Regraded from PhD to MPhil - Visa Refused

[ae171523]

Hi all, my visa has been refused following my application to switch from my current PhD visa to an MPhil visa. I applied from within the UK given my circumstances that I just delivered a baby.
My university was aware of this that the new CAS they issued was meant for an application in the UK. Apparently the reason for the refusal is because there is no academic progress (from RQF 8 to RQF 7). Does anyone know if the rules apply the same for an application to switch made from outside UK? I have been in the country from 2016 (on student dependent previously) and had a child turning 7 in Aug 2024 which qualify her for an ILR this year.If I return and apply to switch from outside UK, will it break my cycle from 2016 and start new? On the other hand, I could apply for an administrative review for this refusal just that I cant quite think of what to say. Can anyone advice?

Just clueless and stressful here. Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

[sah10406]

My university was aware of this that the new CAS they issued was meant for an application in the UK. Apparently the reason for the refusal is because there is no academic progress (from RQF 8 to RQF 7). Does anyone know if the rules apply the same for an application to switch made from outside UK?

No. Academic Progress is only specifically required for an application made in the UK, not an application made outside the UK.

I strongly advise looking into this with the international student advice person at the university. The university does not want a refusal on its record either, so if it can be challenged through an admin review they will help you.

There will only be grounds for an AR if the caseworker has made a mistake, not if you or your university has made a mistake.

[razergd1]

Is the MPhil in the same subject?
Is your transfer resulted from your confirmation review?
I think if that's the case you should definitely consult the university.
A transfer from PhD to M.Phill is a common practice I don't exactly know what it means in terms of progress from UKVI point of view but I can't see how this can't be allowed.

[razergd1]

Is the MPhil in the same subject?
Is your transfer resulted from your confirmation review?
I think if that's the case you should definitely consult the university.
A transfer from PhD to M.Phill is a common practice I don't exactly know what it means in terms of progress from UKVI point of view but I can't see how this can't be allowed.

Just looked at university of Cambridge advice.
According to their website, a change from PhD to M.Phil is not allowed in the country.

So it appears that you will have to make the application outside the UK. I suggest you contact you university international student support and discuss with them as soon as possible.

https://www.internationalstudents.cam.a ... a%20policy.

[Frontier Mole]

If / when you apply for the lessor course overseas there is a high probability that it will be refused. There is a presumption that education is a continuous progression and hence dropping down to less than PhD (as this was your last grant) is unlikely to be readily accepted.
I would talk to the university before deciding what your next steps are.
Your refusal will not help either.

[ae171523]

Is the MPhil in the same subject?
Is your transfer resulted from your confirmation review?
I think if that's the case you should definitely consult the university.
A transfer from PhD to M.Phill is a common practice I don't exactly know what it means in terms of progress from UKVI point of view but I can't see how this can't be allowed.

In the same subject but was regraded to MPhil following an internal review. I don't see why this can't be allowed to but apparently, I have to do a new visa for this purpose.

[ae171523]

My university was aware of this that the new CAS they issued was meant for an application in the UK. Apparently the reason for the refusal is because there is no academic progress (from RQF 8 to RQF 7). Does anyone know if the rules apply the same for an application to switch made from outside UK?

No. Academic Progress is only specifically required for an application made in the UK, not an application made outside the UK.

I strongly advise looking into this with the international student advice person at the university. The university does not want a refusal on its record either, so if it can be challenged through an admin review they will help you.

There will only be grounds for an AR if the caseworker has made a mistake, not if you or your university has made a mistake.

Thank you and if my dependants' visa expires (till Sept 2025), do I also have to make a new one for them? (say if the AR is rejected and I have to go back and do it from outside the UK). It's still under the same type of visa (in this case Student Visa) though.

[ae171523]

Is the MPhil in the same subject?
Is your transfer resulted from your confirmation review?
I think if that's the case you should definitely consult the university.
A transfer from PhD to M.Phill is a common practice I don't exactly know what it means in terms of progress from UKVI point of view but I can't see how this can't be allowed.

Just looked at university of Cambridge advice.
According to their website, a change from PhD to M.Phil is not allowed in the country.

So it appears that you will have to make the application outside the UK. I suggest you contact you university international student support and discuss with them as soon as possible.

https://www.internationalstudents.cam.a ... a%20policy.

Yeah you are not allowed apparently but my university was aware of my situation during the time of application that I just deliver a baby and its quite hard to travel (given the fact I was still hospitalised) during the time that they decided to issue a CAS for an in-country application.

[sah10406]

My university was aware of this that the new CAS they issued was meant for an application in the UK. Apparently the reason for the refusal is because there is no academic progress (from RQF 8 to RQF 7). Does anyone know if the rules apply the same for an application to switch made from outside UK?

(say if the AR is rejected and I have to go back and do it from outside the UK).

What were the grounds for the AR? The refusal appears to have been correct, so there are no grounds for an AR. Has the university encouraged you to do an AR for some reason?