On March 18th 2020, ICMP move to alternative delivery and support methods for teaching and assessment in line with UK government advice to ensure that there are suitable levels of social isolation to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

All students will be ‘authorised absence’ from their timetabled activities in this period, although all are expected to remain engaged in academic activity and any assessment tasks.

Due to the 'lockdown' instigated by the UK government on 23rd March,  ICMP's facilities are currently closed to students. A range of services and facilities will be provided physically where possible, as well as online to help and support students. When our facilities reopen we will communicate this to all students via email in the first instance. 

The following guidance is issued specifically to current students who are sponsored by ICMP under the tier 4 visa route and who wish to leave the county due to concerns regarding their health or travel restrictions.

Courses concluding this semester

If your course concludes this semester then your visa will be due to expire later this year depending upon your original entry and application date.

  1. ICMP will provide you with ‘authorised absences’ to the end of this semester and therefore the conclusion of your timetabled classes.
  2. You should complete your assessment activities as per the set deadlines, and ICMP will provide distance support to assist you in these activities.
  3. We will not withdraw sponsorship from you so that your visa remains in place until the end date as indicated on your Biometric Residency Permit.
  4. If you wish to leave the UK and return home for this period then you are authorised to do so and will be able to re-enter the UK before your visa expires to complete any required assessment activities (for example resits).

Courses concluding next trimester (i.e. if you are a post graduate student)

If you wish to leave the county due to health or travel restrictions:

  1. ICMP will provide you with ‘authorised absences’ to the end of this semester.
  2. You should complete your assessment activities as per the set deadlines, and ICMP will provide online support to assist you in these activities.
  3. We will not withdraw sponsorship from you.
  4. We will review the situation as the summer trimester approaches and issue more guidance at that time.

Courses concluding in following years (i.e. undergraduate students at level 4 and 5)

  1. ICMP will provide you with ‘authorised absences’ to the end of this semester and therefore the conclusion of your timetabled classes.
  2. You should complete your assessment activities as per the set deadlines, and ICMP will provide online support to assist you in these activities.
  3. If you wish to leave the UK and return home for this period then you are authorised to do so and will be able to re-enter the UK to complete any required assessment activities (for example resits) and for the continuation of your course next year.

Updates and further info

  • A concession is now in place by UKVI to allow new students to commence their studies by distance learning, provided they will transition to face-to-face learning as soon as possible.
  • ICMP will continue to sponsor existing Tier 4 students who are continuing their studies through distance learning, or starting a new course, whether they are in the UK or another country.
  • ICMP can also start sponsoring new students who will start studying through distance or blended learning in the 2020-2021 academic year, provided new students intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as it is possible to do so.
  • ICMP does not need to withdraw sponsorship for new students who have been issued a Tier 4 visa but are distance learning because they have been unable to travel to the UK. If a student stops engaging with their distance learning, whether overseas or in the UK, ICMP must withdraw sponsorship immediately.
  • This distance learning concession will be in place for the duration of the 2020-21 academic year. The concession will be subject to regular monitoring to ensure it is working as intended, and it will be subject to review at the end of the 2020-21 academic year.
  • In the eventuality of a CAS assigned to an applicant becoming invalid due to inability to travel to the UK because of coronavirus, the UKVI we will consider it on a case by case basis.

We will monitor UK government policy and update this advice accordingly. Further advice for students is available on the UKCISA website:

ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Coronavirus-Covid-19-info-for-international-students

The wellbeing of our students and staff will always be our highest priority and we will continue to provide as much information as possible.

This is understandably an uncertain period of time and if you have any questions relating to how this decision might affect you, please get in touch on academic.support@icmp.ac.uk

The Home Office has published the latest guidance on GOV.UK for individuals affected by travel restrictions associated with coronavirus (COVID-19).These changes are available here.

UKVI has a dedicated team for customers with immigration queries related to coronavirus. This includes questions about urgent, compelling and compassionate cases. Students should visit this page for further help and support.

For further information:

For health advice, visit the NHS

For the government’s response, please see here

For information on travel, visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

This page will be updated on any developments in due course.
Published 19th March 2020 - Latest Update: 22nd June 2020