Update for educational institutions sponsoring international students
The implementation of the student tier (tier 4) of the points-based system will begin in March 2009. Under the points-based system, educational institutions will have to be licensed by us to sponsor s
Access to the sponsorship management system
The sponsorship management system - available for use for tier 4 sponsors from Autumn 2009 - will allow institutions to manage their migrants and issue confirmation of acceptance of studies online. Some newly licensed Tier 4 sponsors have asked why they have been sent a user ID and password for the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) even though the system does not go-live for Tier 4 until Autumn 2009. This is to allow sponsors to familiarise themselves with the system and to perform administrative tasks such as maintaining their contact details.
The system will not allow tier 4 sponsors to issue a confirmation of acceptance for studies until the system is fully activated later in 2009. In the interim - between March and the autumn - tier 4 sponsors will need to issue a confirmation letter to all students. Details of the implementation of the policy are available from the implementation plan.
Terms explained
Sponsorship management system
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An IT system used by organisations that sponsor migrants under the points-based system. It will allow sponsors to allocate certificates of sponsorship to migrants, carry out the administrative functions necessary to comply with their sponsor obligations and duties, and communicate information to us. This is not available at the moment.
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