Will I have to attend a credibility interview as part of my Student visa application?
You may be selected to attend an interview as part of your visa application, either inside or outside of the UK. The interview is designed to ensure that you have a genuine intention to study in the UK and that your English language ability is suitable for you to do this. It is likely that you will be interviewed if you are making the application overseas. You may also be interviewed if submitting a visa application (permission to stay) in the UK, although this is less likely than if you apply overseas. If you are invited to an interview in the UK, this may be because the caseworker requires further information about your education history and desire to study your chosen course in order to make a decision on your application. You may be selected for an interview in the UK particularly if your previous level of UK study is the same as your new course.
What will my interview involve?
If overseas, you will be interviewed at the Visa Application Centre via a video-link to a UKVI officer based in the UK. If you are in the UK, the interview will also be conducted via a video-link at a UKVI centre. These are located in many cities across the UK. Your interview should take place at the nearest location to where you live but this cannot always be guaranteed. The interview will typically last around 30 minutes.
Do not be alarmed if you are selected for an interview. This is part of the standard visa application process. You must ensure that you attend the interview as it is compulsory unless you have a valid reason why you cannot attend. If you need to rearrange the interview then instructions will be provided in the invite letter from UKVI. Your visa application will automatically be refused if you do not attend without good cause.
What type of questions will I be asked?
If you are asked to attend an interview, make sure that you answer the questions clearly and honestly. The questions will cover the following areas:
1. Your intentions to study: You must be able to answer questions about the course you wish to study in the UK and explain how and why you made the decision to study this course at Brunel University London. Therefore, before you attend the interview, you should think about why you specifically chose to study at Brunel instead of in your home country or at another UK institution. What does Brunel University and our course offer that other institutions did not? You may wish to refer to our website for information about the campus. It is likely that you will be asked specific questions about the content and structure of your chosen course so you may wish to prepare for this by reviewing your relevant course page on our website.
2. Your education history: You may be asked about what you have studied in the past and how this relates to your chosen course at Brunel. If you have previously studied in the UK, you may be asked to explain why you wish to return to the UK and how the combination of these courses support your future plans. If there have been any gaps between your periods of study, you will need to explain these carefully.
3. Your career plans after you have finished studying: You need to carefully think about what you intend to do after you have finished your course and how this supports your career plans. How can the knowledge gained on the course be applied to your intended profession? You may be asked about how much you would expect to earn in your chosen career and how the cost of studying in the UK justifies the financial commitment you will be making in coming to study in the UK.
4. Your financial circumstances: The financial cost of studying in the UK is considerable, so you are likely to be asked why you have made this decision when the cost of studying in your home country or other countries may be a lot less. Your financial details may be discussed at the interview to check that you have access to enough money to support you while you study, including tuition and accommodation fees and living costs. Although you would have supplied financial documents in your visa application to demonstrate you have the funds required for the first year of your course (see the section on maintenance requirements above), you may need to explain how any subsequent years of the course will be covered. You will need to be prepared to answer some quite personal questions, such as how much you or your parent/s earn (if they are funding your studies) and the source and availability of your funds. If you are being financially sponsored by your government or an international company, or are receiving an education loan, you will need to be able to provide details of this.
The interview will also be checking your ability to speak in English. You must be able to communicate in basic English, regardless of any qualifications you may hold. You will not be allowed to use an interpreter.
So please remember, if you are selected for an interview, please note the following points:
- Do not be alarmed - it is a normal part of the visa process.
- Be prepared to answer questions as outlined above and use information we have provided to help you.
- Please inform your interviewer if you experience any problems during the interview, for example, if you cannot hear them clearly on the video.