Agent Handbook – working as a

partner of the College.

About Uxbridge College London

Uxbridge College has been established since 1965, and is one of the top colleges in

London. It provides international students with a great range of Pre-University and Pathway

to Degree courses, and equips students with the skills needed to prepare for further study at

university, or to go out into the workplace.

The College cares about its students’ success and offers the right teaching and support

needed to help them achieve their qualification. Uxbridge College has some of the highest

student success rates in London - it doesn’t just offer fantastic classroom support, it also

helps students acquire the right skills to make the next move.

Student safety and welfare is important at Uxbridge College, and the College is dedicated to

creating an environment where all individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full

potential, and gain a feeling of self esteem for and from all others.

Location

Uxbridge College is based on two modern campuses at the heart of West London’s

multicultural community - Uxbridge and Hayes – both of which are based in Outer London.

The campuses are a 20 minute drive from one of the UK’s major international airports –

Heathrow, and are easily accessible via several other major transport routes. The excellent

public transport links also make it easy to be in central London in under an hour, so students

can enjoy the great range of attractions and activities that London has to offer.

Top 10 reasons for choosing

Uxbridge College London

1) A Successful College

Uxbridge College is one of the most

successful further education colleges in

the UK. Our success rates are among the

highest in London, and in 2008 Ofsted

judged Uxbridge College to be

‘outstanding’. We also continue to

maintain our Highly Trusted Sponsor

status on the UKBA Register of Tier 4

Sponsors.

2) Expert Staff

Our staff are highly qualified, with industry

experience, so students can learn the

skills employers demand from industry

experts. They can share their knowledge

about the area or industry they have

worked in and give practical tips and

advice so that students can make the

most of their study.

3) A Safe and Welcoming College

We take every step to ensure a student’s

safety, health and wellbeing. We

welcome students whatever their

background and previous experience.

4) Getting Results

You need qualifications that get you

places. Whether students want to go onto

further study at the College or at

university, or go straight into work, we’ll

help them get there!

5) Two Well-Located Campuses

The College is based on two campuses –

Uxbridge and Hayes. Both are only 20

minutes from Heathrow Airport, making it

an ideal place for international students to

study. The campuses are near to town

centres and have excellent transport links.

6) Fantastic Facilities

Over the last few years more than £55m

has been invested to ensure to ensure the

campuses at Uxbridge and Hayes provide

top quality teaching spaces, social areas

and sports facilities.

7) Curriculum Support

Uxbridge College provides a range of Pre-

University & Pathway to Degree courses

that can help students gain entry into

university. If a student is seeking a career

in the medical, engineering, business or

computing professions, we can provide

courses that suit their needs and

aspirations.

8) A University Education in London

Our Pathway to Degree Programmes are

a flexible way to study university level

courses at an affordable price. In

2012/2013, 93% of our international

students progressed directly into the third

year of a degree course on completion of

one of these courses.

9) Supporting Your Success

With UCAN – the Uxbridge College Advice

Network – help is on hand whenever you

need it. Our dedicated staff offers support

to help students through their studies and

personal issues.

10) Get Involved

Students want more than just great

facilities and top quality teaching – they

want to make the most out of student life

and have some fun too. All of our

international students are invited to take

part in our volunteering scheme, relax in

social areas and get involved in a wide

range of activities.

Points of Pride

Highly Trusted Status

Uxbridge College continues to maintain its

Highly Trusted Status on the UK Border

Agency’s Tier 4 Register of Sponsors for a

fourth consecutive year – making it one of

the best colleges in London for

international students to study at.

Ofsted Outstanding

Following the one-week visit in May 2008,

inspectors from the government's

education inspection body Ofsted gave

the college the highest possible accolade

for its standards, and judged Uxbridge

College to be ‘Outstanding’ - the highest

possible result that they can give.

National Kitemark for Science and

Engineering

Uxbridge College has been recognised for

excellence in Science, Technology,

Engineering and Maths (STEM) with a

national kitemark. The prestigious STEM

Assured Status is awarded to those who

can demonstrate that they provide high

quality and employer-led training in the

subjects.

Beacon Status

Uxbridge College has been awarded

‘Beacon Status’ for providing outstanding

education and training. This accolade is

given to colleges, sixth-forms and private

training firms which have proved they are

run to the highest standard and offer

excellent education and work-related

training.

Matrix Standard

Uxbridge College has achieved the Matrix

quality of service kite mark which is the

UK’s national quality standard for

organisations that deliver information,

advice and guidance on learning and

work.

Facilities

Uxbridge and Hayes Campus both feature

spacious, comfortable classrooms

equipped with interactive whiteboards and

relaxing social spaces. All facilities are

industry standard, and include specialist

studios, laboratories and workshops,

which provide students with a realistic

working environment.

The facilities include:

£5m IT & Media block

A high-spec three storey teaching block

on the Uxbridge Campus, which houses

all the latest in specialist IT and media

facilities, such as:

Computer suites

Soundproofed audio and film

studios

Media control rooms

Green screen studios for CGI and

3D filming

Graphic art studios

Mac labs

High-speed computers for games

developments

CISCO training suite

The Technical Institute

The Technical Institute is expertly

equipped for anyone wanting to boost

their university and employment

prospects, and complete formal

qualifications in a range of Engineering

disciplines.

£6m Sports and Leisure Development

Uxbridge Campus’ Sport England

standard facilities include a state-of-the-art

sports hall for 5-a-side football, cricket,

badminton, basketball, netball and

volleyball, plus a fitness suits, and two

outdoor multi-use games areas.

Learning Resource Centres

Based at each campus, the Learning

Resource Centres (LRCs) offer full library

facilities including books, e-books, DVDs,

newspapers, journals and audio visual

resources, and IT

suites providing access to computers to

help with studies.

Faculties & Courses

Uxbridge College London

Business

BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Business

Access to Higher Education in Business

International Foundation Diploma

BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business

Computing

Access to Higher Education Diploma in Computing

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas in:

IT

-Games Development

-Forensic IT

BTEC Level 5 HND Diplomas in:

-Computing & Systems Development

-Games Development

Creative Studies

BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:

-Art & Design

-Graphic Design

-Fashion

-Perfroming Arts

-Production Arts

-Dance

-Creative Media Production

-Music Production

-Music Technology

Early Years, Health &

Social Care

BTEC L3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care English

Language Teaching

English and Essential Skills (various levels)

Engineering

BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

-Mechnical Engineering

BTEC Level 5 HND Diplomas in:

-Electrical & Electronic Engineering

-Mechanical Engineering

Sport, Travel & Public

Services

BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas in:

-Sport

-Travel & Tourism

BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Travel & Tourism Management

The Academy

A-Levels

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Forensic Science

Accommodation

It is essential that students have arranged

accommodation in the UK before starting

their course at the College. Uxbridge

College does not provide accommodation

to its students, and we cannot recommend

a “best” place to stay; however, we can

provide information on local letting

agencies. This information can also be

found in the International Student

Handbook that is provided to students via

the website.

Alternatively, if the student and his/her

parents would prefer that the student did

not live on their own – this is especially

common with younger students – we

would invite the student to contact

Britannia Student Services. Britannia is a

leading accommodation agency in

London, and can help students find a

suitable host family. This can also benefit

the student in terms of learning more

about the British culture and practicing

English language skills in a safe family

environment.

Airport Pick-Up

Uxbridge College offers a free “Meet and

Greet” service for new international

students arriving in London. Students can

be picked up from any London airport and

taken to where they will be staying within

Greater London and the surrounding

area.

In order to book this service, the student

or the agency will need to e-mail the

International Office at

international@uxbridgecollege.ac.uk and

provide the following information:

First Name

Family Name

E-mail Address

Flight Number

Arrival time in the UK and terminal

number

Address of where the student will

be staying in the UK

Progression

As one of the top college’s in London,

Uxbridge College provides its international

students with the opportunity to go onto

great things; be that studying on one of

the Pathway to Degree programmes at

university, studying at a university, or

going into the world of work.

In the 2012/2013 academic session, 93%

of our international students progressed

on to an undergraduate degree

programme at a prestigious UK university.

The universities that our students gained

admission to include: University of

Southampton, University of Manchester,

Bucks New University, the University of

Greenwich, the University of West

London, and the University of Westminster

– the College also has partnerships with a

number of these that will benefit any

international student hoping to gain an

honours degree.

Admissions Process

1 •Student makes an enquiry about studying in the UK

2

•The Agency advises the student of course options, and it is decided that Uxbridge College offers a suitable course for the student, based on interest, motive and qualifications

3 •The Agency sends Uxbridge College International Office a complete application pack

4 •Uxbridge College London assesses the application and responds with a conditional offer letter/request for further information/rejection

5

•Conditional Offer Letter - The Agency gives this to the student along with the Terms and Conditions. The agency should ensure that the student reads the T's&C's and sends e-mail confirmation that the students accepts these.

•Request for further information - the Agency should ensure that any further infomation required is provided , so that a decision can be made on the application

•Rejection - no further action to be taken

6

•If the student wishes to formally accept the offer, the agency must ensure that all conditions are met and that the student has paid the deposit - this can be sent by the Agency to the College, or the student can make a direct bank transfer

7 •The College issue the CAS

8

•The student can then make his/her visa application. The Agency is expected to provide help with the application form, and ensure that the bank statement detailing maintenance is correct and in the correct format. The College provides any additional help required

9

•Visa approved - the Agency should send the College a copy of the visa, and the expected travel date of the student

•Visa refused - the Agency should provide a copy of the visa refusal paperwork to the College

10 •Student arrives in the UK at the College and enrols

The College Application Process – Explained

The Initial Enquiry

For students making an initial enquiry

about studying in the UK, and studying at

Uxbridge College, it would be ideal for

them to have a look at the course

information on our website and in our

prospectus so that they are aware of the

course options.

All course information can be

found at

www.uxbridgecollege.ac.uk

Students who will be applying for

study on a Tier 4 General Student

Visa must choose a course that

fulfils the following criteria:

o The course is from our full-

time prospectus

o The course is at NQF Level

3 (the level is marked

clearly in the guide)

The applicant must be 16 on the

1st September, in the year in which

they enrol as a student

Students under the age of 18 must

be able to provide written consent

from their parent/guardian that

they are allowed to study in the UK

Usually, Uxbridge College will encourage

all initial communications to be between

the applicant and the agency; however, if

the applicant wishes to contact the

College please put them in touch with the

International Office. We also request that

if the agency is uncertain of any of the

College information, that they should

contact the International Office directly for

advice.

Advising a student of course options,

and ensuring they submit a successful

application

Once the applicant has chosen a subject

that interests him/her, he/she will need to

be advised as to the level of study that

would be most appropriate. This will

depend on the following:

Their academic background i.e.

the qualifications they have

already gained from their home

country

The student’s level of English

Language

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Details of the entry requirements for each

individual course can be found on the

College website or in the full-time

prospectus. The International Office can

also provide country-specific guidance for

those areas you represent – this states

clearly which qualifications will be

accepted for each individual course. As

agents of the College, you should also

ensure that the certificates are from

recognised exam boards in your country –

some areas may need official verification

to be sent with the certificates. If the

applicant does not have an adequate level

of qualification for the course they’ve

applied for, they may be offered a lower

level course.

*Please note that any qualifications certificates

submitted will be compared to UK qualifications

using UK NARIC

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Uxbridge College requires all of its

students to have a good level of English

for courses at Level 3 and above. Most of

the applicants for our courses will be

nationals of a country whose first

language is not English, according to the

UKBA, and so will need to show evidence

of their language ability.

If a student does not have the sufficient

level of English for their chosen course,

Uxbridge College is able to provide

English Language programmes at various

levels to ensure that the student can

progress onto a Level 3 course in the

following academic session. These

courses are accredited by the British

Council and range from Entry 1 up to

Level 1. The College is also a recognised

Cambridge test centre, so students can

take this exam while they are with us.

As well as our own requirement for

English Language, the student will also

need to provide evidence of a UKBA

recognised Secure English Language Test

for the purpose of their visa application.

The College preferred test is IELTS;

however, we will also accept PTE

Academic, TOEIC and TOEFL – all of

these test the applicant’s ability in four

modules, these being reading, writing,

speaking and listening.

The Application

Applications from international students

can be submitted via the Uxbridge College

website, or directly to the International

Office. Applicants will then be asked to

submit supporting documents, and the

complete application is then assessed by

the International Office. If the student is

submitting an application through you as

the agency, we request that complete

application packs are sent directly to the

International Office via e-mail or post.

The application packs should include:

-Application Form

-Copies of all qualification certificates and transcripts

Proof of a UKBA Secure English Language Test (IELTS is our preferred test)

CV/Reference

A completed Applicant Intention form

A copy of the passport photograph page

It is essential that the majority of

documents are submitted, as this enables

us to make an offer quickly. This is

especially important if the applicant has

submitted a number of applications to

different institutions, as a quick response

time will help to ensure that the student

comes to us.

The Conditional Offer Once the application pack has been received by the International Office, the qualifications will be assessed and verified, and one of three things may happen: 1) A Conditional Offer letter will be

issued

If the application pack is complete, the offer letter is usually conditional on a Skype interview with the International Officer and a member of the curriculum team to ascertain intent and academic ability

In the event that the student is waiting for results of either an academic examination or a Secure English Language Test then this will be an additional condition; however, the Skype interview can still take place

2) Request for further information If there is more than one document missing then a request for the missing documents will be made before any action

is taken. Also, if there are any discrepancies in the application that need queried with external agencies such as Naric, the application will remain undecided until this has been rectified 3) Rejection

If the student is not appropriate for the chosen course and no alternative can be given then the College reserve the right to reject the application. A rejection may also occur following the mandatory Skype interview. If an offer letter is issued, this will be e-mailed directly to the agent. It is very important that the offer letter, accompanied by the Terms and Conditions for international students, is sent to the student. An e-mail from the student acknowledging that they have read the Terms and Conditions is required by the International Office at the College. The offer letter confirms the course that the student has been made an offer for, the following conditions that the student must fulfil in order to confirm his/her place, the next steps to take to receive the CAS, and also the UKBA requirement for maintenance that must be shown in order to fulfil the UKBA requirement for their visa application.

The CAS The Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) will be issued to the student once they have paid the deposit of fees to the College (details of the fees can be found on the website and in the offer letter). The fees can be paid directly from the student’s own bank account to the College account via bank transfer, in-person y a relative (cash, credit/debit card, or cheque) or you can collect the bank draft on our behalf and courier it to the College. All transfers and bank drafts must have an accompanying reference stating the student’s name – this enables the College to issue the CAS more quickly.

All cheques and bank drafts should be made payable to ‘Uxbridge College’ and please note that the CAS may not be issued until the funds have cleared. Bank transfers should be made in Pounds Sterling using the account details on the Offer letter. Please note that the College is not liable for any bank charges incurred through bank transfer – these will be deducted from the tuition fee deposit.

As a partner agency of the College, you should ensure that the student has made a firm decision to study at the College before the CAS is issued. If the student is holding a CAS for another College as well, he/she will need to decide which institution they want to study at before a CAS is issued from Uxbridge College. The CAS will be sent via e-mail to you, and a copy of this should be sent to the student as well. This can then be used to accompany the visa application.

Pre-Arrival Advice for students Once the student has gained their visa, they may still have some questions about life in the UK. We advise that they consult the International Student Handbook, which is available on the College’s website.

Enrolling at the College If the student’s visa is approved, the College request that you inform them as soon as the student has made plans to travel so that we know to expect them. If the student is not able to travel and complete enrolment for any reason, we need to be kept informed. Once a student has arrived in the UK, they will meet with the International Officer and complete enrolment. Students will need to bring their passport, original qualification certificates and payment for the charges applicable for course materials and exams – this could be anything from £50 - £300.

The Visa Application Process – Explained

Under the PBS immigration rules for Tier 4, students making an application for a Tier 4 General student Visa are required to gain 40 points.

Number of Points Documents required

30 Valid CAS reference number + qualification certificates as detailed on the CAS (Students aged 16 – 18 will also have to show letters of consent from parents/guardians)

10 Proof of maintenance – usually this will be a bank statement dated no more that 31 days before the date of application. As the agent you should ensure that this is from a UKBA recognised bank – details of these can be found on the UKBA website.

The amount of money needed for an initial Tier 4 application can be seen on the offer letter – students will have paid their first year tuition fee to the College, so should just need to show the living costs. As Uxbridge College is an “Outer London” College, the student will need to show £800/month for 9 calendar months = £7200 in total. Please note that the UKBA rules change regularly, so we advise checking with the UKBA and the International Office before submitting any bank statements to the UKBA.

The Visa Once the student has submitted their application, they will receive one of two outcomes:

1) Visa Approved

This will give the student the right to enter the UK and study. Once they have received their visa, it is essential to ensure that all the details on this visa are correct. Depending on where the student has applied from will depend on the conditions of stay detailed on the visa. Most students should be permitted to work for 10 hours a week during term-time and full-time during holiday periods. If the student has a requirement to register with the police written onto their visa, it is essential that the student is alerted to this before they enter the UK as they only have 7 – 10 working days to do this.

2) Visa Refused

The student will receive refusal paperwork detailing the reasons for refusal. It is the Agency’s responsibility to ensure that the College receive a copy of this as soon as the outcome is known. Depending on the reason for refusal, the student may submit a fresh application or submit an application for an administrative review; however, please note that the options given to a student who has received a refusal are at the disgression of the College.

Visa Extensions If the student has gained a Tier 4 General Student Visa for study in the UK, they will be permitted to extend this while in the UK. This can be done by completing the correct application form online via the UKBA website.

Working as an Agent of Uxbridge College London

Uxbridge College requires all of its partner

agents to sign an Agency Agreement.

This agreement is usually issued for six to

twelve months, and clearly states the

Terms and Conditions of working as a

partner agent of Uxbridge College.

If you wish to apply to become an affiliated

agent of the College, it is advisable that

you fill out the Agent Questionnaire and

send it back to

international@uxbridgecollege.ac.uk so

that your application can be considered.

Key Information

The following are some of the Terms and

Conditions that will apply to you once you

sign the Agent Agreement:

Status of the Agency

The Agency shall promptly comply

with all reasonable requests or

directions of Uxbridge College

The College has the right to accept

students referred to us by other

organisations in your country

Information and Publicity

The Agency shall pay utmost regards

to the standing and reputation of

Uxbridge College, and shall not do or

fail to do anything, which may bring

the standing or the reputation of the

College or attract adverse publicity to

Uxbridge College

The Agency will comply with the Brand

Guidelines issued by Uxbridge College

The Agency will not use, copy or

reproduce in any way the

branding/logo belonging to Uxbridge

College without prior written consent

Payment

The Agency will forward all payments

with regards to studying at Uxbridge

College as soon as possible, upon

receipt from the prospective student

Withholding payments will result in

immediate termination of the contract

Fraud

The parties shall use all reasonable

endeavours to safeguard the services

against fraud generally, especially

making applications for student visas

or payment of fees through fraudulent

means.

The Agency shall co-operate with

relevant authorities such as the UK

Border Agency or the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office in identification

of clients who may be unlawfully trying

or assisting others to obtain visas to

enter the UK.

Expectations of the College

Full expectations of the services provided

by partner agents of Uxbridge College are

listed in the Agency Agreement; however,

some of the key services we expect to be

provided are for agencies to:

Actively promote and market

Uxbridge College to potential

students and other interested

parties, and to provide advice on a

range of college courses

Assist potential students with their

application to the College

Recruit students according to the

criteria set out by the College and the

UKBA: the Agency will specifically

make all reasonable endeavours to

ensure students ability to fund the

course, have the required level of

English, and meet the academic entry

requirements as set by the College

Collect application forms and other

supporting documents from the

applicants and forward them to

Uxbridge College International Office,

ensuring authenticity of all documents.

Treat all clients with due care and

diligence

Commission

In order to claim commission payments,

the Agency should forward an invoice

directly to the International Office at

Uxbridge College, which contains the

following:

Name and address of the Agency

Contact number of the Agency

Names of the students

Commission claimed for each

student

Account details that the

commission should be paid to

The International Officer will then verify

that all students named have enrolled at

the College, and this will be forwarded to

the Finance Team

Please note that commission will only be

paid to the agency once the student has

paid the full tuition fee, enrolled and

completed at least four weeks of the

course.

Unless specified otherwise, the College

will aim to pay the Agency the commission

due in pounds sterling, within 30 days of

receipt of an acceptable invoice, once the

students have completed the above.

Any queries, please contact the

International Office at Uxbridge College

London.

Contact Details

Address:

International Office Uxbridge College Park Road Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 1NQ UK T: +44(0)1895 853469 E:international@uxbridgecollege.ac.uk