Your responsibilities
Your Tier 4 (General) visa has certain conditions attached to it. Therefore, you have certain responsibilities during your study in the UK.
Each of the sections below describes what is required when you arrive at Durham University and during your study.
- Present your passport and visa for verification when you first arrive in Durham
- Attend and engage with your study for the duration of your programme
- Register with the Police (if applicable)
- Regularly check your University email account
- Keep your contact details up-to-date in DUO
- Inform the Student Immigration Office of any changes to your study
- Do not exceed your permitted working hours
- Inform UKVI of changes to your personal details
- Inform the Student Immigration Office if your visa application is refused
- Inform the Student Immigration Office if you change immigration category
- Do not apply for or receive any public funds
- Comply with any other conditions of your Tier 4 visa
Present your passport and visa for verification when you first arrive in Durham
You must present your passport and visa to be verified before you can complete the University registration process and start your study and at the start of each academic year.
If you arrive in Durham, or receive a new visa at any other time of the year, you must bring your passport and visa to the Student Immigration Office.
Attend and engage with your study for the duration of your programme
Register with the Police (if applicable)
Students from certain countries are required by law to register with the Police within seven days of arriving in the UK. If you are required to register with the Police, this condition will be shown on the 30 day entry clearance visa your passport.
Police will be present at the Passport & Visa verification events in September & October and weekly throughout the year at the Student Immigration Office, however you must book an appointment with them in advance.
Instructions on how to register with the Police
Regularly check your University email account
You must check your University email account regularly as we use this to contact you during your studies.
Keep your contact details up-to-date in DUO
You should make sure that your current address in UK, your mobile phone number and email address are correct and update your details if they change.
Inform the Student Immigration Office of any changes to your study
The University is required to inform UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) of any changes to your student record. This includes changing your programme, suspending or withdrawing from your studies or leaving the UK before the end of your programme.
You should discuss your options with your Department before making any decisions.
Full details of how these changes might affect your Tier 4 visa.
Do not exceed your permitted working hours
If you are allowed to take employment, you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time. If you are not allowed to work, your visa will be endorsed 'No work' or 'Employment prohibited'.
Further information on working during your studies
Inform UKVI of changes to your personal details
UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) require that you report any changes to your address, personal details or circumstances to them.
The way in which you report the changes depends on where you are and whether you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or not.
Report your changes in circumstance by following the instructions on the UKVI website
Inform the Student Immigration Office if your visa application is refused
If your visa application has been refused by UK Visas & Immigration, you must contact the Student Immigration Office and provide a copy of the refusal notice immediately.
Any delay in responding to your refusal notice could affect your ability to remin in the UK.
Inform the Student Immigration Office if you change immigration category
If your immigration category changes and you no longer hold or require a Tier 4 visa, you must bring your passport and new visa to the Student Immigration Office as soon as possible so that records can be updated.
Do not apply for or receive any public funds
The conditions of your Tier 4 visa prohibit you from receiving any public funds (benefit) from the UK Government. If you apply for any benefit you do not qualify for, you will be breaching the conditions of your visa. This may affect any future visa applications.
A list of public funds is available from UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI)
If you have received or applied for any of public funds listed, you could be in breach of the immigration rules and you should contact us immediately.
Comply with any other conditions of your Tier 4 visa
You must comply with any conditions specified on your visa. If you have any questions about your visa status or the conditions attached, please contact the Student Immigration Office.
The University of Durham makes every effort to ensure that the information published on this page is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website as early as possible.
