If you have a degree taught or researched in English
Until 05-Apr-2016
Use the
PBS calculator, as follows (the
caseworkers are advised to follow the same steps to check an applicant's qualification using PBS calculator):
- 1. tier dropdown: select ‘Tier 2 (Skilled workers)’
(don't worry if you were never a Tier 2 migrant, it doesn't matter; those who don't understand why it is irrelevant, reading this post will help)
2. category drop-down: select ‘Tier 2 (General)’
3. ‘where are you applying from?’ question: select ‘Outside the United Kingdom’ (this is the quickest way to get to the required stage in the system)
4. in the following ‘Sponsorship’ and ‘Salary’ stages select either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ ( it does not matter which)
5. in the ‘English skills’ stage, select ‘I have a UK Bachelor degree-equivalent qualification (or above) that was taught in English’
6. enter details of the qualification in the following drop-down lists, up to and including ‘Year of award’
7. in the table displayed on the next screen, check the ‘Points for English language’ column:
If 10 points are displayed,
the qualification has been deemed by UK NARIC to be academically equivalent to a UK Bachelor degree or higher and to have been taught in English. Take a prinout of this webpage to be included in the application. <
CHANGES>
If zero points are displayed, the qualification may either have been deemed to be below UK Bachelor degree level, or not taught in English, or both.
In such case, there are two options:
If ELA or SoC also deem the qualification to be below UK bachelor degree level then the only option is to take an
approved English language test.
From 06-Apr-2016
From 06-Apr-2016, a printout of the points-based calculator on gov.uk website cannot be used as evidence of English language proficiency to the prescribed standard.
If you hold a UK qualification that you wish to use as evidence of English language proficiency:
As on date, NARIC V&NS portal doesn't allow you to enter "UK" as country of study and displays the following message - "You have entered a UK qualification, you do not need the visa service for UK qualifications". Therefore:
If you hold an academic qualification: Submit your original (bachelor, master or PhD) degree certificate. No other document required - you may wish to include a print-screen of the NARIC V&NS webpage displaying the message mentioned above, your choice! See also
this post.
If you hold a vocational / professional qualification: You cannot use a vocational / professional qualification to meet English language proficiency requirement. You will need to take a SELT (see Q4).
If you hold an overseas qualification that you wish to use as evidence of English language proficiency:
From 06-Apr-2016 applicants will need to apply for NARIC statement(s) using their new
VIsa and Nationality Services:
Apply online for official UK NARIC statements, custom-designed for immigration purposes, that confirm your academic qualification level and/or English language proficiency – as appropriate for your personal circumstances and immigration route. All the key information required by Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) case workers is presented clearly.
What is the Visas and Nationality service for? wrote:A new online application system has been specifically developed and will provide official UK NARIC Visas and Nationality statements, custom-designed for immigration purposes. These statements confirm your academic qualification level and/or English language proficiency – as appropriate for your personal circumstances and immigration route. The new security-enhanced statements present clearly all the key information regarding your qualification(s)(about your qualifications, country of study etc) required by UKVI immigration case workers.
Costs
Note: It is not yet known for certain if ELA or SoC (+university letter) are being accepted by UKV&I for immigration applications submitted after 06-Apr-2016. Since there has been no announcement regarding "transitional arrangements" either, please check with UKV&I beforehand if you wish to use ELA / SoC for applications to be submitted after 05-Apr-2016.