We want to provide reassurance that those applying for a student visa are able to use their ITT bursary as proof of funds to support their application. There has been some confusion in the sector around this due to an error in a Home Office FAQs document.
In Edition 7 of the Study Team FAQ, question 4 addressed whether those in receipt of a Department for Education (DfE) bursary are eligible to bring dependants. The answer contained the following line, which is erroneous:
“Though it’s not at the crux of the issue here, it is also the case that these awards would not make a student the recipient of official financial sponsorship as per Appendix Finance.”
The line should have read:
“Though it’s not at the crux of the issue here, it is also the case that these awards would not make a student the recipient of official financial sponsorship from the Department for Education as per Appendix Finance.”
This has been updated in the document – Frequently Asked Questions Study Team
It is not the intention of the policy that such funding cannot be used in a Student application. It is entirely acceptable for sponsors to set out such funding on the CAS as specified by paragraph FIN 9.1. (a) of Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules, as they would for other scholarships or bursaries that they administer. FIN 9.1. (a) must be relied on in place of FIN 9.1. (b) as the Department for Education does not issue letters of financial sponsorship for these schemes.’
We therefore want to reassure that those applying for a student visa are able to use their ITT bursary as proof of funds to support their application. For any further queries, please get in touch with us at teach.inengland@education.gov.uk.