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Here are some important notes to all CES future students!
Insurance
Students are not insured by CES or your homestay against illness, theft or loss of personal belongings and the school accepts no responsibility in the event of these. We advise all students to take our full medical and personal insurance cover prior to departure. Students travelling from EU countries should bring their European Health Insurance card with them and students from non-EU countries must organise medical insurance, this is available on request at each school and is a visa requirement.
Students are not insured by CES or your homestay against illness, theft or loss of personal belongings and the school accepts no responsibility in the event of these. We advise all students to take our full medical and personal insurance cover prior to departure. Students travelling from EU countries should bring their European Health Insurance card with them and students from non-EU countries must organise medical insurance, this is available on request at each school and is a visa requirement.
Summer courses
During the peak summer period, courses take place at other city premises in addition to the main school buildings. These are centrally located and within walking distance of all amenities.
Airport transfers to homestay
Please see our price list for more details or contact the centre you are most interested in visiting for more detailed information. You can get all our contact information on our Contact Us page!
Special dietary requirements
Some of our students have special dietary requirements and it is necessary for CES to impose a surcharge where the family need to purchase or additional or speciality foodstuffs.
Working in Ireland
Any student coming to Ireland from outside the E.U has the possibility to work
part-time legally during their course to help pay the bills. Students from countries such as Brazil, who do not require a visa to come to Ireland, can study and work for a period of up to 25 weeks without the need to apply for a visa. For more information on the Visa for Ireland please see below.
Any students that wishes to gain employment in ireland will require the following:
The Personal Public Service Number (PPS)
Information
Your Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) is a unique reference number that helps to you to gain access to social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. State Agencies that use PPS Numbers to identify individuals include the Department of Social and Family Affairs (http://www.welfare.ie/), the Revenue Commissioners (http://www.revenue.ie/) and the Health Services Executive (HSE) Areas. The PPS Number is the new name for the Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number. If you already have a RSI number, it will not change, it will simply be known from now on as your PPS Number.
I'm coming to Ireland soon - how do I get a PPS Number?
You cannot apply for a PPS Number before your arrival in Ireland. You must be already living in Ireland in order to apply for a PPS Number. Contact your nearest or most convenient Social Welfare office in Ireland who will assist you with the registration process. You will be asked to produce documentary evidence of identity and residence in Ireland. Different documentary evidence will be required, depending on your nationality.
Visa
Students from EU member countries do not need a visa to enter Ireland or England. Students from non-EU countries should check with their nearest embassy or consulate as a Study Visa may be required. For further information visit:-
Ireland:- http://www.justice.ie/
UK:- http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/
New Visa information for the U.K -
Please note that this information is very detailed & important
Students from EU member countries do not need a Visa to enter England.
Students from non-EU countries should check with their nearest embassy or consulate as a Study Visa may be required. For further information visit:
England Visa office
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/
Do you need a visa?
Visas and English language courses: the position in November 2009
This note is designed to give an overview of the UK visa system in general, and to explain recent changes. The regulations can change quickly, so we cannot guarantee that the information shown here is always completely up to date. It is therefore intended for guidance only.
This note is concerned only with adults, as we do not have any courses for children.
Summary
Unless you come from the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland you need a visa to enter the UK. If you are from one of these countries none of this note applies to you and you can stop reading now.
There are two sorts of visa you can use for study: A General Student Visa and a Student Visitor Visa. The rules which apply to them are different.
When you book a course you will need to tell us which one you want, so you need to understand the differences.
These notes will help you to understand the system and decide what to do.
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How this is organised
A: Geography: different visa status for different nationalities
B: The different types of visa
C: What we need when you apply for a course
D: Other important details
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A: Geography: different visa status for different nationalities
For visa purposes, the world is divided into 3 areas:
1. EU/EEA/Switzerland
If you are a citizen of one of these countries you can come and go as you please. You can ignore all these notes about visas.
Please click here to view a list of these countries.
2. Visa nationals (VN)
If you are a VN you need a visa to enter the UK for any reason, and must get it before you leave home (this is called ‘pre-entry clearance').
Please click here to view a list of VN countries.
3. Non-visa nationals (NVN)
If you are a NVN you need a visa, but can get a Student Visitor Visa (see below for more about this) on arrival. If you want a General Student Visa, you must get it before you leave home.
B: The different types of visa
There are three main types of visa which concern us:
1. General Student Visa (GSV)
A GSV is processed as part of the UK Points Based System, introduced in April 2009.
Summary
A GSV is typically chosen by someone who wants to study in the UK for a longer period. It gives the right to work, can be extended, and can last longer than 6 months, but is not available for beginners and very elementary students. It usually lasts only a short time longer than the course. It must always be obtained in advance and costs GBP145.
1.1 Who should choose a GSV?
This is the right visa for you if you are coming for a longer course. It is the only one suitable if you plan to stay for more than 6 months. It may also be appropriate if you are going to do a short course (for example because you plan to study elsewhere afterwards).
1.2 What must I have to get a GSV?
You need three things:
1 Acceptance from a school on the UKBA Sponsor register (we are, of course)
2 Evidence that you have enough money to pay your fees and to live while you are in the UK. This will be £800 for each month of your studies, up to a maximum of 9
months.
You can prove you have the money if you have:
Cash in an account in your name (this includes joint accounts with your
name). You must have this money in your bank account for 28 days
before you apply for your visa, or
A loan in your name, or
Official financial or government sponsorship.
Proof that you are at a qualifying level of English (see 1.5). You do not need to
prove that you have a good reason to study. Acceptance by us is enough.
1.3 Applying for a GSV
You must always get a GSV in advance (this is true for both visa nationals and non-visa nationals). You must provide fingerprints (biometric data) and must therefore attend a visa issuing post in person (the visa issuing process may take place elsewhere).
If you are using an agent in your own country they will help you with the visa application. If you are applying personally, you can find the form you need by clicking here.
You will need a visa support letter from us. See the box in section C for what we need to send you a GSV letter.
To see a sample GSV visa letter, please click here.
1.4 The cost
Currently it costs £145.
1.5 Restrictions on who can have one
A GSV is only available for someone following a course which is at Common European Framework level A2 or above. This basically means that you cannot get a GSV if you are at a beginner or very elementary level of English. See section D2, below, for how to prove your level.
If your level is too low for a GSV you will have to start with a Student Visitor Visa, study for 6 months and then apply for a GSV (by this time your level will certainly be good enough). You will have to go home and apply for a GSV there. You cannot change a SVV to a GSV in the UK.
1.6 What does a GSV look like?
A GSV is a piece of paper stuck into your passport. It will have both the first date of validity and also the end date printed on it. When you enter the country the date of entry will be stamped on it, although this does not affect the dates it is valid.
1.7 How long does a GSV last?
A GSV will be granted for the length of the course, plus some time for you to pack up and leave. For a course of less than 6 months this extra period is only 7 days, so if you might want to take some holiday while you are with us it's important to plan for this when you book. We can then allow for this in your acceptance certificate. For a course of more than 6 months the extra time allowed is 2 months so this is not so important.
1.8 Renewing a GSV
A GSV can be renewed, provided that you attend at least 80% of classes. It is the only sort of study visa which can be renewed, so get a GSV if you are booking for less than 6 months but think that you may want to stay for more than 6 months, or if you are doing a course with us but plan to move on to study elsewhere afterwards (or if you are going to study elsewhere, and then move to us). See D1 and D3 for more about this.
1.9 Working
You can work 20 hours/week at any time, and full-time in holiday periods. We limit holidays to a maximum of 20% of your total booking. A GSV is the only sort of study visa which gives a right to work.
1.10 Where you can study
A GSV will have the number of the sponsoring school printed on it. It is only valid for study at that school. See D1 below for more about this.
2. Student Visitor Visa (SVV)
A SVV is not part of the Points Based System.
Summary
A SVV does not give the right to work, cannot be extended, and cannot last longer than 6 months, but has no level requirement. Visa nationals must get it before they leave home. Non-visa nationals can get it free on arrival.
A visa national may find it difficult to get a GSV for a short course, and may have to apply for a SVV.
2.1 What is a SVV?
A SVV is not a sort of student visa - it is a sort of visitor's visa. It does not have the benefits of a student visa. A SVV does not give the right to work, and cannot be renewed.
2.2 What must I have to get a SVV?
To get a SVV you will need to have a visa support letter from us and show that you have enough money to pay your course and live on. For non visa nationals this should be all you need. For visa nationals you may also need to prove that you have a good reason to learn English and will return home at the end of your course.
2.3 Getting a SVV
If you are a non-visa national you can get a SVV free when you arrive in the UK. You will just have to produce your acceptance certificate from us. This usually works fine.
If you are a visa national you will need to get your SVV before you leave your country.
2.4 Applying in your own country
If you are a visa national you must always apply for your SVV before you leave home. You will have to do biometrics and pay the appropriate fee. You will probably have to prove that you have a good reason for learning English and persuade the visa officer that you will return home after the course. In some cases, depending on your nationality, you may find this difficult.
If you are a non-visa national you do not need to apply for a SVV before you come to the UK, but if you want to be 100% certain about getting it you can get it in advance in your own country. In this case you will need to pay for it (although it's cheaper than a GSV - £65) and will need to provide biometrics.
If you are using an agent in your own country they will help you with the visa application. If you are applying personally, you can find the form you need by clicking here.
You will need a visa support letter from us.
To see a sample SVV visa letter, please click here.
2.5 What does a SVV look like?
If you get a SVV before you leave home it will look very like a GSV but will include the word ‘visitor' as well as ‘student'. If you get it on arrival it will just be an entry stamp. This is still a visa. The only difference between a SVV and a Visitor Visa (see below) is that something like ‘VST' will be written by hand on the stamp. The date of validity is based on the date of entry, so it is important to check that carefully.
2.6 How long does a SVV last?
6 months.
2.7 Are there any level restrictions?
No. A SVV is available for people at any level of English. It is the only study visa available if you are a beginner or at a very elementary level.
2.8 Working
You are not allowed to work if you have a SVV.
3. Visitor visa (VV)
Summary
A visitor's visa allows someone to enter the UK for tourism, visit family etc. A non-visa national can get it on arrival. A visa national needs to get it at home. It is not possible to study if you have a visitor's visa.
3.1 What is a VV?
This is a basic right to enter the UK, typically used by people coming here on holiday.
3.2 Can I do a course if I have a VV?
No. You are not allowed to study if you only have a VV, so it is very important that you
get a Student Visitor Visa instead. For this, you must:
book a course before you come to the UK
bring your course acceptance papers to show at immigration when you arrive
ask for a Student Visitor Visa at immigration.
Remember that all this is only possible if you are a non-visa national. If you are a visa national you must get your visa before you leave home.
4. Other types of visa
If you have a diplomatic visa you can study without any problems.
If you have a business visa you can do short training courses related to your work. This includes a business English course.
C: What you must do when you apply for a course
1. Tell us what sort of visa you want
If you need a visa to enter the UK you will need a visa support letter from us, so you
must tell us what sort of visa you intend to apply for. Unless we know this we do not
know what sort of visa support letter to send you.
2. For a GSV, pay your tuition fees
If you want a GSV, you must pay all your tuition fees in advance. We cannot issue a
visa support letter until you have done this. We are responsible for you if you get
a visa using it. If you want a SVV we do not ask for full payment in advance, but you
must pay a deposit in line with our normal Terms and Conditions.
3. For a GSV, show how you will prove your level
If you want a GSV, we need to know how you will prove your level of English.
This is not necessary for a SVV. See D2 below for more about this.
D: Other important details
1. The ‘single sponsor' rule
This is a very important part of the Point Based System, but a very inconvenient one.
To get a General Student Visa you must have what is called a sponsor - an organisation that is responsible for you. If you study with us, we are your sponsor. You can only have one sponsor - the organisation whose visa letter was used to obtain the visa. If you want to do an English course with us and then go to another school, or to a university, you will have to get a new visa when you transfer to the next course. In the same way, if you want to study somewhere else and then come to us, you will need to get a new visa. A new visa in the UK costs between £350 - £500.
The idea of a sponsor, with study limited to the school named on the visa, only applies to a GSV. A SVV does not have these limitations.
2. Proving level for a GSV.
You need to show that you are capable of following a course at Common European Framework A2 level. This does not mean that you must already be at A2 level - it is enough to be a good A1.
A1 is defined as:
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
There are various ways that you can prove that you are at this level. For example:
a public examination.
proof of some study of English in your own country. Exactly how long for might depend on what sort of study - several years at ordinary school but maybe just a few months if you have studied recently.
proof of previous English study in the UK or another English-speaking country.
If these are not available, you will probably be able to use one of the following, but we cannot guarantee that they will always be accepted:
our on-line test. You will have to do this under supervised conditions to prove that the level it shows is your real level.
A telephone interview with us.
If the proof is not in English you will need to submit an authenticated translation.
It is important that you tell us how you will prove your level when you apply for your course. We must refer to this on the visa letter, and you must then submit the original of the same document with your visa application.
3. Renewing your visa
If you have a GSV you can renew it in the UK. To do this you will need:
A visa letter for your next or continuing course
Proof that you have attended at least 80% of the lessons of the course that you have been doing.
Proof that you have made good progress.
£1600 for your living costs (£800/month for 2 months - this is all you have to show, even if your course will be longer than 2 months).
As long as your attendance and progress has been satisfactory, we can give you all the documents you need if you are applying to renew your visa in order to continue to study with us.
4. Procedures when you start your course with us
Please make sure that you bring your passport or ID on the first day. If you do not need a visa, we must check this. If you do need a visa, we need to check that you have one, and take a copy of it.
5. Future developments
In February 2010 the General Student Visa letter will be replaced by an electronic Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This will not be a certificate at all, but processed on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website. This will cost £10, but it will mean that it will no longer be necessary for us to send you an original certificate to include with your visa application.
The CAS system will only apply to GSV applications. SVV applications will still use visa letters.
Counselling and Welfare
CES have a full-time Accommodation Officer in all our schools to look after students' welfare and deal with any problems or worries that you may have.
School holidays
The school is open throughout the year, with the exception of two weeks at Christmas - 18th December 2009 to 4th Janaury 2010.
Public Holidays
CES and Swandean/CES will be closed on the following Public Holidays in 2009:
IRELAND - 1st January, 17th March, 10th & 13th April, 4th May, 1st June, 3rd August, 26th October.
ENGLAND - 1st January, 10th & 13th April, 4th May, 25th May, 31st August
If you need any more information please e-mail or Skype us!