During the current Covid-19 outbreak, we understand that our international applicants will have will have lots of questions.
The University is continuing to develop its plans for the new academic year, taking into account the latest government advice and guidelines. The information presented on this page is therefore subject to change and we recommend that you regularly check back for the most up to date information.
Page last updated: 16/09/2020
This has been a challenging time for everybody. Please familiarise yourself with the FAQs on this page and also take the time to read the letter to international students written by the Education & Universities Ministers.
Letter to prospective International Students from Education & Universities Ministers
Before you come on campus:
Current UK government guidance is that people coming from certain countries across the world will need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the United Kingdom. If you are travelling from certain countries, you may be exempt from the self-quarantine requirement. You can check if you are from an exempt country on the UK Government website.
Please note: If you are travelling to the United Kingdom via a non-exempt country (even if no-one gets on or off the aircraft or vehicle you are travelling on) you will need to quarantine for the full 14 day period upon your arrival into the UK.
Due to the unpredictability of the pandemic, the list of exempt countries is subject to change at any time and you should check the Government web site page at regular intervals, including just before you depart, to ensure there are no changes to whether or not you will need to complete the self-quarantine
As part of the Government rules, all people coming into the UK need to complete a locator form before being allowed entry. It is downloadable from the Government website.
Government guidance is constantly changing so please always refer to the Government website for the most up to date advice.
Please check the guidance to see if you do need to quarantine or not and then check out our further information below.
If you are travelling from a country is on the list of countries which are required to quarantine then you will need to quarantine upon arrival in the UK.
If you are coming straight into your Teesside University accommodation you will be expected to quarantine for 14 days in the room you have been allocated for the academic year 2020/2021. If your room is not available for your early arrival due to it being occupied over the summer, we will provide you with a temporary alternative room for your quarantine period.
Your Teesside University Accommodation Tenancy Agreement for your room starts on Sunday 20th September 2020. However, if you arrive in time to complete your 14 day quarantine period in time to start Welcome Week on Monday 21st September 2020, your room in this 14 day quarantine period will be provided for you free of charge. This means you will need to arrive on Monday 7th September 2020 to qualify for the full 14 days. If you arrive after 7th September 2020 but before Sunday 20th September 2020 you not be charged up until your Tenancy Agreement starts on 20th September 2020. Please note: You should not arrive before Monday 7th September 2020 as your room may not be ready.
You and anyone accompanying you will be subject to a temperature check when you collect your key. If you have a high temperature this will not prevent you moving into your room but is to help us to manage any potential for immediate need for individuals/flats to self-isolate while any necessary tests are then undertaken.
As you should not go out of your house/apartment at all during your quarantine period, including to the shops, it is important that you bring what you need with you for the full 14 days period. Don't forget that you can buy our kitchen, bedding, food and hygiene packs too as described above. They will be very helpful for you if you cannot bring these things with you.
The students you are sharing your student house with do not need to self-isolate, unless they have travelled with you or are experiencing signs of COVID-19, in which case they should seek advice from the NHS by either calling 111 or checking out the NHS website.
During your quarantine period you need to avoid spending time in the communal areas of your house/apartment when the other students are in there. It may be useful for you to agree with each other some basic rules about using the kitchens and washroom facilities at different times.
In your room in your house or apartment there will be some useful information about living in halls, what do to if you need something while you are in quarantine, contact details for the Accommodation Team, Security, the Wardens who live in your halls, Student and Library Services and others. There will be plenty of support for you.
If you have any questions please contact the Accommodation Team at accommodation@tees.ac.uk for further advice.
To make things easier for you when you arrive we can offer the following items which you can purchase from us before you arrive. They will be in your room when you get here so you don't have to worry about getting them Please note: this is especially important for those students who will need to quarantine. You can get:
It is very easy to do, you simply go on to the online shop, order and pay for these and we will make sure they are in your room for when you get here.
Online shop
If you are travelling from a country which is exempt from the quarantine list and have been in an exempt country for the last 14 days before you left then you will not need to quarantine.
You and anyone accompanying you will be subject to a temperature check when you collect your key. If you have a high temperature this will not prevent you moving into your room but is to help us to manage any potential for immediate need for individuals/flats to self-isolate while any necessary tests are then undertaken.
In your room in your house or apartment there will be some useful information about the university and the area.
You can then move around freely following the UK government guidelines around social distancing etc.
You should NOT attempt to collect your BRP while you are in a period of quarantine.
Your BRP will be held by the Post Office for at least 60 days.
You should collect your BRP after any required period of quarantine.
Please take your Passport and UKVI decision letter/ email to the Post Office when you intend to collect your BRP.
If you are unsure if you need to register, check your visa and your visa decision letter/email, and read the read the Government guidance.
Seek advice from an International Student Adviser if you are still unsure: international@tees.ac.uk.
If you are required to have a Police Registration Certificate, you must register your online Police Registration account within 7 days of arriving in the UK.
Please note, you are NOT able to book a Police Registration appointment at the moment, but you must still register your online account and complete the application form.
Any enquiries please contact:
Email:
Foreign.NationalsRegistrationUnit@cleveland.pnn.police.uk
Telephone: 01642 301319
Clevelabd Police website
Upon arrival in the UK we strongly recommend that you use Teesside University's Meet and Greet Service to get to the University. Please note: this service is available from Teesside International Airport or Newcastle International Airport only, and will be available between 7 - 29 September 2020 at specified slots. You must book at least five working days before you arrive.
More about the Meet & Greet service
Upon arrival to Teesside International Airport or Newcastle International Airport you will be met by someone from the Meet and Greet team. They will give you the information you need to know and also give you the key to your room so you have it when you arrive.
Our Pre-Departure Guide is a useful booklet that aims to answer all your questions about applying to Teesside University, travelling to Middlesbrough and settling into your new life in the UK. This detailed guide covers subjects such as how to apply for your CAS and visa, what to pack, getting through UK customs, travelling to and around Middlesbrough, current Coronavirus restrictions in the UK, finding a part-time job, what to expect on campus and much more. It also contains checklists you can use to make sure you have taken all the steps you need to complete from applying to arriving and links to further information on many related subjects.
A hybrid teaching model means that you complete some of your learning in person on campus and some of your learning online. We plan to give you access to a range of facilities, resources and learning experiences although some of these on campus will necessarily only be made available in line with current UK government social distancing restrictions. Completing some of your learning remotely online has the advantage of being accessible and available to complete at a time and a pace that suits you. We are working on producing your individual course timetable under the hybrid teaching model and will share this with you as soon as is possible.
Teesside University has a strong track record of innovation in teaching and learning, and our Future Facing Learning approach puts us in a really good place to deliver online elements of your study. We are therefore not expecting there to be any change to the quality of your degree.
We appreciate that due to international travel restrictions, medical or accessibility reasons, it might not be possible for you join us on campus at the beginning of Semester 1.
In this case, for most courses you will have two options:
If you are unable to join us on campus in September 2020, depending on your course, you should be able to start your studies online and access online induction activities. You will still need to meet the usual application deadlines for the September enrolment (induction activities begin on 21st September 2020) and you should apply for your visa at least 15 working days before the course start date of 21st September 2020 in the same way. You should join us on campus as soon as you can in Semester 1. For most courses it will be possible to join us on campus at any point in Semester 1, or at the very latest, in time for the beginning of Semester 2 (January 2021). There are a very small number of courses where this does not apply, and we will advise you if this is the case when you contact us to tell us your plans.
You should let us know when you have arranged your flight so that we can make arrangements for your on-campus enrolment upon arrival in the UK.
What happens when applying for my visa if I choose this option?
You will still be issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number with a course start date of 21st September 2020 and so will need to apply for your visa at least 15 working days before this date. You may then need to obtain a new entry clearance vignette when you are able to book a flight to come to the UK if the vignette you are originally issued with has expired by the date of travel.
Please contact internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk to let us know about your plans at your earliest convenience. If you are a student from China, please contact our China office at china@tees.ac.uk.
Many of our courses have a January 2021 start date so you may wish to consider deferring your place until then. Please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk if you would like to do this and we will send you an updated Offer Letter. You will then apply for your visa closer to the time. If you are a student from China, please contact our China office at china@tees.ac.uk.
No - the deadline for new applications for September remains as 20 August 2020. All conditions must be met by 21 August 2020.
Even if you plan to arrive late in the UK, you must begin your course online no later than 9 October 2020, which is the final enrolment date, regardless of any late arrival in the UK.
Even if you plan to join your studies on campus, late, you must have a CAS and be in the process of applying for your visa in order to enrol (latest enrolment date 9 October 2020). However, you do not need to have obtained your visa by that date if you plan to arrive after 9 October 2020.
The UK government has extended the validity of vignettes to 90 days due to the current pandemic. So you should not delay in applying for your visa but if you are still unable to travel to the UK within the validity of your vignette, please contact UKVI to check on the process for a replacement.
Yes, we are planning for your course fees to remain the same as detailed on the webpage for your chosen course of study.
If you have firmly accepted an offer to study with us in September 2020 then your place on your chosen course is secure provided you meet all the conditions of your offer. The current UK government social distancing restrictions mean only that we may need to limit the number of students accessing facilities and resources in one location at one time. It does not mean we have to reduce the number of students that can enrol on a course. Adopting the hybrid teaching model should allow us to enrol all successful offer holders on to their chosen course and tailor the delivery of our courses using both online and on campus delivery to ensure we meet social distancing guidelines.
You may have seen in the news that the government is considering imposing limits on the number of students that each university in England can recruit. However, Teesside University has not changed its Admissions policies and procedures in response to the COVID-19 situation and has therefore not engaged in the practice of making offers in excess of places available as some other Universities have.
Through the Teesside University Advance Scheme, we are planning to issue an Apple iPad device to all undergraduate students entering Year 1 or a Foundation year.
More about our Advance Scheme
Our Student and Library Services already provide a laptop loans service through which we are planning to make some devices available to be borrowed. We are also aiming to put in place necessary measures that allow our existing computer clusters on campus to be used in line with UK government social distancing restrictions.
Some courses may require access to specialist software. This is why different learning arrangements are being put in place for different courses under our hybrid teaching model. We are working through the detail of each courses requirements over the next few weeks to ensure suitable learning solutions are put in place for you on each course. You can be assured that you will have everything you need to complete your course and achieve your learning outcomes.
The hybrid teaching model means that we plan to deliver some aspects of your learning experience on campus and some online. We are planning on having facilities and resources open on campus but access to these will be available in line with any UK government social distancing restrictions that are in place during the start of Semester 1 onwards. We are planning for shared areas and resources to be frequently cleaned and there may be a limit on the number of students accessing facilities and resources in one location at the same time.
For most courses, there is no placement requirement in Semester 1 of the course if you are entering in Year 1. Therefore, if you are joining us in September 2020 it should, be possible for you to go on your placement by the time this is due to take place.
If you would normally have been scheduled to attend placement in Semester 1 then we will be in touch with further details for you and your course on whether this is likely to be permitted under current and expected social distancing guidelines. If it is not likely to be permitted, we will further advise on the alternate arrangements that are being put in place to ensure you are still able to meet your course requirements.
Most students will have a minimum of four hours face-to-face learning each week, on average, across the semester. There may be some variation in courses that have placement elements, where additional learning takes place off-campus, and for part-time and research students - we'll provide this course-level detail to you in the coming weeks.
From the 8 June 2020 everyone arriving in the UK from abroad will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. The UK government plans to review this measure every three weeks and so it is possible this requirement may not be in place by the time your course starts in September. As such, we recommend that you check
coronavirus guidance or e-mail
international.enquiries@tees.ac.uk for the latest information just before you travel to the UK. If you do need to self-isolate when you arrive in the UK then you should ensure you have arranged accommodation before you travel to the UK. This accommodation would be at your own cost in the same way that it is for the remainder of your course. We recommend that you make arrangements to book a place in University accommodation before you travel to the UK. Using University accommodation would help ensure that you have a guaranteed safe place to stay ready for you on arrival at Teesside University if the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days is still in place. Book your accommodation after you have firmly accepted your offer from the University.
Book your accommodation
We recognise that there may be a range of travel restrictions or lockdowns in your home country. If you are unable to start your course in September 2020 then please contact us to discuss your options.
international.admissions@tees.ac.uk
You will still need to pay the immigration health surcharge when you make your Tier 4 visa application. This entitles you to use the NHS once you are in the UK.
More information on immigration health surcharges
A number of airports in the UK remain open though due to COVID-19, many airlines have adjusted their flight schedules. Over the coming months we expect several services to be re-instated. Once you have received your Tier 4 visa please contact international.enquiries@tees.ac.uk or one of our Regional Offices if you need some advice or assistance on possible travel options.
Yes, we are planning to still run a meet and greet service to help you with your arrival at Teesside University.
More about our meet and greet service
The UK is following the UK Governments COVID-19 recovery strategy which should hopefully minimise the risk of a new outbreak. However, if this did happen then you would not have to return home. Your Tier 4 visa will be valid for the full duration of your course and this would allow you to remain in the UK. The hybrid teaching model being deployed by Teesside University means that your course provision should continue in such an eventuality.
Local businesses are operating in line with current UK government social distancing restrictions. We know that a key part of the international student experience when you come to study in the UK is the opportunity to immerse yourself in British life and culture. While things may still be a little different in September, it is a once in a life time chance to experience a unique moment in the history of the UK as people work together to overcome current challenges.
No, offers are being processed as normal. If you have applied and are waiting for a decision then your application will be under consideration and the international admissions team will be in touch with you in due course.
If you need to discuss your offer, please contact us on +44 (0) 1642 738900 to speak to an enrolment advisor or contact your regional office using the following numbers:
South East Asia regional office: +603 22826622
South Asia regional office: +91 9873005531
Teesside University China office: +86 10 58206168
West Africa Regional office: +2349066015859
Although the main buildings on campus are closed, operational functions continue. Your application will still be processed as normal, the international admissions team are continuing to work on their usual tasks and your application will be handled in the usual manner.
Please email international.admissions@tees.ac.uk with details of the examination you were due to take and any information you have on it being cancelled or rescheduled. If you have transcripts showing marks achieved to date then please attach these to the e-mail. We will review each application on a case-by-case basis.
If you have already completed your English Language test, you will need to wait for your local test centre to reopen to obtain your results.
The University also accepts other tests. You should try to book one of these tests to meet the conditions of your offer.
We will now accept the following qualifications to pass our English Language Entry requirements without you needing to also complete an additional Teesside English Language Test Skype Interview:
As many IELTS test centres are currently closed due to the global pandemic, we will also now accept the following online English language tests for you to demonstrate your English language ability and meet your condition, for September/October 2020 entry only
The above will be accepted in addition to the qualifications listed already listed in the University's English Language Policy and on our website, which includes details of equivalent scores needed on each test.
Standard University English language requirements
UKVI have updated their list of approved Secure English Language Test Centres.
We can therefore now accept the following Secure English Language Test results for applications to courses below degree level:
We hope this will make your application journey easier.
If your exam has been cancelled please contact international admissions with details of the qualification you are expecting to be awarded and attach any transcripts you have from your current study to date.
We are unable to allow late admissions/deadline extensions. If you are not in a position to submit your documents within the required timescales you will need ask us to defer your offer to our January 2021 intake. If the situation changes in the coming months, we will write to you to advise you of this.
If you are unable to travel back to your home country to take exams, you will need to discuss your personal situation with your test provider.
Yes. The hybrid teaching model would still require you to attend campus at certain times so that we can deliver some parts of your course. As such, if you are accepted on to a course at Teesside University, we would aim to issue you with a CAS and you would need to apply for a Tier 4 visa in the usual way. For more information see: https://www.tees.ac.uk/international/cas. If you would prefer to remain in your home country but still study a course with Teesside University then you would need to apply for one of our online courses: https://www.tees.ac.uk/sections/onlinelearning/
Yes. You will still need a valid visa to be able to come to the UK and study your course at Teesside University. Once you have met all your offer conditions you need to either send a copy of your Sponsor letter or pay your deposit online.
Pay your deposit online
Once you have done this we would issue you with a Confirmation of Offer details letter and then you will need to complete the steps detailed on our webpages.
CAS application process
For courses starting in September 2020 we plan to begin issuing CAS on the 22 June 2020. To receive a CAS you need to meet all the conditions on your offer. Please check your offer letter for instructions. Once you have met all your offer conditions you need to either send a copy of your Sponsor letter or pay your deposit online.
Pay your deposit online
Once you have done this we would issue you with a Confirmation of Offer details letter and then you will need to complete the steps detailed on our webpages.
CAS application process
We would try to defer your offer to either our January 2021 intake or September 2021 intake if you are unable to travel in September due to travel restrictions in your home country. Please get in touch with the International Admissions Team if you wish to do this on international.admissions@tees.ac.uk.
We are continuing to administer our admissions processes as usual including the requirement for a £4,000 deposit. We do understand that applicants may have some concerns regarding payment of deposits should you be unable to join us as planned in September 2020 due to COVID-19. We would like to reassure you that if you are unable to join us on campus due to travel restrictions in your home country then we will refund any deposit paid to the University to secure your CAS.
Some of our courses have a January 2021 intake. Please check the webpage for your chosen course to see if this is available for your course. If you decide you would like to defer your offer to either January 2021 or September 2021 then please send an e-mail with your request to the Admissions Team that sent you your offer letter.
Find a course
If your country is in lockdown in September and you are unable to make arrangements to commence your studies please contact international.admissions@tees.ac.uk.
We are more than happy to arrange for you to defer to our January 2021 intake, please get in touch with the International admissions team if you wish to do this on international.admissions@tees.ac.uk. Please be aware however that we cannot guarantee places in January, as not all courses are available for a January start date and there is limited capacity.
We realise we are operating in uncertain times. We are of course monitoring the situation closely and would hope to be able to welcome you on campus for enrolment and induction in September as usual. With this in mind, we are continuing to administer our admissions processes as usual including the requirement for a £4,000 deposit. We do understand that applicants may have some concerns regarding payment of deposits should you be unable to join us as planned in September 2020 due to COVID 19. We would like to reassure you that should you be unable to join us on campus due to travel restrictions in your home country we will refund the deposit paid to the University to secure your CAS.
If you have any concerns, please contact studentwellbeing@tees.ac.uk and for medical advice contact NHS 111
The University continues to heed government advice and we're regularly updating our own guidance.