If you hold a Student Route visa to study at UAL, we’ve sponsored you to learn on campus in London. All your studies should take place on-site. This includes writing up your dissertation or final project.
There are 2 schemes where students on taught postgraduate courses can apply to study away from UAL.
1. Temporary research leave
You may be allowed to change your location of study for a short period if you need to:
- collect data for your dissertation or final project
- conduct research for your dissertation or final project
- carry out art and design practice that is integral to your major project.
Who is eligible for research leave
Students can apply for temporary research leave:
- during the last year of your postgraduate taught degree
- for up to 12 weeks in total while you’re doing your dissertation or final project*
- in up to 3 different locations while you're away
- outside the UK or in a different location within the UK
- where the purpose is related to your major project
- where you are not the recipient of US Federal Loans.
* Restrictions on timeframes will apply for some courses, such as the London College of Fashion 12 month MA courses.
We will only authorise temporary research leave if you:
- have no other course-related activities that require you to be on campus during this time
- have satisfactory attendance and engagement with your studies
- are up to date with the payment of your course fees
- get approval from your Course Leader, Supervisor or appropriate Postgraduate Academic staff member.
If you meet the requirements, you may be permitted to study overseas and/or away from campus.
Speak to the Student Advice Service
Before you apply for research leave you must contact the Student Advice Service to ensure you are aware of any impacts on
- your fee status or
- any scholarships, bursaries or awards you receive.
How to apply
To apply for temporary research leave from your taught postgraduate course, complete the Temporary research leave request form (Word 30KB). You'll need to provide:
- a 200-word research plan or plan of work
- details of all locations (overseas and/or in the UK) where you plan to study.
Send your completed form to your Course Leader, Supervisor or appropriate Postgraduate Academic staff member.
They will review the form and let you know whether your request has been approved.
If approved, your change of location will be reported to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Deadlines
Students will be informed of the application deadline by their Programme Administration team. Any applications received after the deadline will not be approved.
Alternative formats
The request form may not be fully accessible. If you need it in a different format contact your Programme Administration team in the first instance.
Attendance and engagement whilst you're away
As your sponsor, UAL is required by UKVI to monitor your attendance and engagement during term time. If you remain fully engaged with your course, the University will not withdraw you and sponsorship of your student visa will still be valid.
The UAL Attendance policy will still apply whilst you are away.
Your engagement with your course must be monitored, even though you are away from campus. Your contact points must be at least every 2 weeks.
- If you become ill while overseas and need additional time to carry out research/collect data, you should request Authorised Absence for the period that you are unwell. This should be under the category ‘Extended periods of illness’ and provide the relevant evidence. You must also as soon as practical tell your Course Leader, Supervisor or appropriate Postgraduate Academic staff member and your College or Institute Programme Administration team.
- If additional time is granted, the University will inform UKVI.
Returning to the UK
To keep your Student Route visa, you must return to London for the remainder of your course by the date approved by your Course Leader, Supervisor or appropriate Postgraduate Academic staff member.
You must return to campus before your course finishes, and no later than 2 weeks before your final assessment deadline.
If you spent time overseas, when you return to the UK you must provide as soon as possible a copy of your entry stamp (if you received one) or boarding pass/flight tickets to your College or Institute.
Your eligibility for the Graduate Route visa after taking research leave
There is a risk that your eligibility for the Graduate Route visa may be affected, especially for students doing a postgraduate taught course that is 12 months or less.
Temporarily studying overseas should not impact your eligibility for the Graduate Route visa, as long as it is needed for your studies and you fulfil the responsibilities of your current visa.
However, this is not UAL's decision. Regrettably, UKVI has not yet updated its guidance about students temporarily studying overseas. Currently, you still have to declare your travel history in your application.
UKVI will assess and decide whether you will be granted a Graduate Route visa, even though you spent time outside the UK during term time.
2. Completing your dissertation outside the UK
Students may be eligible to complete their dissertation overseas and not return to the UK.
UAL will withdraw sponsorship and as a result, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will cancel your visa.
Who is eligible to complete their dissertation outside the UK
You may be allowed to complete your dissertation or final project overseas only if:
- you have no other course-related activities that require you to be in the UK
- you've had satisfactory attendance and engagement with your studies
- you're up to date with the payment of your course fees
- your Course Leader, Supervisor or other appropriate Postgraduate Academic staff member approves it.
If you’re permitted to complete your dissertation/final project overseas, you must fill in the Completion of course overseas request form (Word 21KB).
This request form may not be fully accessible. If you need it in a different format contact your Programme Administration team in the first instance.
Speak to the Student Advice Service
If you choose to complete your dissertation or final project overseas and you do not intend to return to the UK, you must speak to the Student Advice Service.
This is to make sure you understand the impact on your visa of your decision not to return to the UK.
Impacts on your visa, now and in the future
UAL will report to UKVI that you will no longer be studying in the UK. You’ll receive an email confirming the withdrawal of UAL sponsorship. You must leave the UK within 60 days of the date of this email.
- You will no longer be eligible to apply for the Graduate Route visa.
- You cannot leave the Common Travel Area and re-enter once you have been reported to UKVI.
- If you wish to return to the UK to attend graduation, you must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa.