Studying in the UK

[TeacherLuke]

Hello there,

My wife has recently applied for the settlement visa in the UK and with stacks of evidence it is looking likely.

As she's pregnant we are hoping that she could study whilst the baby is young and the natural choice would be doing her GCSE Maths, English and Science.

After calling the local college they have said they do not take international students. Would she be classed as this on the settlement visa? Also do you know of any other way she could complete these qualifications online?

Many thanks
Luke

[CR001]

She would be classed an international student and will pay full fees for anything she studies. However with the right visa, ie not a student visa, should be able to pay the normal fees but won't qualify for any student finance.

If you Google online courses, there are many.

[TeacherLuke]

Thank you for your reply.

This is excellent. So with the settlement visa she would just pay the normal fees? The problem with the local college is that they don't take 'international students.' If she's classed as one it makes sense to do an online course which would give her the equivalent.
Also, we under the impression that you can fast track the GCSEs and she is well educated. I guess it's just finding somewhere that will have her.

Thank again
Luke

[CR001]

The college likely means they don't sponsor international students for a student visa. She would likely be fine to study provided she has a spouse visa.

[secret.simon]

Till what level has your wife studied in her home country? How fluent is she in written and spoken English?

Keep in mind that fees for international students are typically multiples of fees paid by home students. For instance, a Masters course that cost about £3000 for a home student would cost upwards of £10000 for an international student. See the UKCISA website for more information. Also be aware that the rules are different based on which home nation (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) you plan to reside in.

[TeacherLuke]

Thank you for your replies.

Her English is fairly good and she achieved a first class degree in English teaching. We sent that to UKNARIC and they confirmed it was the equivalent to a BA degree in the UK.

As she's having the baby we thought it better that she can study at her own pace rather than jumping straight into a job.

Currently she's in Thailand and has applied for the spouse settlement visa to live with me in the UK. It just seems a shame to 'waste time' and not be able to improve her job prospects as soon as she gets to the UK.

I've heard there may be an option of 'fast tracking' her GCSEs which may allow her to study at home before only completing the test at the college itself?

If there are any other courses etc available to us we would love to know.

Many thanks

Luke

[secret.simon]

If she has got a degree recognised by UK NARIC, then why would she want to do GCSEs? She should consider going for a post-graduate certificate or diploma.

Have you looked at the courses at the Open University? Alternatively, have a look at other universities that offer online and distance learning courses.

Be aware that your wife will be liable for international student rates, even if she is living in the UK as your spouse.

[sah10406]

She would be classed an international student and will pay full fees for anything she studies.

Not so. I think you may have misread the question, thinking OP's wife wants to study a Higher Education course?

To be fair, OP did not say what nationality either he or his wife are, nor what type of visa she has, not where either of them live now or have lived, nor which country she wants to study in!

Burt for a Further Education course in England she will be a "home" fee payer -- as long as OP is an EEA national, and either OP (see category 2) or his wife (see category 3) has been ordinarily resident in the EEA for the three years before the start of the course.

See UKCISA's guide to home fees in England for FE courses for people 19 and older:

https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information-- ... layer-6084

If she is studying in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, see the relevant separate information at that same site.

[secret.simon]

To be fair, OP did not say what nationality either he or his wife are, nor what type of visa she has, not where either of them live now or have lived, nor which country she wants to study in!

OP is a British citizen, married to a Thai citizen, who is currently in Thailand and has applied for a spouse settlement visa. He has mentioned these details in his previous posts on these forums.

[sah10406]

OP is a British citizen, married to a Thai citizen, who is currently in Thailand and has applied for a spouse settlement visa. He has mentioned these details in his previous posts on these forums.

In that case she will be eligible for "home" fees for FE courses in England under the category 3 mentioned in my previous reply.

I am always happy to offer informational answers and sign-posting to questions on this forum, but can only do it based on the content of the original question. I'm afraid I don't look at other information they have posted elsewhere.