Dear overseas partners,
Welcome to the September 2020 issue of the University of Bath Agents' Newsletter.
We hope you are all safe and well.
As we begin the new academic year, this edition of the newsletter is vitally important to make sure you are updated with all the latest news from the University of Bath
There are a number of important updates detailed below, including new applications opening for 2021, and the latest updates on admissions, visas and immigration. You can also download our new 2021 Master's Prospectus.
Please look at the table of contents below to make sure you don't miss an important update.
As always please share this information among your teams and with all those involved in counselling prospective students.
If you have any questions or require further information, please email j.m.vittles@bath.ac.uk.
The 'New Normal' for 2020/21^
We are thrilled to be welcoming new and returning students back on to campus this month. Given the current circumstances, we have made some changes to the way we operate on campus to make sure it's safe for all.
To help students adapt to the 'new normal' we have produced a number of videos to explain our new approach. Please see below.
CAS and Registration process for 2020 entry^
The Student Immigration Service is still processing a high number of CASs. All unconditional offer holders will automatically receive a link to pre-CAS check questionnaire, therefore, there is no need to request a CAS. Once a satisfactory response to the pre-CAS check has been received, we aim to issue CAS within 15 working days.
In response to Covid19, applicants starting their course in 2020/21 academic year will be permitted to register at the University of Bath once their CAS has been assigned. In order to remain fully registered, students will be required to provide either a copy of their 90-day travel vignette/BRP or visa check list once it is available.
Students who are planning to arrive in the UK for the start of semester 2, will be allowed to commence their course by distance learning from their home country, however, they must email SIS at studentimmigrationservice@bath.ac.uk to confirm their intentions. If their CAS has already been assigned they must ensure that they apply for a Tier 4 visa before their CAS expires (CAS is valid for 6 months from the date of issue). Students, who require an ATAS clearance, must apply for a visa before their ATAS expiry date, or will need to obtain a new ATAS if they are planning to submit their visa application after the ATAS expiry date.
Students who have chosen to collect their BRP from the University will need to book an appointment to collect their BRP in person. The Student Immigration Service will contact them by email once their BRP card has arrived and give them instructions on how to book a BRP collection appointment.
After booking the appointment, the student will receive an appointment confirmation email. Due to social distancing measures, we will not be able to distribute BRPs without prior booking an appointment slot.
Students who need to quarantine after arriving in the UK, will be able to book an appointment slot after their period of quarantine ends. Students are not required to collect their BRP within 10 days of arriving in the UK, they can collect it at a later date. Further information on Document Checking and BRP collection can be found on our website.
Admissions for 2021 entry^
Master's courses^
We are delighted to announce that we are now open for applications for Postgraduate Study for those who wish to start studying in September 2021.
To apply for 2021 Master's courses, please click here.
If you have any questions relating to entry in 2021, please email us here.
2021 Master's Prospectus
Now applications are open, we are also pleased to present our new 2021 Master's Prospectus.
You can download your copy here.
Undergraduate Courses^
We are all facing very challenging times but please be reassured, that here at Bath we are aiming to provide the very best education to our students and provide them with the best student experience whilst adapting our approach to ensure the health and well-being of our students and staff are prioritised. We hope that as agents, you will continue to introduce Bath to your students and offer all the many options of courses that we teach within our portfolio.
Please do explore the many courses we have available in our online prospectus, the link is: https://www.bath.ac.uk/topics/undergraduate-study-2021/
We would request that admissions continues as normal and encourage applications to be made by the 15th January to avoid disappointment.
Should a student be studying a qualification that is currently not published in our online prospectus, (we have a list of 36 countries in the drop down menu under ‘Entry requirements’ that we hope will be useful for you) please do email for information regarding our typical entry requirements, here.
***We would like to take this opportunity to advise you of the following decision, we will not be in a position to consider Year 2 entry for any of our courses for the 2021 cycle. Therefore, should a student be considering transferring to Bath, we will only be able to offer Year 1 entry. We appreciate this may be disappointing but we must ensure we manage the number of students appropriately in order to apply COVID 19 Government restrictions. Thank you for your understanding.**
English requirements - some good news for your students, we have recently reviewed our IELTS requirements and have amended some of our category levels. Category A will now be 7.0 overall with 6.5 in all four components. The online prospectus has been updated and the information of the level required can be found on each course page under ‘entry requirements.’
All of the UG Admissions Team are working remotely at home, however contact can be made either via email or telephone as our systems are now able to reroute phone calls to our main number +44 1225 383019
We do hope this information has helped to provide you with a quick overview of UG Admissions, we would encourage you to explore our full website for many interesting facts regarding our beautiful university and city, and all it has to offer your students.
International Foundation Year (IFY)^
Remote learning
- The International Foundation Year (IFY) is open for business and ready to do what it does best! The teachers on the IFY have been preparing since the early summer to roll out a programme of blended learning, involving streamed lessons, face-to-face time, and designated individual and group work. In the difficult circumstances of the last academic year teaching and assessment continued online and over 80% of IFY students successfully progressed to their target honours degree at Bath.
Admissions update
- We are pleased to say that, despite the challenging circumstances, recruitment into the International Foundation Year has increased this year. The programme is now more diverse than ever, with representatives from over 20 countries in this year alone. In these uncertain times, excellent candidates from around the world have been attracted to the IFY and the opportunity for guaranteed progression to the University of Bath. We are now welcoming applications for September 2021 entry - please visit the University course information page here for more information, or email here.
Scholarships latest
- We are pleased to announce that our IFY Progressing Students Scholarships scheme has been extended. The top 15 performing students on the 2020/21 IFY will receive awards worth £2,000 each, credited against their first year undergraduate fees when they progress to Bath.
Course Spotlight^
New - MSc Mathematics with Data Science for Industry^
Webinar - Wednesday, 14 October 2020 - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM BST
Join course lecturers to learn more about our new MSc Mathematics with Data Science for Industry. Designed in collaboration with industry, this course will allow you to reach your full potential as an industry-oriented mathematician capable of applying data science to tackle complex problems. The webinar will consist of a presentation, followed by a Q&A session where you will be able to ask any questions you have about the course, entry requirements or living and studying in Bath.
You can sign up for the webinar here.
You can read more about the new course here and visit the course page here.
Pre-sessional update^
Our first fully online Pre-sessional course ended on 11 September. Our innovative 2020 programme combined a two-hour daily live online language class with a daily minimum of two hours supported independent learning. Our course designers created specific materials to develop the linguistic, academic and digital skills required by postgraduate students.
Students’ attendance was close to a record 100% and their level of commitment, participation and progress was excellent. Even though we couldn't welcome students to the beautiful city of Bath this summer, we included a 'Big Bath Project' to introduce them to their future home.
Each student will receive an exit tutorial to help them make the most of the Skills Centre’s year-round programme of free language and study skills classes. This includes the option to take external exams in English such as the globally recognised Cambridge examinations.
Some of the students who completed the first part of our online 20-week Pre-sessional English course from April to June 2020 have shared their positive experiences of the course:
- Yuxiang Liu from China - MSc in Modern Building Design
- Li Nan from China - MSc in Business Analytics
- Toshiaki Masumoto from Japan - MA in International Education and Globalisation
If you would like to provide feedback or make an enquiry for 2021, please contact us at english@bath.ac.uk.
Bath ranked 6th in the UK^
The University of Bath has been ranked 6th nationally in the Guardian University Guide 2021, published on 5 Sept 2020.
The top 10 ranking is the same position as in 2019 and 2020 and makes Bath the highest ranking university in the south west once again, with 13 subjects in the top 10 rankings.
To see the full list of top 10 subjects, and to read more, click here.
Visa information for 2021^
The Student Immigration Service at Bath is available to support our international student communities from application through to graduation. The team is available by email and our webpages are updated on a regular basis.
Details of new Student immigration route published^
The UK Government is introducing a new Student route as part of the new Points-Based Immigration System.
This new Student route is to replace the current Tier 4 route. On 10 September 2020, the Government released details of the requirements that applicants must meet in order to apply under these new rules. For EEA nationals, the new Student route will take effect for applications made in the UK on or after 1 January 2021. EEA nationals outside the UK can apply under this new route from 5 October 2020, for entry to the UK from 1 January 2021. For all other nationals, this new route is to take effect from 9.00 am on 5 October 2020.
What’s new?
- Definition of a ‘partner’
The definition of a ‘partner’ has been expanded for those permitted to bring dependent partners to the UK. A ‘partner’ now includes a fiancé, or proposed civil partner, which is a new development.
- Maintenance
If a student, their dependent partner, or dependent child have been living in the UK for 12 months or more at the time of submitting a new visa application in the UK, they will satisfy the financial requirements. This means that students will not need to submit any financial evidence with their application.
Students applying under the new route from either inside or outside the UK as Student Union Sabbatical Officers or as a doctor or dentist in training on a recognised foundation programme, will also be exempt from meeting the financial requirements.
- ATAS
Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA, join nationals from the UK, EU, EEA and Switzerland who are exempt from obtaining ATAS clearance for postgraduate study in relevant subjects.
- Application window
Students applying under the new Student route from outside the UK, now have up to 6 months to do so prior to the start of their course rather than 3 months.
- Time limits
Time limits for those studying at postgraduate level have been removed.
- Low risk applicants
Nationals from the EU, EEA and Switzerland have been added to the list of ‘low risk’ nationals. Students from these countries are not required to submit evidence to show that they meet the financial requirements or provide their academic qualifications used to obtain an offer of study. The Home Office however retain the right to request sight of these documents.
- English language
New ways of satisfying the English language requirement have been introduced. This can now be satisfied if:
- This requirement was met successfully in a previous application made either outside or inside the UK.
- Student has obtained either a GCSE, A Level or Scottish equivalent in English language or literature following education at a UK school whilst below the age of 18.
- Students who are nationals of Malta will be classed as being from a majority English speaking country. Such students can rely on their nationality, and students of other nationalities can submit academic qualifications taught at an institution in Malta.
Graduate Visa Route^
We are delighted to announce that UKVI have confirmed that students who commence a new course by distance learning or blended learning due to Covid-19, will be eligible to switch into the Graduate route on a concessionary basis.
Students are likely to benefit from this concession if they enter the UK before 6 April 2021 and complete the final semester of their studies in the UK. Such students will still need to have extant leave as a Tier 4 student when the new route launches in 2021 and meet other eligibility criteria.
Further information on the Graduate route is available on our website.
Beautiful Bath^
Summer may be drawing to a close here in the UK, but Bath is look as wonderful as ever
Respond