition fees plus maintenance)
- Funds not held for 28 days
- Academic documents listed on CAS not provided (check with us if you are unsure what documents you need)
- Company accounts used instead of personal accounts (only personal accounts can be used; this does not include credit)
If your visa is refused, please contact us with a copy of your Refusal Notice. You may be asked to provide evidence to show that you now meet the visa requirements before a new CAS will be issued.
Collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
Important: When you arrive in the UK you normally have 10 days maximum to collect your BRP (visa) from our University or from the Post Office. We recommend that you choose Buckinghamshire New University as your ‘alternative collection location’. It will be much easier and quicker to collect from BNU.
Put the alternative location code for the campus you will be studying at on your online visa application. The code is: 3HE362
There may be delays if you choose to collect your BRP from the Post Office, but if you choose to do so, it is mandatory that you come to BNU campus and show your BRP to the Compliance Team. If you fail to do this, it could result in your sponsorship being withdrawn.
Important
- You must only travel to the UK on or after the ‘valid from’ date on your visa.
- Your student entry clearance (visa) is tied to Buckinghamshire New University
- If you change your mind upon arrival in the UK you will lose your Buckinghamshire New University tuition fee deposit and you will have to return home and apply for a new visa from the UK Immigration Authorities.
Paying your tuition fees
- Methods of Payment
- BNU accepts a variety of fee payment options.
Debit or Credit card payment
Our ePayments system enables you to pay the University for tuition fees, student accommodation and all other fees and charges. We accept all major debit and credit cards excluding American Express.
Bank Transfers
If you are arranging a bank transfer to our bank account for your tuition fee:
- Please quote your Student ID and if there’s room add ‘tuition’
- Email a copy of your receipt to income@bnu.ac.uk & compliance-admin@bnu.ac.uk
- Allow up to seven working days for International payments to clear
TransferMate
TransferMate, in partnership with Barclays, is a new payment option with benefits for international students that can make it easier and cheaper for international students to pay for their fees. You can find more information about this method of payment on our webpage
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Accommodation Tuition fee fraud
Students, especially international students, are particularly vulnerable of falling victim to fraud when paying their university fees. Online and telephone financial fraud is on the rise and often, fraudsters will offer significant discounts, incentives, or attractive exchange rates to encourage students to use these methods of payments. Please remember that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Be very alert when paying fees to the University and always use the payment channels suggested in this guide.
DO NOT use third parties or individuals offering payment discounts to make their payments to the University. Using a third party gives no guarantee of payments being correctly received by the University and students can suffer losses as a result of the transfer. Contact the University for advice if you are unsure.
What can you do to avoid tuition fee fraud?
- Be aware of approaches made on WeChat, Facebook, Instagram, or any other method
- Only pay tuition fees directly to the University and not through third parties
- Don’t share personal information or login details
- Don’t be pressured into making payments because of an ‘offer expiring’. Criminals will try to rush or panic you – be aware!
- Don’t pay any type of tuition fee in cash to individuals or contacts through WeChat
At BNU, we have a range of accommodation options for you to make settling in easy!
All our accommodation is walking distance to the University, shops, supermarkets and the town centre, making it easy and cheap to get around.
As a full-time, first year international student, we guarantee you a place in one of our High Wycombe halls for September intake. You can apply for university accommodation from April.
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What we offer
How to apply?
We will contact you from April once you have accepted your unconditional offer. Make sure we have your correct email address to make sure you don’t miss out!
Simply follow the link we send you and follow the instructions to complete your application. It might take a couple of weeks to get your accommodation offer due to the number of applications we receive.
Important contacts
Accommodation accommodation@bnu.ac.uk
Admissions admissions@bnu.ac.uk Compliance compliance-admin@bnu.ac.uk
Income income@bnu.ac.uk
International Office international@bnu.ac.uk
No deposits charged Rent includes bills, wifi and contents insurance 24 hour security and on-site pastoral care
Accommodation guaranteed for all first-year students * south-east ** Apply from April
* September intake ** Pricing correct at time of print; based on BNU research October 2023, visit bnu.ac.uk/accommodation for the latest information.
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