Preparing for Credibility ( Generic)

Preparing for the
UKVI Credibility
Interview
This session will cover:
The genuine student rule.
The Credibility Interview process
What you might be asked
How to prepare and the research you need to do.
This webinar is just the start of your preparation !
© Middlesex University | 2
Credibility Interviews :
The UKVI no longer interview all applicants automatically ,
but they are still interviewing large number of applicants.
The questions they asked in the Sept 2020 and Jan 2021
interviews were more focussed on the applicants
understanding of the programme, background knowledge of
the subject area, detailed knowledge of the course content
and the applicants ability to explain the scope and purpose
of each module and its relevance to the applicants career
goals .
Refusal rates for those applicants who were interviewed

have rocketed . Up to 75 % of interviews resulted in
refusals .
© Middlesex University Presentation title | 3
• Getting a student route visa is now
significantly harder than it used to be and
you need to do much more in depth
research and preparation than applicants
needed to do before .
• You only get one chance . If you are
refused on credibility grounds , you have
virtually no chance of getting a CAS from
any UK University in the future .
The Genuine Student Rule :
For an applicant to qualify as a Student, or as a

Child Student who is 16 or 17 years old, the
caseworker must be satisfied on the balance of
probability that the applicant is a genuine student. To
assess an applicant’s credibility, the caseworker must
consider all of the information provided in the
application and, if applicable, in the credibility
interview.
If, having reviewed the application – including
information obtained during the interview –
the caseworker is not satisfied on the
balance of probability that the applicant is
genuine, the application must be refused
under the appropriate paragraph of the
Immigration Rules. This is paragraph ST.5.1
of Appendix Student for Student applications,
or paragraph CS.5.1 of Appendix Child
Student for Child Student applications where
the applicant is aged 16 or over.
• An interview might take place at the VAC,
at any point after that until you get your
visa or when you arrive at the UK border
• It may be conducted via video link, by
phone or with a Border Force officer in
person
• A typed record of the interview is sent to a
caseworker who will consider it alongside
all the other documents.
Its purpose is to decide whether a
student’s intention to study in the
UK is genuine
• The questions you will be asked will be
based around your institution, your course,
your career plans and preparations you
have made for studying/living in the UK.
• UKVI need to be satisfied that you are a

genuine student and that your English
Language ability is at the required level
• The interviewer will want to see that you

understand what you programme is about
and how it relates to your future plans
• Before you get your CAS , you need to undertake a visa
preparation interview with the ISAT Team.
• This interview is via adobe connect , skype or whats app,

but you need to have a camera so we can see you and
take a screen shot for ID verification.
• The interview covers all the questions the UKVI might ask
plus some other questions designed to help us be sure
that we are talking to the genuine applicant and to confirm
that your Speaking and Listening skills are sufficient for
you to engage with a degree level programme and to pass
any UKVI interview.
The UKVI Interview:
The UKVI will start by confirming your name , dob,

the university you are applying to , the programme name ,
course start date , and course end date .
They may ask you what your course title stands for –
eg what does MSc or BA actually stand for ?
Then they will ask a series of questions about why YOU made
the choices that you did . Your answers must be about
YOURSELF. Do not give generic answers .
1) Why did you choose this
programme?
You should explain- in a concise but
detailed way- the following:
1) Why you want to do this course – talk
about your future career plans and how
this course can help you achieve these
goals?
2) How and why you decided this course
was the best for you
3) What benefits, you expect to get from the
course in the long term
I am planning a
I chose this career as..
course because I chose this course
my friends are because…. My extensive
doing it research lead
I am going to do me to believe
“a job” when I this is the best
finish, I don’t course for me
know what because…
This programme
I want to work will help me
in the UK/ Join achieve my
my family goal to become
a….
2) Reasons to study in the UK
You should demonstrate you have thought
about all the differences between studying
in the UK and in your country, particularly
those which will give you some kind of
benefit or advantage in terms of education
or employability.
Your answer should briefly list these

differences. It is really important that
you can explain the benefit or advantage
you yourself get because of these
differences.
2) Reasons to study in the UK- part 2
 A UK degree is recognised world wide.
Having an UK qualification will really help
me get the kind of job I am looking for.
 Education in the UK is much more
practical, with a focus on students taking
responsibility for their own learning and
will give me access to really modern
facilities
 I can gain skills that employers are looking
for - independent research, critical
thinking, collaborative working skills,
presentation skills, etc.
2) Reasons to study in the UK- part 3
 Living and studying on a campus with
students from 140 different countries will
help me learn about other cultures and
learn something about the business
environment in other countries and
develop a worldwide network of
professional contact
 London is a hub for business and finance
so I will have all sorts of opportunities to
network, undertake internships, attend
conferences and so on
To get I will have
“exposure” access to a
I chose the UK wider range of
because….
Because I (or my modern facilities
spouse) can such as….
work in the UK
I will get an
opportunity to
Good shopping
or nightlife chose specialist
modules that
Because my
really meet my
parents/agent needs. For
told me to example….
3) Reasons to study at Middlesex
You should demonstrate that you have
researched and compared MDX with
other similar (in ranking and entry
requirements) institutions
Applicants who only apply

to one university will be
scrutinised more and are at
greater risk of being refused
their visa
I compared
Queen’s Industry MDX with X
award I chose MDX university and
because…. chosen MDX
Multiple entry because…. list
points the concrete
Good playground, differences in:
pool table, food,  Modules
teachers  Facilities
 Ranking
Exaggerated
 Student
claims (i.e best university in
London) Satisfaction
 Fees &
Using wrong
currency!!!
scholarships
© Middlesex University
 Partnership | 18
4) The course
You need to show an in-depth knowledge of your
course – i.e. be able to name all the modules for the
first year and have a broad understanding of
subsequent years and how the course is taught and
assessed.
They may pick out a particular module and ask you to

explain what it is about –eg, tell us what the “supply
chain management “ module is about
They may ask you to explain one or two key basic

concepts from your field of study.
My course is
“I am not sure, composed of X
will check it when modules, each
I get a visa” Course Content bearing X credits
“Well, there is no The teaching

point, I may want methodologies
to change of used are X and
course once I the assessment
come over” is delivered via X.
Avoid anything
too general, I am particularly
exaggerated or interested in
incorrect module X
because…..
How to research your course
• Find the page for your programme on the MDX web
page.
• Look at the section titled “overview” – do you understand
all the terms used there ? If not google them .
• Click on the course content tab – memorise the list of
modules for the first year of the programme
• Click on each module title in turn to open the paragraph
that explains the module – do you understand that
explanation ? Research any term or concept that you are
unsure about . Do NOT memorise this text !
• For each module, write three or four sentences, in your
own words that explains and describes the scope and
content of the module . Base your model answer on THIS
text
Example – BA Business Management
• You will need the find the programme you are applying for
The next few slides show as an example what a BA

Business management student would look at

5) The facilities
You should demonstrate that you have

researched the university’s facilities, both
in your school/faculty and the more general
ones that all students use
Applicants should
focus on relevant,
academic facilities
that they will be
using themselves
What facilities do I need to know about ?
• All students need to know something about the library ,

the lecture theatres and seminar rooms equipped with
blue tooth , visualisers and other audio visual equipment,
IT facilities and microlabs .
• Business students should know about the Financial

Markets Lab ,the Enterpise Development Hub and start
up and other business games
• Use the web pages , including the virtual tours!

Facilities
• The information you need about facilities is on the MDX
web page – but its not all in one place ! You need to draw
together information from different pages.
• Look at the virtual tours and the various video guides on

the web site as well as the links to written information
about facilities
• Attend on line open days and various webinars that the

University provides

“What is a My department
facility?” has several state
of the art facilities
“There is a Facilities
including... (give
coffee shop, fast relevant details)
food court, SU…
I am a very keen Furthermore
sportsperson, there are
can’t wait to use additional
the gym etc. facilities such as
the library…..
Something that is (give relevant
too general or details)
actually wrong
6) Living in the UK (accommodation, travel,
costs etc.)
You should be aware of the UKVI legal

maintenance requirements (minimum of £1334 per
month). You should also demonstrate that you
have undertaken research on university
location, accommodation options and travel
plans.
A genuine applicant would have,
planned their initial accommodation and
investigated how to travel to the
university from there.
I only need £400 My budget to live
to live in London Maintenance in the UK is
Accommodation
around £1300 per
& Travel
Middlesex month
university is in I have researched
the countryside my options in the
I don’t know university website
where I will stay, and I have
will decide when chosen X
I arrive because…..
I will got from my
Avoid anything accommodation
too general, to the university
exaggerated or via (bus, tube,
incorrect foot)
Living and studying in the UK
• Look at :
• https://www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk/
• www.ukcisa.org

7) Financial Background
You are expected to be able to discuss
the source of your funds in details.
This means an in depth knowledge of
the family assets– savings, parents
salaries and properties/lands owned. It
may be not culturally acceptable to
discuss it with the parents but it must be
done.
You must establish your (and your
family) financial credibility.
I don’t know My family has
where the money an annual
will come from income of £XX
Financial background (refer to tax
I don’t know, my
father/mother will returns, payslips
provide for me etc.) which
covers all my
I have the
expenses
money for the
first year then, I have secured
when am in the a bank loan/
UK, I will work to financial
pay for the rest sponsorship for
£XX
8) Career plans
You should have realistic and specific
careers/salaries goals – i.e. research
current salaries for similar positions.
If joining/setting up own business it’s
important you explain your goals and how
this course can help you achieve them.
You must be able to explain the
advantages an UK degree will give you
(i.e. easier to find a well paid position,
career advancement etc.)
With an UK
“I want to do job” qualification I
can progress
After my studies Career Plans
my career and
I will look for a
become.. (role)
job in the UK
and stay there.
According to my
I don’t know research there
what I will do, I is lot of demand
will think about it for (name
when I finish my role/company)
course in my country
and It’s currently
paid £XX
Your previous studies & work experience
do matter and they may question you !!!
They may ask you to talk about your previous

employment or study and demonstrate real
knowledge and understanding of it .
They may as you to explain the relationship between
previous studies/work experience and proposed one
If there is a major change/deviation in the career and

studies pattern then you should be able to explain the
reasons behind your decision
Bear in mind the 3 R's:
1) Research,
2) Rehearse
3) Relax
Try to base your answers

You are the best on things that the UKVI can
(and only) expert on check ( NSS results rather
yourself (I.e.your than things they cant check
skills, dreams, (my friends told me
aspirations, goals). it was a good experience)
Share your
knowledge on this
topic!!

Atte
n t io
n!!!
At the end of the !
interview you will be
asked: “are you happy
how the interview was
conducted?”
You must say NO if there are any issues

with the phone connection, accents,
vocabulary used, background noise etc.
If you are unsure or need more
information please contact the
International Student Advice Team
(ISAT) at:
intadvice@mdx.ac.uk
| 46

Preparing for Credibility ( Generic)

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Preparing for Credibility ( Generic)

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Preparing for the

The Credibility Interview process

What you might be asked

How to prepare and the research you need to do.

This webinar is just the start of your preparation !

Refusal rates for those applicants who were interviewed

For an applicant to qualify as a Student, or as a

• UKVI need to be satisfied that you are a

• The interviewer will want to see that you

• This interview is via adobe connect , skype or whats app,

The UKVI will start by confirming your name , dob,

Your answer should briefly list these

Applicants who only apply

They may pick out a particular module and ask you to

They may ask you to explain one or two key basic

“Well, there is no The teaching

The next few slides show as an example what a BA

© Middlesex University Presentation title | 22

You should demonstrate that you have

• All students need to know something about the library ,

• Business students should know about the Financial

• Use the web pages , including the virtual tours!

© Middlesex University Presentation title | 29

• Look at the virtual tours and the various video guides on

• Attend on line open days and various webinars that the

© Middlesex University Presentation title | 30

You should be aware of the UKVI legal

© Middlesex University Presentation title | 37

They may ask you to talk about your previous

If there is a major change/deviation in the career and

Try to base your answers

© Middlesex University Presentation title | 43

You must say NO if there are any issues

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