We aim to help international students have a positive experience in the UK. We do this by giving them guidance on getting a visa, preparing for coming to the UK and settling in once they arrive.

For full details of our work in this area, please see the following brochure:
The British Council's role in visas and immigration (68KB)

Visas and entry clearance
The British Council works closely with the UK Border Agency, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Home Office, UKCISA, educational institutions and other sponsors and partners to ensure that visa and entry arrangements are more user-friendly for international students and to make their stay in the UK a positive experience.

We are a stakeholder in the Joint Education Taskforce, where we develop and share research, resources and insights into immigration issues affecting international students.

In April 2009, the UK introduced a new points-based system for visas. One of our main areas of focus has been to help students, agents and educational communities around the world understand the new system and what it means for them. We do this by providing information through the Education UK website, newsletters, publications, pre-departure briefings and through local outreach and media.

If you have any queries about our work in visas and immigration, please contact Helen Clews, British Council External Relations & Immigration Adviser.

Publications
We produce a range of publications giving guidance to international students on coming to the UK. These publications are located on the Education UK website.

			First steps - a pre-departure guide for international students coming to the UK: covers what students need to know and do before they leave home, along with advice about arriving in the UK, settling in and getting on with making the most of being a student in the UK.
			Comfort zone - making sure that your time in the UK is safe and enjoyable: this guide, which replaces Safety first, is designed to help international students prepare for their stay in the UK and gives practical advice about living and studying in the UK. It highlights some of the safety and security issues international students need to be aware of and lists organisations to contact if they need help. Comfort zone - print version order form (178KB)
			Sources of funding for international students: produced jointly by the British Council, UKCISA and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, this is a guide to possible sources of funding for international students who want to study in the UK.

We also produce publications to assist UK institution staff:

Cultural connections: this essential guide to cultural awareness is for those who want to make the most of the international student experience and help students do the same. Latest version: fourth edition, published June 2007. Cultural connections order form (335KB)

UK institutions can order copies of the above publications by contacting Stephanie Ashcroft.

Please note that the First steps - preparing for entry clearance and Studying and living in the United Kingdom information sheets are not available any more as they are no longer being published.

Student pre-departure briefings
We hold pre-departure briefings in a wide range of countries to give students planning to study in the UK advice and tips on getting a visa and settling in to life in the UK.

Safety survey - Creating confidence
This international student safety survey, conducted by the British Council, aims to assess student experiences and premises about safety issues in the United Kingdom.
Creating confidence - international student safety survey report (2MB)

Recognising institutions' best practice - The British Council Award for International Student Support
This award, supported by the British Council and the Association of Colleges (AoC) and part of the annual Beacon Awards, recognises best practice in supporting international students from recruitment through to completion of qualifications. It is awarded to further education colleges which have developed and maintained consistent and caring procedures in the support of students studying in the UK.

Previous winners include:

• 2008/2009: Stevenson College, Edinburgh
• 2007/2008: Bridgwater College
• 2006/2007: Boston College
• 2005/2006: Sussex Downs College
• 2004/2005: The Bournemouth and Poole College
• 2003/2004: Broxtowe College
• 2002/2003: John Leggott College
• 2001/2002: Pembrokeshire College
• 2000/2001: Dudley College
• 1999/2000: Chichester College
• 1998/1999: Broxtowe College

The deadline for applications for the 2009 / 2010 Award was 22 July 2009.

For more information, see the flyer (113KB) or visit the AoC website.