lad1000:

My dad deposited 2.5million naira in to my account yesterday because 7200 pouds in my living expenses at South Chelsea College and my fees for the first year is 1500 pounds.Hopefully,i;ll apply for my student visa on the 27th jan 2010. Since there is an error on the date of birth on my waec certificate, i sat for another one in 2008 and i performed excellently well although i applied to the college with the previous certificate.My problem is that the 2008 waec certificate is not ready.Should i apply with the previous cert with an affidavit from the Federal High Court or should i use the confirmation of result of the latest cert.Do i need to enclose my dad;s statement of act and aletter from his bank too or his my own act sufficient since he transferred money to it.Do i use my dad as sponsor on my form or should i write my name only?Im planning to come back to Nigeria to manage his hotel after my studies.What documents do ineed to enclose with my application in this regard?Finally my school has no provision for accomodation,what do i fill in my application to show that i have somewhere to stay. Someone help me.This is my first time and i dont want to make mistakes.Thankss.

@lad1000 - your question has already been answered by others on the forum. Is there no means of getting a correction done on your WAEC, i am surprised you resat the WAEC. The honest answer to that question is I cannot be certain. There is have not seen any thing written about what to do in this circumstance by UKBA, but I would have thought an affidavit would be sufficient. Let's see if anyone in the house did this and had any luck. If it is definitely your documents - go ahead and do what we advised you on this forum already.

justwise:

I'm reading your post with every sense of seriousness cos i'm at that point now where i can't stop planning and thinking, some of the stuff u said here hits the spot.

Thanks.

Dear Justwise,

It is clear to me you feel you have reached a turning point in your life. One filled with excitement, opportunity and anxiety mixed together. You are not alone, many people have experienced what you are going through right now. The best advice I can give you is to remember, no matter how critical things may seem, no matter how much one chance may seem like your only chance, the truth is another opportunity ALWAYS presents itself, just work hard and continue to learn, from your university, from friends, from personal research, from victories and even from mistakes.

I made many mistakes to get to where I am today, and each mistake I thought was the end of the world, ended up just being the end of that saga and the beginning of a new plan. That is life. before you can succeed - you will fail. Just retain your morals, determination and hardwork
and LEARN.

luizworld:

@justwise and ell77. I have been reading your posts and i must say that it has been very useful. I also intend going for my masters in Uk next year, but i intend intend to take some english classes just to boost my english skiills especially in speaking and writhing for a masters degree.
I have been really encouraged by your posts.
keep it going>>

Dear Luiz - I am glad our posts are encouraging you.

Yes, English may be your greatest barrier to success here in the UK, but only if you allow it to be, try listening to BBC news online to get acquainted with one type of British accent and remember the British council holds English classes. However,i am aware a lot of English taught in Nigeria is not really adequate when you come to UK so it is not a necessity to go to classes on english in Nigeria. Like Justwise said your university will provide English classes free of charge, they might not always make it known to everyone and people underestimate this. Plus academic writing is not just about English spelling and grammar, it is about critical thinking, avoiding plagiarism and adding value to the existing body of knowledge so even those of us who were born and bred in the UK take advantage of this for Master's degrees. There is no shame in educating yourself in these things - in the end you will come out smiling. there is also assistance with study skills from DegreeAngel UK.

justwise:

U are absolutely right, i went through hell doing that and planing the same thing for my MSc is something i'm giving a serious thinking.
I always take advantage of those assistance, extra English classes, group works etc, it really help also to hang around other nationalities helps. .

Thanks 4 those kind words, i have to give it my last drop of blood

Lol. Please oh! Don't kill yourself! Lol. I am sure you will do well, but just remember, the most successful people in life, were not those who always got the best grades, but those who learned a lot. I admire your determination and will, but don't be discouraged if you start your course and feel your grades are not on par with a first class or 2.1 (some of those people who do get this are jobless, yet I have friends and graduates I have worked with, who got 2.2's and they are reigning supreme) - if you understand what you learnt and can apply it to your benefit and the benefit of others - that is the main thing. If you can prove this to others, in the end you will surely succeed! 

4. Look for ways to create your own jobs or business, this may offer you more flexibility in terms of study and more money. you could use what you have leanrt in your degree to bring out something new and innovative, don't underestimate yourself, if you don't have any new ideas you could look at what others have done and try to find a way to make it better then offer something new here in the UK, if you can get a group together, you can set up a franchise (banks are more liekly to give loans for that also - will probably need someone who has lived here for atleast three years for this though).

5. DegreeAngel UK Ltd will be holding FREE seminars in the UK this January/February to help students with their university assignments, note taking, exam prep, presentation, job hunting (both part-time student work and permanent graduate work) and business planning/strategy and you are welcome to come, check www.degreeangel.co.uk from 15th of January for updates.

6. If all else fails and you don't have enough for tuition fees or accommodation. GO TALK TO WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY. Talk to your landlord and/or university about setting up a 'pay-plan'; this is an agreemenet to pay certain amounts of money at certain intervals/dates and is placed here as the second to last strategy as I hope people will not abuse this principle. For one, universities can say no but even if they say yes, they will hold your results and certificates until you finish paying. The time you first realise money is running low and the time taken to get through all the steps I have listed to this point should not take more than a month anyway, the earlier you tell them the better.

7. You can also look at the following document from cardiff university with links for international student grants/loans for those undergoing hardhsip, places - competition is fierce, don't expect this to work for you, but be aware people are out here to help you and you can always contact Degreeangel Uk Ltd for advice:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentsupport/international/, /List%20of%20private%20trusts%20and%20charities.doc

justwise:

@ell77

Very very good piece of advise and pple should take it seriously.

Part time work paid my rent. bills, feeding even fees here. . yes i know things have changed with the recesion and many eastern europeans here now, but doing part time AND attending ALL your lectures, doing your assignments will help u here.[/b]I'm planing the same for my MSC by God's grace, no matter how little that money is, it does add up at the end.

Gr8 stuff [b]ell77

@Justwise - Thank you for your kind words. I totally agree with you, it is also very important to remember the reason you came here was to study and as much as you see opportunities to make more money - you can't jeopardise your studies for money - even your university wants you to learn what they have taught. MSc is no joke justwise; so good luck with that, somehow I am confident you will do just great!  Access all assistance your university has to offer, especially academic writing classes - arguably the most important (MSc writing and BSC are quite different)!

2. Look for grants (the reason I put this last and not first is they are competitive to get, however, between the time you realise you can't pay fees/accommodation and the time to get to this point should not take more than one month - don't drag things out and say thiings like: 'things will sort themselves out' - they rarely do, without your own intervention. Also God helps those who help themselves, perhaps you reading this message is the way He is offering His help, so please take the previous advice seriously):

Open to all International Students subject to eligibility criteria:

• The Churches International Students Network Hardship fund (formerly the Churches Commission Fund)   www.ctbi.org.uk/116/
Assists international students irrespective of race gender or religion who are already in the UK and who are facing unexpected financial problems during the final stages of their course. Decisions are made 3 times a year in February, June and October. Grants are typically   £500 and do not exceed £800
Apply to: David Philpot, Grants Secretary, CISN Hardship Fund, 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH24 YN


• The Gilchrist Educational Trust         www.gilchristgrants.org.uk    
Applications are considered from undergraduate and postgraduate students who have made proper provision to fund a degree but find themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may prevent completion of it.
Apply to: Val Considine, 20 Fern Road, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 4LW Email: gilchrist.et@blueyonder.co.uk


• The Sir Richard Stapely Educational Trust   www.stapleytrust.org
Applicants must be graduates with a first or upper second class degree, over the age of 24 and studying for a degree in medicine or dentistry
Grants normally in the region of £300-£1000 for financial hardship
All applications to be received by 31 March.  Apply to: Christine Ford, North Street Farmhouse, Sheldwich, Faversham, Kent  ME13 OLN


• Professional Classes Aid Council
Applicants must be on essential courses and have had full funding in place at the beginning of their course that has broken down towards the end of their course through circumstances beyond their control. Must be of a professional background, either through their parents or through their own careers.
Apply by letter to: The Secretary, Professional Classes Aid Council, 10 St Christopher’s Place, London W1U 1HZ


• Funds for Women Graduates www.ffwg.org.uk  
Emergency grants to help women graduate students engaged in study or research who are faced with financial difficulties because of unforeseen and unexpected circumstances beyond their control which might prevent the completion of their years work. One off payments on a needs basis, not likely to exceed £1,000 are offered three times a year in March, June and November.
Apply 4 weeks earlier then the consideration dates to: FfWG Grants Administrator, 13 Brookfield Avenue, Larkfield, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6RU


• The Leche Trust
Applicants should be aged between 25 and 34, studying for a PhD or a professional qualification and intend to return to their own country on completion of their studies. Applications are more favourably considered when the applicant can show that he/she has received some financial support from their own University e.g. a Cardiff University Hardship Grant. Part of the application form must be completed by an academic tutor. Application forms (copies available in Student Support Centre) submitted to: The Leche Trust, 84 Cicada Road, London SW18 2NZ





Open to specific groups of international students:

• African students
o Africa Educational Trust www.africaeducationaltrust.org
The Small Emergency grants programme provides grants to students from Africa who have run into unexpected financial difficulties during the final months of their course. Applications must be supported in writing by the student’s supervisor, tutor or head of course
Applications by letter to: The Small Emergency grants Programme, Africa Educational Trust, 18 Hand Court, London WC1V 6JF


• Arab Students
o The Arab-British Chamber Charitable Foundation   www.abcc.org.uk  
Open to Arab postgraduate students committed to returning to Arab League States to work. Provision is made for students who over run their three years funding or who have unforeseen problems. Usual awards are about £1,500
Send an email requesting an application pack to Mr Hugh de Las Casas, Secretary to the Trustees, ABCCF abccf@abcc.org.uk


• Canadian Students
o Canadian Federation of University Women  www.cfuw.org
This organisation has several fellowships and awards for Canadian women already studying in the UK. These awards have to be applied for by November of the preceding year and are therefore not for emergency situations.

o Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund  www.canadianscholarshipfund.co.uk  
Awards of between £500 and £2,500 to Canadian men and women students who have already commenced their studies in the UK. These awards have to be applied for in the preceding year and are therefore not for emergency situations


• Chinese Students
o The Great Britain China Educational Trust www.gbcc.org.uk/edtrust
This website has information on some trusts and organisations that give funding to Chinese students who are already in the UK studying on a course. Generally these funds have to be applied for in the preceding year and are therefore not for emergency  circumstances.

o The Henry Lester Trust Ltd
Chinese Postgraduate students who are studying or researching in architecture, planning, medicine, computer hardware development or mechanical sciences. Grants of £2500 offered for one year only. Application is by letter to include written support of Head of Department, full details of area of research, a CV, calculation of amount sought and an indication of intention to return to China. All applications are processed within 4 weeks.
Apply to Mr AC Hamilton, 65 Hazlewell Road, London SW15 6UT


• Indian students
o Northbrook Society
Nationals from India who are studying in the UK and intend to return to India
Small awards for financial hardship. Applicants should submit a CV, Reference and details of financial shortfall
Correspondence: Barbara Weller, Secretary, 37 Neatherd Road, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4AU

o Charles Wallace Trust
Applications are invited from Indian students who are in their penultimate or final year of a PhD.  Subjects covered include history, literature and philosophy and generally business and science courses are excluded. (This trust also has some links with JOMEC.) 4 grants are made each year of approx. £1000 each.
Applications can be made by email to the Secretary at cwit@btinternet.com  at any time of the year. All applications are considered in early April. Include a brief CV, a statement describing doctoral research, mention of any other grants received and contact details of 2 academic referees


• Greek Students
o The Schlizzi Foundation    www.schlizzifoundation.org.uk    
Greek undergraduates studying in the UK, usually final year but second year are considered in exceptional circumstances. Criteria are real financial hardship and unforeseen circumstances.
Applications should be made through the Student Support Centre
Correspondence: Mr BP Smith, Rowan, Turweston, Brackley, Northants, NN13 5JX
Email: scilizzifoundation@tiscali.co.uk


• Jewish Students
o Anglo Jewish Association      www.anglojewish.co.uk
Jewish students studying at a British University
Awards range between £1000 and £3000 per annum. Criteria include financial need and academic excellence
Correspondence: Julia Samuel, Suite 4, 107 Gloucester Place, London W1U 6BY Email: info@anglojewish.co.uk  


o The Jewish Widows and Students Aid Trust
Applicants must be Jewish and under the age of 30. Interest free loans (not grants) with no specific repayment date usually in the region of £1,000- £1,500
Return application form (Student Support Centre has copies) to: The Jewish Widows and Students Aid Trust, Marlborough House, 298 Regents Park Road, London N3 2UU  


• Muslim Students
o Muslim Aid      www.muslimaid.org
Muslim Aid is an international and development organisation whose primary role is to provide the immediate relief to victims of natural calamities and disasters. Muslim Aid will consider individual cases on their merits and will try to help students if funds are available. Students must be in the final stages of their academic course
Apply in writing to M.W.Khokhar, Muslim Aid, PO Box 3, London

Taken from CARDIFF.AC.UK website.
www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentsupport/international/, /List%20of%20private%20trusts%20and%20charities.doc

4. Create your own job or business opportunity right here in the UK. You can research the internet for some ideas as to what the market needs, or create something new using what you have learned in your course or you can even join a group of of international students and set up a franchise (pay for one that is), to generate more income. DegreeAngel UK Ltd will be holding free seminars in the UK this January to show students how to apply for jobs (part-time and permanent roles on completeion), how to set up their own business or do freelance work and how to cope with university pressures i.e. how to write assignements, take notes, give presentations, prepare for exams.

Okay, if failing all this you still have problems with finance and are unable to pay tuition fees or accommodation do the following:
1. Speak to your university or landlord earnestly and let them know you can't pay all at once, but would like to set up a 'pay plan', this is an agreement to pay in installments, your university may restrict access to some things most especially your exam/assignment results and degree certificate until you have paid in full, so please do not abuse this help and think you can coast and not pay until the last minute. Also note the university and landlord have a right to refuse this agreement and the consequences of this with your university would mean an end to the validity of your visa, which they are likely to report. On the upside, most universities are understanding and prefer you pay anything regualrly, however small, as opposed to waiting for months to get that big lump sum. It also shows them your sincerity. I have had students at a well known Scottish University who have paid a total of £300 per month for the university fee from the start of the course until almost three months after the course end when they paid slightly higher amounts (during holiday periods you can work full-time), they now have their PSW and not a single debt.

To international students in the UK:

To those of you who have already been here for some time and for some reason are experiencing financial difficulty, I thought it would be helpful to provide a list of institutes that may help. But first here is some general advice:

1.  Look for part-time work immediately, you may be used to your parents sponsoring your undergraduate degree in Nigeria but here in the UK, most students work part-time and as your fees are higher, you are definitely not the exception.

2.  Pretend the money you came with is the money that will last you the rest of the year - that is 52 weeks! Live off of that money, however small, don't spend your money today based on 'tomorrow's income'. Tomorrow's income may not come. So if you came with N500,000 and had already paid off your accommodation and tuition fees know that this £2000 needs to be divided by 52 i.e. a little less than £40 per week, don't go above this.

3. SAVE! Just because you have a lot of money coming in from part-time work and came with a lot of money too, it does not mean you should spend exactly 1/50th (approx) of whatever you earn. Think about what that money could do in the future. For instance you need at least £800 in your account for at least 3 months untouched to apply for Post study Work visa. But you could also but products here or in Europe or travel to countries outside Europe to start a business shipping goods into Nigeria. Or perhaps you are owing someone back in Nigeria - Pay it off!

4.  Look for ways to create your own jobs or business, this may offer you more flexibility in terms of study and more money. you could use what you have learnt in your degree to bring out something new and innovative, don't underestimate yourself, if you don't have any new ideas you could look at what others have done and try to find a way to make it better then offer something new here in the UK, if you can get a group together, you can set up a franchise (banks are more likely to give loans for that also - will need someone who has lived here for at least three years for this though - UKBA rules).

5. DegreeAngel UK Ltd will be holding FREE seminars in the UK this January/February to help students with their university assignments, note taking, exam prep, presentation, job hunting (both part-time student work and permanent graduate work) and business planning/strategy and you are welcome to come, check www.degreeangel.co.uk from 15th of January for updates.

6.  If all else fails and you don't have enough for tuition fees or accommodation. GO TALK TO WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY. Talk to your landlord and/or university about setting up a 'pay-plan'; this is an agreement to pay certain amounts of money at certain intervals/dates and is placed here as the second to last strategy as I hope people will not abuse this principle. For one, universities can say no but even if they say ‘yes’, they will hold your results and certificates until you finish paying. The time you first realise money is running low and the time taken to get through all the steps I have listed to this point should not take more than a month anyway, the earlier you tell them the better.

7.  You can also look at the following document from Cardiff university with links for international student grants/loans for those undergoing hardship, places - competition is fierce, don't expect this to work for you, but be aware people are out here to help you and you can always contact DegreeAngel UK Ltd for advice:
http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentsupport/international/resources/List%20of%20private%20trusts%20and%20charities.doc

CONGRATS FUNKYBABY!

Knew you would win - and you deserve it! Well done to the runners up too, I guess it is a testimony to the good work you are all doing - keep it up please!

funkybaby:


Those flying in from outside the UK for the parrttyy, dont think your pink or blue or dark green passports will allow you entry at UK's boarder. Their eye don strong now, thanks to that mutalab i.d.i.o.t    so contact me in private for your special visa consultation 

I wish everyone all the very best in the new year   

Lol. My sentiments exactly, if only UKBA would let in those who want to work hard in the UK, instead of those who appear to have big pockets. Ah well. To those of you who are genuine about coming to the UK to do good for yourself and your families, keep up the good fight! We know that our Nigerian brothers and sisters are also doctors, nurses, CEOs and the likes here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE NAIRALANDERS!

@Siena - lol, yes today it was a lot warmer - we are not having a white Christmas for sure, anyway I will be indoors so it makes no difference I guess.

Siena - you are a lucky dude, your wife is pretty!

Merry Christmas and you guys can feel free to contact me about any queries you have about Lagos or Abuja.

What about Siena?

Thanks for adding Funkybaby but please add Siena too. They have both made a difference for UK applicants at least.

Siena - are you in Nigeria now? Well you and your partner should enjoy Christmas - we might be having a white Christmas here, you guys can have a vibrant one there. As far as not living in Nigeria goes, I think you can adapt. I went there for my NYSC and was virtually dependent on myself, I was in a relatives home but survived on the N20,000 I got a month (from NYSC and employer combined like 2 x N10k). Some people were getting N50k (N10k + N40k for banks or oil coys), some got N100k (N10k + 90k), but I lived within my means and didn;t get money sent from home or have people to dash me (after all I was 'Jando'. The point in my little ramble is if it is just you, you can survive anywhere, Nigeria is hard if you don't have money, but it is the land of you father and I am sure you can do it. My only concern is if you have kids and you partner who might not want to be uprooted. there are some soft schools in Nigeria like American international School that you pay from £8,000 to £13,000 per annum depending on the child's year and may be best for you child (is that your kid in the pic? She is cute anyway and so is your partner ). They have a deep interest in your child but is a day school and quite expensive and is near 1004 flats I think. As a day school you would need to live near, in that area flats go for about N6m per annum and are payable two years in advance, you can buy a flat for about 10 times the amount. You could live in Ajah or lekki for cheaper but these areas are prone to water logging and Ajah is so far traffic will murder you. Not sure if this is too much detail, but there are other schools that are cheaper and mainland is generally cheaper than island. good places on mainland are Maryland, Magodo, Surulere (except I think there are too many armed robbers there). Let me know if you need to know more about Lagos, abuja is far better but more expensive for accommodation.

Yes Siena and Funkybaby should be there, their threads have been really helpful. But is this for people who have made threads only or people who have posted also? Because I could add the names of good posters also like Flekan and Justwise and quite a few others if posters are included?

@lad - You only need to attach school certificate or transcripts related to your degree - more specifically those listed on your visa letter. If you are not able to use another certificate then just know this is quite risky, you should provide a supporting letter of explanation and affidavit then any other documents you have that for example have your name and the school on it, these should have your right D.O.B. or else they will suspect foul play.

UCAS (www.ucas.ac.uk) is just a body with an online system for hopeful undergraduates to apply for university in the UK, international students sometimes apply through this but for postgraduate courses you have to apply to the university directly. Also a lot of universities allow international students to apply to them directly for undergrad too, so it is possibe you never used the UCAS and applied direct to the university. It is no one's business what you were doing since before you applied to study at university and got a place, if you have a place then apply for your student visa with the documents listed on your visa letter.

A university gives a conditional letter first (normally for you to reply accepting the place and pay an amount), then sends you an unconditional offer letter and visa letter (normally separately though they might just send you a visa letter now). You use your visa letter to apply, contact the uni to get your visa letter.


@ghafleks - this page is for tier 4 PBS, your situation may have already been answered in another forum, but I will still answer it here. Go to them with your statement of account, if you have closed the other account, bring those details also (of account closure), you need to have the money in your account either way.

@ Monixl - yes, he is right, i meant write it out on the balance sheet, with the conversion rate and the amount it equals in GBP.
@Prespes - congratulations - welcome to UK! It snowed two days ago, so you might be able to come and have a snow fight if it snows again, it is melting at the moment, get some veryyyyyy warm clothes!


@Chonko - unless the senator states that it is an international organisation of financial institution that is sponsoring you, it is better if the money is in your account.
@Switchmax - The general requirements are thos that fulfill university sponsorship i.e. the visa letter and all the documents you used to get you place at university (mainly the documents listed on the visa letter) and then the maintenance/monbey requirements i.e. the tution fees you need to pay and the maintenance fees you need which will be £7,200 for inner london and £5,400 for outside london. You need to have held these amounts in you account for at least 28 days before applying for you visa with UKBA (via VFS), if you paid any part of your tuition fees this should be shown using a receipt or printed on your visa letter, same goes for university accommodation although it is best to assume that accomodation is not included in the maintenance fees you required if it is private accomodation.

Okay my last response is missing but it appears ome other people have answered you guys on my behalf so please remember to thank them very well for their assistance.

gram:

@ ell 77

Your contributions have been very useful though i've been passive on this thread.

I received a uk student visit visa for a short programme < 6mths as part of my academic work in sch ( university ), I also

intended to visit my sister during the period as part of the stated purpose of my visit. However, I could not attend at the stipulated time because

the commencement of the programme coincided with my exams. The programme is over now, but my visa is still valid (2 months spent). I've been

invited for a different programme in a different institution and I am free to attend. My sister is also ready to write another invitation letter. Can I

still enter the uk with my visa?. How rigid are the UK boarder regulations on a student visit visa ? Do all the tier 4 regulations apply to this type of visa?

i will appreciate your response.

I am not sure what you mean, please elaborate on the previous conditions of our course, I do believe you can change it but you may be required to inform UKBA.

Yet another fantastic thread by Siena, I will definitely be following this one - I will move back one day too! Went back to do NYSC last year so I got a glimpse.

AjanleKoko:

@ Siena,
I agree 100% with what you're saying. Nigerians abroad are already contributing to the economy via remittances, and quite a few have set up businesses locally. We all welcome that. However, it worries me when Nigerians start to discuss Nigeria as if they are expatriate foreigners being dispatched to a strange land. Which in itself I have no problem with, but let us be careful of sounding hypocritical.
Problems and all, Nigeria is supposed to be our country, whether we live there or not. If Nigerians are scared of going back to Nigeria because there are only 10 shops in the Palms shopping mall, there are no libraries or museums, etc, etc, then what is the point?

We can't on one hand be saying we want to contribute to Nigeria, and on the other hand genuflect about how convenient or inconvenient the place is for human habitation. That's why I wonder, when people talk like that, that their motive is obviously economic more than anything. I.e. they are looking at what they can get out of Nigeria, not what they can put in. Imagine, Nigerians are talking about moving to Ghana!
Like I said, lest we run the risk of sounding like hypocrites, opportunists, or cynics, let us adopt a more pragmatic approach. Like me, a lot of Nigerians living in Nigeria are very aware of the issues, and we live through them everyday, but we want to hear from pragmatists, not opportunity hunters.



Well, if you were working in my company, maybe you would think again. I get resumes from Nigerians, at least a couple every week, who have lived and worked abroad for 10 years plus, and all of them are looking for some sort of executive position. Haven't yet run across more than one or two looking to set up a business. Even chatted privately with a couple of people from Nairaland, and the end goal appears to be the same.

And lastly, I don't doubt the right of anybody to come and go as they please. But who is actually making the distinction? Just take a trip to the Politics section, where there's a bitter battle going on between so-called Nigerians abroad and so-called Nigerians at home. I say so-called because this is an Internet forum, and nobody knows where anybody is really at.

@AjanleKoko - I know lots of Nigerian's who want to start business in Nigeria who are based here in the UK. Can you help them? The problem is the money is not easy to raise and when you do eventually get it the threat of scammers and the difficulty in setting up in Nigeria is profound. My company for instance has had to delay setting up registration in Nigeria because of an address needed in Nigeria much like here in the UK. The problem is there are so many scammers out there who want to offer you an office you don't know who is who as someone who is not living there permanently. Setting up a business in Nigeria is not easy. So some have the idea of coming home to work then understanding their country better and the system before setting up something rather than rushing in without looking. Would you invest in an area you have never lived in if it was your whole life savings or a heavy bank loan? No, I am sure you would not without a guarantee your money is safe. People are cautious because Nigeria is not so hospitable to Nigerians residing in Nigeria who want to do business let alone the diaspora.

Also for those with families, it makes sense for them to think of their kids before relocating, when you bring (or hope to) bring children into this world, you always hope for the best. There are many people in Nigeria whose children live better than children in the UK, but the reverse is also true - so I think it is fair for a parent/ prospective parent to think about which is best for their children first. There is no point relocating to Nigeria if you can't support your family there because of no job or good business - than you add your children to the list of agberos.

I do agree with you that a Nigerian should think first of going to Nigeria though, as although I have not been to Ghana myself, I see no point in living in any other African country than the land of my forefathers if I am to return permanently.

I'd like to thank everyone on this thread for their contributions - this is quite enlightening. Please let us not change this into a West versus Nigeria thread - there are plenty of those elsewhere. Let this thread be about those who want to come home and those who don't mind helping. We are all brothers and sisters after all.  I help people come to UK, I don't see why we can't help Nigerians return home without an argument arising.

Thanks! 

28 days includes weekends and bank holidays for those of you asking about the 28 day rule for holding money in your account.

delarontus:

@ Sonye: If your course is 9 months or less (Inner London) = U need course fees and £800 for each calendar month of the course up to 9 months i.e £7,200. Outer London = course fees and £600 for 9 months i.e £5,400.

If your course is more than 9 months (Inner London) = 1st year of fees, or for continuing students fees for next period of study and £7,200. Outer London = 1st year of fees and £5,400.

U don't need to multiply by 12 or by the number of years u're studying.

Inner London includes Camden, Islington, Southwark, City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lewisham, Westminster, Haringey or Newham.

@Sonye - please follow Delarontus' advice for the fee amount (you must only show tuition

Phong:

Hi everyone, my student visa has just refused The reason is I don't have translation of Graduated Certificate. So my attribute points is 0/30 :| Anyway, i can solve it.
However, My fund points also is 0/10 . But they just explain blow that " Points awarded as claimed ". I don't know what does it meant. That meant i got Points awarded = 10 like Points Claimed or what going wrong with my fund. I have more than 7200 pound in my bank acc.
I really need every help to understand it.
Thx everyone !!!

fees for the first 9 months of your course for a course of 9 months or more.

Also like Flekan said your primary site of study is where your university course will be held.

Phong:

Hi everyone, my student visa has just refused The reason is I don't have translation of Graduated Certificate. So my attribute points is 0/30 :| Anyway, i can solve it.
However, My fund points also is 0/10 . But they just explain blow that " Points awarded as claimed ". I don't know what does it meant. That meant i got Points awarded = 10 like Points Claimed or what going wrong with my fund. I have more than 7200 pound in my bank acc.
I really need every help to understand it.
Thx everyone !!!

@ Phong - you must show you have had the money in your account for at least 28 days untouched before applying. The money includes your maintenance fees AND tuition fees (unless some fees have been paid in which case you should attach receipt or this should be stated by university in visa letter another exception is if you are receiving financial sponsorship) and should be calculated using the oanda.com conversion rate atthe time you want to apply for your visa - you should also write this conversion on the face of your account balance for the UKBA to see. Sorry you have been rejected, they can be quite pedantic at times, but there is still hope.

monixl:

@ Justwise Thanks for the response, I have all the required documents i.e Passport, WAEC Certificate, Visa Letter, Visa Fee, Biometric, Application form, 1 passport photograph and the Bank statement. Please advice if i need to add any other documents, Please note that i have not been lodging that kind of amount in my account in the past i just put in 20,000 or 5,000 sometimes, but i have the full maintanance cost there now, I understand that i cant book for accomodation until i get the visa, how long does it takes to get my visa if i apply on 21st of dec? Please kindly advice me about my application i dont want to make any mistake , its my first time, also i have used my passport to travel to west africa countries several times and tanzania once , i hope it wont affect my application

@Monixl - as long as you have attached everything your visa letter said was used to offer you a place on the course, put the oanda.com exchange rate on your balance statement, followed the passport photo requirements, filled the form in correctly and attached a receipt of your tuition fee payment (or this is written by your university in the visa letter) you should be fine. You must wait 28 days so applying on the 21st is okay, because it is a little close to Christmas - you can expect a delay but since your school has provided an extension just follow the rules and you should be fine.

It is not a requirement to attach a letter from whoever put the money in your account as it is in your personal account, but it is generally believed the UKBA might act faster when they see such as it gives them reassurance of your genuineness - this is not a fact though, just a belief, so if you can do it then fantastic I think it is a good idea, but f not, just apply like that it is not listed as a requirement.

ksa-girl:

hi ell77;
i want to visit in england for 18 days to spend few holydays.i have 1000 pound cash draft of my name in london bank.
i have my father employment letter and draft photo copy,full com form and flight booking details.& i'll live with my cousin.
please conform me that will i get visit visa?
will they will satisfied on the abouve doc?
thanks

ksa-girl:

hi ell77;
i dont want to refuse this time.
because they refused me last year two time for student visa.
now i want to go on visit visa.

At ksa-girl - I am sorry to hear of your past refusal, unfortunately, the conditions for student visa are different for general visitor visa. Generally you also need to show ties to your home in Nigeria. I suggest you evaluate your reasons for wanting to come to UK and once you decide on that, I can help you if you want to come here to study. But if you want a general visitor visa, try Siena's thread (also a sticky in the Travel section - at the top I believe) - his thread has proven very helpful for those applying for general visitor visas to UK - this thread is strictly for UK study visa, thanks and good luck!

BABABABA:

I thank God,I got my student visa today and also i will like to use this medium to express my sincere appreciation to evry body that has contributed to this thread becos it has really help me in successful visa application

Well done BABABABA - Don't mention it, that is the purpose of this thread, to help people not fall into easily preventable mistakes and to solve those mistakes people have already made - I am glad we could help! Welcome to UK!

miz4oxley:

@ell77
Do you mean my uncle can't sponsor with legal back ups, But they said one guardian can check their rules man.

It depends on what you mean by 'legal back ups', what I meant was the only 'blood relatives' that can automatically sponsor you are your parents. Here is what the UKBA has to say:

Following a review of the maintenance (funds) requirements under Tier 4, we have extended this provision beyond the Tier 4 (Child) Student category, so that Tier 4 (General) Students may give evidence of having the required maintenance (funds) for their course fees and living costs using money held by one of the student’s parent(s)/ legal guardian(s).

The specified original legal documentation (or a notarised copy) establishing the relationship must be provided with the application, which must include one of:
• The applicant’s birth certificate, showing name of the parent(s) showing the funds;
• Certificate of adoption showing the name of the student and the parent(s) showing the funds;
• Court document stating the name of the legal guardian(s) of the named student showing the funds.

and

Students must also provide an original signed and dated letter from the parent(s) or legal guardian showing the funds when they submit their application form, confirming
• the relationship between the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and the named student; and
• that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have given their consent to the funds being available to the student for study in the UK

Please be careful about the legal guardian issue, it does not merely mean your guardian signing a contract with you, he will have had to go to court as you can see. I assumed you were either over 18 or your parents were still your guardians, if so I was not sure how you got legal guardianship from someone else. but if you have the things the UKBA stated to prove this guardianship - you will be fine! Hope they have not written fraud on your past application because of what that dodgy agent did to you?

mufasa:

Ell, A friend of mine studied communication (Bsc) as a sandwich program in O.O.U. Ago iwoye. Funny thing is the course ran for 5 years, but thereafter the sch refused to coalate & give all of them their results nor Degrees. She doesn't have anything tangible to show for her time in OOU (No transcripts nor score sheet). They only gave them a lousy letter addressed to whom it may concern,saying "Miss O. A was a student of mass comm. and that her results her being coalated". So she has been @ home 4 about 2 years doin nothing.
She spoke to me & said she wouldn't mind doing another course in hospitality & tourism. I googled & came across the ABE Courses going from certificate level to advanced diploma level.
She doesn't really have much money for the big schools & i told her i could help her get into one of the independent schools running the program. I particularly had London Academy of Higher Education (Stratford) in mind. My tot is that whilst she is there OOU might release the results & she can now go for masters but at the same time she would have obtained some professional qualifications. On d other hand if they don't give her a degree she can as well use her ABE diploma to gain admission to a Uk uni.
So what do u think? She wants to start in jan.

@mufasa - Yes that seems like a personally adequate plan to me, after the ABE diploma she can transfer to a final year top up and obtain a BSc. So from the start of her ABE to the end of the BSc she will have been studying in the UK for only three years. Rayat London College does this for no more than £3700 each year which should be less than N925,000, I can assist in free application to the university:

http://www.degreeangel.co.uk/course_providers.html#RAYAT

Dirac:

@ell77

If I get the visa, and I make it to the UK late, do u think the university would accept me after Oct. 30th?(I have called and they say they are not going to extend my registration date beyond Oct. 30) Will I be able to plead my case?

@Dirac - this is rally a personal decision, if you make it there late they have every right to refuse and report you to the UKBA as staying here illegally - all universities are afraid of UKBA removing their license to sponsor students to come to UK amongst other punishments for not reporting late or absent students. This is even assuming you make it to the UK. At the border they may ask you why you are coming late and with no extension and can refuse you right in the UK!

However, a student i know came two weeks later than the visa extension and they questioned him, he stood his ground and said, the visa office took too long, they let him through. The very prestigious university who had told him a one week extension was enough and they would not increase it or accept him (before he had received his visa), actually allowed him in and he is getting ready to submit his first term paper as we speak! Sometimes luck is on your side - the border control felt he was earnest and used their judgement - but they didn't have to. In essence, you have to judge it well. If you do get your visa in time and are making your way, inform your university and if possible print off an emailed response if they say it is okay (or at least your first email, or any confirmation email), and pay your tuition fees in part to show commitment so you can show this to border control. Again this is not a guarantee, but may help.

mafiaguy:


Hello ell7 and thanks for all the good updates.Well i was refused a visiting visa to the Uk in the year 2008.Is it possible to apply for a student visa after one has been refused of a visit visa?

@mafiaguy- Your welcome. Yes, of course you can, unless it was for fraud or a major offense you were refused, past refusal bears no weight on a new application - like Mufasa said just be honest on the form, lying can cause havoc.

ella1:

Hi Ell77,Thanks for the job your doing i went thru all your answers to each question on this trend and it was very informative. I am new to the forum and i have few questions:
1. How many months bank statement do one need to submit to the embassy?
2. Is it okay to just have the money in your account then print out the statement after 28days and take it to the embassy or do one need to show that the money has been in the account for a longer time.( I was told by an agent that if i just deposit the money into the account that it will look suspicious).
3.What are my chances of getting a visa since i was refused a student visa in 2007 due to insufficient funds.
4. Lastly i want to ask if its okay to use a new e-passport or i shld still use the old one (it will expire in 2012)that has my maiden name(I just got married last year and changed my name.)
I will be vey glad if u cld answer my questions as i intend to apply in Nov for Feb 2010 intake.

@ella1 - Is your name in dedication to me? lol. Well justwise answered you quite well but i will add to this in red:

justwise:

1. How many months bank statement do one need to submit to the embassy?

U need to show 3months bank statement. Exactly.

2. Is it okay to just have the money in your account then print out the statement after 28days and take it to the embassy or do one need to show that the money has been in the account for a longer time.( I was told by an agent that if i just deposit the money into the account that it will look suspicious).
The agent is right, don't just deposit the money cos it will look as if u borrowed it just for the visa and will not be avaiable to u after wards. But if you are pressed for time, it is perfectly viable to do this as a loan comes in bulk and families give loans to nieces, nephews etc. They really are required to be less subjective - so it doesn't matter what they think per se. They can't refuse you because you put in a bulk sum at once so long as you meet the other conditions (i.e. three months held etc) . What they might do (though not necessarily - and they are not supposed to) is take longer to process your account.
3.What are my chances of getting a visa since i was refused a student visa in 2007 due to insufficient funds.
If u met the condition this time around then u got a good chance of getting a visa, Exactly as long as you are honest in your application about this and your reason for refusal was not fraud or a crime/offense.
4[b]. Lastly i want to ask if its okay to use a new e-passport or i shld still use the old one (it will expire in 2012)that has my maiden name(I just got married last year and changed my name.)[/b]Use the e-passport, the old one will be phased out next yr. Use the new one but submit both and your marriage certificate will sort out the issue of change of name. Exactly.

ell77 will tell  u more when she logs on.

Good one Justwise!

@Annekix - congratulations! BHC says on average they take 10-15 working days but in reality it is anything from 3 to 60 working days! Enjoy your new life in the UK - study well and remember whee you came from!

BABABABA:

@ell77
@funkybaby
@justwise

i have a visa letter from a college in London and the qualification that was listed on my visa letter are my Ordinary level qualification and HND qaulification,i told the college i dont want my OND qualification to be listed on the visa letter becos all i ve got as a prove of having an OND qualification from my school is just a notification of result,i was unable to get my OND transcript and certificate.pls what are the implications of showing just O level cert and HND Cert without any prove of OND certificate if i shld go ahead and apply for a student visa under the PBS?pls i need advice

Try and get the university to remove the OND details from the visa letter, sometimes the BHC can nitpick these things and they have told you they have the right to refuse you if you don't submit all details listed on your visa letter.

chygo4u:

@ell77
Thanks 4 your advice.

I was refused entry visa twice last year Sept and Dec.when I applied for my MSC studies in the UK. And since then i just gave up but with the introduction of tier 4, I believe things will be much easier now.

I was refused on the grounds of insufficient information of my sponsor's source of income, my sponsor was my Uncle.
Am thinking of applying next yr.
My question is, will they be interested in the source of the fund in my account?

thanks.

If the money is in your account, the source is not important to them. just make sure you meet all the other critieria - I hope you were not rejected for fraud or any offense or this will impact your application.

shakur01:

@ell77
@funkybaby
@justwise

I want to thank you guys for the great job you have been doing by restoring hopes to most questions asked. My Question(1)Is there age limitation for undergraduate studies,and Question(2)If i pay 1000 pounds deposit required by the college out of 3000 pounds,do i still stand a good chance of getting Visa?

There is not really an age limit for undergraduate study. Some universities may have their own criteria especially for certain courses like medicine (I believe some say 50 or 60 years for this course), but in general there is no limit. Your school may or may not require a depsoit from you before they issue you an unconditional offer letter and visa letter. You need to show UKBA you have enough to pay your tuition fees and maintenance fees. The money you don't pay the university you must show has been available in your account (or your financial sponsor i.e. parents) for at least three months before applying.

shakur01:

@johnkent

Thanx for the reply.But you don't still get my point because what i meant by changing my information is that i will tell them in my application form that i never apply before,because i want to use the age on my school result,which is different from my previous application in 2004 and beside am using the new E-Passport

@Shakur - this is fraud. You must make sure all your documents are correct and reflect the truth or risk a ten year ban, perhaps worse. You have been advised well by joxiri and johnkent - heed this advice.

@Siena - Thanks man, just trying to contribute like you! Thanks for the sticky suggestion too, I'd still be offline if not for you! big thanks to Disguy also

miz4oxley:

@ell77
@funkybaby
@justwise
@cvibe

I will like you to read this carefully, Last year I applied for a student visa and was refused due to soem reasons reasons and I was given the right to appeal, i appealed and I won the appeal, It was allowed september and the embassy called me to come with my sponsors, Updated account statement and my visa letter from my school. I submitted this and was told to come back afetr 1 week i went and the visa was refused on the note that they called my sponsor and he said he knows nobody of such(me) and I was given another right of appeal which i did, But to my surprise i got their mail by post that they got my letter late and the case is dismissed. My first application was packaged by an agent who provided the statement and other documents except my visa letter, he used some one elses account to pose as an uncle,So now I will like to make another application but will like to know is there no problem as this is a new genuine sponsor who is my uncle but not same surname, and i'm using his account for the application with legal backups to show he really want to sponsor me. And I hope there can be any ban issue.2) I am not making any school fee payment to the school and can i fill that on the maintenance space of the application and i hope it has nothing to do to my marks? Please help cos in my 1st application they did not talk about school fee as I told my school i will be paying on arrival. Please help me,  I want to make a new application with new genuine sponsor. How can I overcome the maintenance 10point as I will be paying on arrival what do you think, all the reasons stated in my first application before tier 4 was never about payment or fees and I never made any payment?

under new regulation, only your parents can sponsor you financially as relatives. Otherwise you need an official financial sponsor i.e. an institution or business defined by UKBA, see elsewhere on this thread for more details or the UKBA website.

@Justwise, Siena, funkybaby, Mufasa and anyone else who has made a positive contribution to people who needed it on this thread - I would like to say a massive: THANK YOU!

I have not been on Nairaland for a while to answer your questions though I have been answering the questions of those who sent me personal emails. For some reason I have not been receiving personal updates of your posts and merely came here when I received an update that this topic had been stickied. I THOUGHT THE THREAD WAS DEAD! So I'd like to apologise to anyone who asked a question that i did not personally answer - though many have done so for you quite well. I hope your situations have improved, since you came on this thread.

I guess it goes to show, more and more people are looking for a solution to an improved future. EDUCATION is the best way in my mind, although there are others, which is why I don't mind giving this information free, perhaps one day those who studied abroad will set up a universities in Nigeria that meet the needs of Nigerians perfectly, or businesses in Nigeria that provide more employment. This is the height of what i hope for, but really as long as they come here informed and the RIGHT WAY this is good enough for me! 

I will make an attempt to answer all the questions here, then provide a summary of how things stand as at the end of this working week in relation to regulations of PBS Tier 4.

Khadie:

@Violent: All righty. I am coming on Saturday.

@ 1z2much: Pls storm the place jare. We can't wait no more.

@ Ell77: thanks a lot. I am fully prepared for the cold or so I think. I am going to be studying at King's College, Strand.

Ahh a very good university, and in London no less. I wish you all the best - say hello to the start of a new era. A lot of these universities should be having careers fairs and universities, don't forget to submit your CV and collect business cards. Try and get the university careers service/international advisers to look over your CV first though (different format). Yes - you said you [b]think [/b]you are fully prepared for the cold. In which case I doubt it,- LOL . But you may be so excited you won't feel the cold, come as soon as you can to settle in well and get your accommodation sorted, if you have family/friends in London, you should be okay.

@ 1z2much - I thought you should receive you visa letter the same day it says inscan at Oc, for all my students the Inscan at OC only lasted  a few hours before changing to Visa application ready in Ikeja. You can try emailing them and asking them what is happening to your application - that may speed things up. But it should be ready by now. I wish you all the best. Perhaps you should go and sit in the office. 

mufasa:

@ell, please what is your take on independent colleges qualification as a cheap route to a university degree in the uk. For example taking a ABE certificate,diploma & advanced diploma course in management. I understand u can use such qualifications to gain admission in some uk university.
Many of the independent colleges are approved tier 4 sponsors too.

@mufasa - Thanks. 
It is a cheap alternative to enter the UK, and for many people will be the best option. There is a preference on bigger employers to go for universities ranked higher and they have to be public universities. But these are more expensive. If you take one of these ABE advanced diplomas you must have a particular reason for me to advise you properly, some take these diplomas, convert it to a BSc, work in the UK for some time in average jobs and then go on to take Master's gradually, because they did not have much before they came the work from the bottom up. In the long run it may actually cost more, but it may at least get you here legally and give you some preparation before taking more difficult masters degrees etc.

Please tell me your background and dreams so I can advise you properly.

BABABABA:

@ell77

my husband is presently in the UK ,he will like to meet you in person for some advice.regards

@BABABABA
i only help people with student visa related queries or post study work visa and if this is what he is interested in I am ore than happy to help. I am not an expert on all other visa types, so sadly I may not be able to help there. Tell him to email me at director@degreeangel.co.uk or ellaoku@gmail.com. I might reply with address ellaoku@gmail.com for easy access (for security reasons I only access my company email from one computer, but I access my gmail from anywhere and my DegreeAngel messages are bounced to that inbox).

joxiri:

 

  @ell
  completely irrelevant but it seems like you know your stuff
  so i was wondering could you please confirm for me that a bsc undergrad can apply for post study wrk visa if he or she returns to nig, cos i found out somewhere it was only post graduates who can apply from nigeria is this true pls
  and also if one is refused to the post study wrk visa on the stupid £800 rule can he or she re-apply in nigeria and how long after can they reply
   

@Joxiri

The Post Study work visa lasts only two years.

Yes, you can apply if you have obtained a Bachelors or Masters degree from UK, or HND from Scotland. However, this scheme last for two years and does not count towards years spent in UK qualifying you for settlement status! But your salary and qualifications earned in this period will have huge determinants on switching to a longer category of tier one that does count towards settlement status: the Highly skilled Work Visa (can stay up to three years replaces HSMP).

Points relating to course are PhD-50, Master's degree-35 and Bachelor's degree (extension applications only) - 30.

Since you would have switched from another category (Post Study Work Visa), and were not extending. In this case having an MSc would have been your best bet. So either you would have studied the Master's part-time in the two years during your post study work visa or you would have studied the MSc from the outset on your student visa to be eligible for the Highly skilled work visa. Short term the latter is more expensive but cheaper in the long run.

For settlement/Permanent stay in UK:

You must complete a continuous period of five years in the United Kingdom in an eligible immigration category (can include extensions) i.e.:
    * highly skilled worker (Tier 1 General - this does not include post study work visa period);
    * Highly Skilled Migrant Programme;
    * work permit holder;
    * innovator;
    * self-employed lawyer; or
    * writer, composer or artist.

The immigration rules are subject to change and you must meet the rules that are in place at the time that you apply for settlement.

Hope this helps, let me know if you are unsure of anything.

Regards

DegreeAngel UK Ltd

Taken and altered from the following source: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Dirac:

The course I was undergoing in nigeria is a 5yr undergraduate course, I am currently in 3rd yr of that course. I decided to apply to Hertfordshire (Sept entry) and leave this course I am taking in nigeria and apply to Herfordshire. I told Hertfordshire about my situation and asked for a yr 1 entry instead of the foundation I was initially given. They agreed, but when I recieved the visa letter, Under the heading 'Document used to obtain offer of a place' it was stated 'Transcript from final year entry', which is incorrect. What should have been there is 'Transcript from 300 level till date' I guess they assume that been in 300 level implies final yr.

I asked for Jan entry because I felt that I would not meet their Oct. 30th registration deadline. (Today is Oct 14 before I get the Visa letter is probably next wk and visa application can take up to to wks.) They said no Jan entry. Pls What do u advice me to do in this situation?

Okay so I gather they have already given you an extension until the 30th of October. Which is near. I suggest you call your university's international advisers and ask if they send your visa letter by DHL Express 12pm, it is about £85 just for the letter so they may try and say no, but speak to international advisers and let them know you really want to start and there is no point in going through a refund when you can spend £85 now. It should get to you in two days time before 12pm. If they cannot, ask them how you can get a refund.

It is likely they only refund money in extreme circumstances which (you may ask them), normally includes visa rejection (they will probably remove an administration fee also). Your best bet is, I suppose, is then to apply like that if they are not able to give you an extension, including your transcript for the last year you have studied. They have made a mistake on the visa letter, and the date has passed, but without that rejection you may not get your money back from them. The chances of you receiving your visa are moderate (I had a student who got his visa recently in 10 working days from Ikeja even though ihis registration deadline was 5th and he received visa on 6th and he entered UK on 13th, the immigration officers asked him when his course started, he said the course start date passed, but he had an extension she asked for the visa letter with extension, that date had already passed! She called a senior member of staff and she asked him if he had paid any fees, he said he paid half his fees (and then explained reasons for delays), so she said he should go. He has now been at university for two days, I helped him get accommodation the day he arrived, register, meet his course director - everything.

You may or may not be so lucky but at the very least you will get your tuition fees back then you can check other universities who may be offering January intake. What course were you studying that was 5 years long? Since you have done two years and above there are quite a few universities that offer HND top ups where if you did a full HND or if you just did 2/3 years of your BSc you can come to UK and turn it into a full BSc/BA in the UK in one year. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise, less fees for you to pay. But speak to your university first about an extension, I can't believe this happened to you. I wish you all the best, let me know if you need any help.

Regards

DegreeAngel UK Ltd

Khadie:

Hey! I just got my visa! Glory be to God.

Special thanks to Ea$y, Funkybaby and Violent for your support and encouragement. I want to thank others who have contributed in one way or the other. You are all appreciated!

Let pop the champagne, no, let's wait till iz2much gets here!

Congratulations! You seem like a really nice young lady and I am happy for you.

Khadie, welcome to your new life in the UK, it is kind of chilly right about now, so try and get one sweater/jumper and a coat before you come (then you can buy more clothes on arrival), unless you have someone who is going to pick you from the airport, perhaps they can help bring you both. Which part of the UK are you coming to? I can just imagine how excited and ecstatic you must be feeling right now! Are you ready to come?

@ Ea$y, Funkybaby and Violent - I am glad Nairaland has people like you who are willing to help your fellow man for nothing, not all people are like this I hope others may follow in your footsteps, it makes me feel proud!

Dirac:

Hello ell77

I recently gained an admission to the University of Hertfordshire, and I was given foundation yr entry as I am currently a 3rd yr student at a University in Nigeria I ask University of Hertfordshire if they could give me a yr 1 entry instead of the foundation yr I was given previously. They agreed on the condition that I send my Transcripts of results to them, which I did.

However after meeting all their requirements and the visa letter sent to me, I notice that what was written on the visa letter was incorrect. Under the heading 'Document used to obtain offer of a place' it was stated 'Transcript from final year entry' This is incorrect because 3rd yr in Nigeria is not final yr as implied on the visa letter. I sent a mail back to them stating the problem and asked if I could defer my entry to Jan 2010 because of the delay in getting a new visa letter and then applying for the visa. They replied stating that they do not have Jan entry for Undergraduate courses.
(I have paid half of the tuition)

What do u think I should do because I know very well that the embassy will surely point on that aspect on the visa letter, wondering what will make a final yr student want to start all over again.

@Dirac - I might need more details to answer your questions correctly but I am assuming answers to the questions I need to ask in order to speed up the application. Okay here are my questions and my assumptions:

1. Was it a full three year course you applied for? You applied for a full three year undergraduate degree and not a one year top up.
2. Why did the put final year of degree, have you You actually all four years of your degree? You did complete your undergraduate degree.
3. If you did complete your undergrad why didn't you apply for a Master's degree? You did not get a 2.1 or above so felt it would be easier to start from scratch and have a longer time studying to acclimatise to a new way of studying.
4. Why did you ask for deferral to January when a visa letter can reach you in two weeks maximum? Your start date is already this October.

NOTE: IF ANY OF THESE ASSUMPTION ARE WRONG PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS IT MIGHT AFFECT THE ANSWER I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU!

Okay so here is my answer to your question if the previous assumptions are true:
Ask for an extension to your visa for up to one month (they may just give you one or two weeks but some give one month - I assumed you did not start in September), if there is an extension or late resumption date already on the letter then skip this step.

Once you have your visa letter and the transcript and other relevant supporting document, take it to the British VFS office, with your receipt of tuition fee payment (or else they should have already printed the amount of tuition fees you paid on your visa letter).

Sit back and wait for your visa!

Under the old scheme I know people would have been scrutinized for taking another undergraduate degree, but with the new one, the only thing they can comment on is if you had a undergrad and wanted to do A-Levels/International Baccalaureate, GNVQ's or below in UK. It is not their business if you choose to do ten undergraduate degrees the reason you are coming to UK is for your education and it is perfectly reasonable to believe your university in Nigeria did not provide that well enough even though you finished the course. This is also a frequent thing for course changers: i.e. someone who was forced to take for example an education degree because there was no other option, but who really always dreamed of studying biochemistry. It is very common for people to switch careers in the UK and many do so using new training which is often a Master's degree or diploma/certificate but can be an undergraduate degree. The PBS system has made the student visa a lot less subjective than before anyway.

Just make sure you apply on time, if for any reason you are rejected your visa i.e. too late ana pplicatyion. Most universities will return your deposit unless they explicitly stated they would not return it. Please do not provide any false details and double check your application before submitting it.

Good luck!

Khadie:

@ Ell77: and you are running your masters too? I sure admire your zeal!

Thanks its not easy - but I have to say I am an education nut and now is the best time to take it for me. I recommend many people get a masters degree and can't recommend something for someone I don't see value in myself.

annekix:

i think u guys are wrong

The transitional arrangements that were in place allowing funds to be held on the date of application only will no longer apply to applications made outside the UK, on or after 1 October 2009


will no longer apply to applications outside the uk

                      outside the uk

that means applications outside uk before 1st october

get it?,  Abi na my eyes no gree me understand dat english??

No we are not wrong, but yes you are also right! We are all saying the same things except you both spoke about different parts.

Let me break it down.

There are two types of prospective adult students:
1. Those who are outside [/b]the UK and want to apply for tier 4 visa.
2. Those who are [b]inside [/b]the UK and want to apply for tier 4 visa.

So this is the case as it has changed for both groups

[b]Those outside UK:
Previous transitional arrangements allowing funds to be held on the date of application only will no longer apply to applications made [size=14pt]outside [/size]the UK, on or after 1 October 2009 as you rightfully stated.

Those inside UK:
The transitional arrangement allowing funds to be held on the date of application only that were no longer supposed to apply to applications made [size=14pt]inside [/size]the UK, on or after 1 October 2009 have now been extended to February 2010.

Is that clearer? If not feel free to ask again. 

BABABABA:

@ell77

any new video clip?

Lol. There are two here and two in the general visa post. What type of video are you looking for in particular?

chigsmith:

@ell77
pls i cant see any video. where is it?

@chigsmith - I am not sure how to help you as the video is clear on this site for me. Perhaps you should contact Seun or the administrators? I also posted some videos in my other thread.

Khadie:

@ Ell77: good luck with your business registration and everything in Nigeria. You need someone reliable to help you look for an office. I hope you will come to Nigeria to oversee things yourself. So, where is your website url?

@Khadie - Thanks for the well wishes. Yes I have agents looking for an office. But before I pay and sign contracts I have to go to Nigeria to validate things myself. The nature of my job means I am constantly interacting with universities for my students, I am also studying for a Master's degree at UCL part-time myself (full scholarship I might add - so it is possible). I will have to inspect the offices, sign contracts, oversee payments and set up the branch, but I believe in doing things right and it is so easy to be duped when you are not familiar with the process of lease validation in Nigeria - so I can't jump into it! My website is http://www.degreeangel.co.uk as you asked.

erico2k2:

@ell77
ta for the coment, well its realy sad that you are required to pay 6 mths deposit, well like you said, students should read the small prints carefuly, and if the terms dont suit them they should go to another estate agents,I have lived in almost the4 corners of london but never been asked 6 months rents, but then again,I aint a student, well my final advice again to all newbeeeeesss, Stay off from fast money oh,U dont want criminal record against your God blessed name in the UK.

@Erico2k2 - Thank you! It is a very important point, many fall foul as they automatically assume the white man does not do fraud. I personally have been asked to pay 6 months rent in advance or provide a guarantor when I was a student and it was due to the calibre of the property, but only once. This is more common with international students and people on DSS. As a full-time employee a work reference is enough so I am not surprised you have not experienced it. I was shocked myself to be asked for it as I had seen 3 properties that day and it was the very last one that stated those terms. A landlord is more likely to do this if one of the following apply:
1. They feel people are rushing for their property and have bargaining power
2. They are going to travel for a while and need to feel secure about having a lump sum in their account without chasing you down
3. They have had bad experiences with tenant before (it is hard to remove tenants even if they have defaulted and most landlords rely on your rent to pay their monthly mortgage)
4. They are racist/have stereotypes about your demographic!

All of these things are rare to the average Brit like you and I (I see your a Londoner like me), but are not impossible, they are more frequent with international students and DSS (social security benefits) holders, unfortunately. But you guys have a choice so be sure to search around and find out if what help your university can offer.