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Student Status / Residency

Belfast Met is required to satisfy United Kingdom Visa and Immigration requirements relating to status and to help with fees assessment. Customers who wish to enrol on to a course will be asked to verify student status and residency.

The information requested is used to determine:

  • Your Right to Study in the UK

Who is permitted to study in the UK? UK and Irish Citizens, EU Nationals with Settled and Pre-Settled Status (or with proof of application pending), those with proof of indefinite leave to remain in the UK, current Student Visa or Biometric Residency Permit holders, or others permitted under the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

 

  • The fee you will be charged (where applicable).

The fees and funding for the course(s) you have applied for/enrolled on will be classified as either home or international fees/funding depending on your immigration or residency status in the UK on the date your course starts.

In some cases, a further fees assessment may be required and additional evidence requested. Evidence of your Right to Study in the UK will also be required.

If you have paid home fees and are subsequently classed as international, you will be asked to pay an additional fee.

You must satisfy the Right to Study in the UK requirements to remain on your programme. Belfast Met will require proof of this (this evidence can be uploaded on the evidence page on the Belfast Met online enrolment system or submitted with your Enrolment Form). If you are unable to prove your Right to Study in the UK, you may have to withdraw from your course.

IMPORTANT: If you are unable to upload proof of your identity and right to study immediately, you can still proceed with your enrolment but we will ask you for this on or before your first class.
 
 

Your Right to Study at Belfast Met 

All students at Belfast Met are asked to provide evidence of their identity and citizenship when they enrol for a course.

This is done for a number of reasons, for example:

  • to confirm your identity for any qualifications you will be taking;
  • to check your right to study in the UK; and
  • to work out any fees you might have to pay.

What Evidence is Needed?

Your Identity - You must provide proof of your identity when you enrol on a course with us. If you use non-photographic evidence to enrol, you will be required to produce photographic ID on or before the first day of class, e.g. photo card driving licence, Blue Badge, Youth Club ID etc.

Your Right to Study in the UK - The table below shows the documents or evidence you will need to provide to prove you have the right to study at Belfast Met. 

If you need more information or cannot provide any of these documents, please visit About Northern Ireland | nidirect which provides more information for those wishing to live and study in Northern Ireland.  The Final copy - FE 04 24 FE Residency Funding requirement - 10th July 2024.pdf (economy-ni.gov.uk) will also provide more information on residency requirements.  
Please also visit our FAQs page https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/full-time/how-to-apply/application-faqs/

 

Right to Study What documents/evidence do I have to provide for Belfast Met?
British or Irish citizen born in Northern Ireland British or Irish passport
OR
British birth certificate if you were born in the UK before January 1, 1983*
OR
Full birth certificate and evidence that one of your parents is British or Irish citizen
(For more information, please click here)
Irish citizen Proof of Irish citizenship, e.g. Irish passport or Irish birth certificate
EU, EEA or Swiss citizen

What are the EEA countries?
Iceland, Liechtenstein & Norway
Any one of the following:
  • Student Visa
  • EU Settled/Pre-settled Status:

- Share Code from the View and Prove Gov website

 

- Evidence of an application for EU Settled Status before 30 June 2021
 (Applications beyond this date can also be accepted in certain circumstances. Contact our International Office for further advice).
 
• Biometric Residency Permit
A close relative of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.

What is a close relative?
A husband, wife or civil partner, child, grandchild under 21, dependent parent or a grandparent.
Any one of the following:
• Student Visa
• Passport endorsed with study visa details (vignette)
• British or Irish Passport
• EU Settled/Pre-settled Status
- Share Code from the View and Prove Gov website

- Evidence of an application for EU Settled Status before 30 June 2021
(Applications beyond this date can also be accepted in certain circumstances. Contact our International Office for further advice).
• Biometric Residency Permit
UK Residents with Indefinite Leave to Remain Proof of indefinite leave to remain such as
• A stamp or sticker in your passport
• Letter from Home Office confirming status
• Biometric Residency Permit
Non-EU/EEA national Existing Visa and Immigration Rules apply. Please visit About Northern Ireland | nidirect  which provides more information for those wishing to live and study in Northern Ireland. The FE Circular 05/22 - Further Education Residency and Funding Requirements (economy-ni.gov.uk) will also provide more information on residency requirements. 

*(Extract from: Section 11 British Nationality Act 1981 Section 1(1) British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983 Sections 3 & 6 British Overseas Territories Act 2002 2.2 The Law
2.2.1 Section 11 of the British Nationality Act 1981 explains which people born before 1 January 1983 acquired British citizenship automatically on that date.
2.2.2 Under s.11(1), a person automatically became a British citizen on 1 January 1983 if immediately before that date he or she:
• was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies; and • had the right of abode in the United Kingdom under s.2 of the Immigration Act 1971 as then in force)