UWE Bristol credibility interview guide
Your visa application
You may be asked about your previous study as well as your proposed study in the UK. If you are
doing a pre-sessional course such as an English Language or foundation you will be expected to
know the details of your main course as well as the pre-sessional course. If you have had a gap in
your studies, you may be asked to explain what you did during that time.
Why did you choose UWE Bristol?
People choose their university for a range of reasons, from academic quality to the location of the
campus, to positive experiences of friends or family. Explain how you found out about us, why
you chose us and what factors were important to you. It may help to refer to the About UWE
Bristol web page to read about our story.
Avoid using general statements or reasons. Saying "the library is big" may be a good reason for
you to choose UWE Bristol, however the interviewer may assume that many universities have
large libraries and disregard your reason as being credible.
Did you consider studying at any other university?
Explain which other universities you thought about applying to and why you chose UWE Bristol
over the others. The interviewer will want you to be able to clearly explain what made UWE Bristol
a more suitable choice than the other universities you considered.
Why do you want to study in the UK?
You may be expected to explain how you will afford your study in the UK, especially if there are
alternative options in your home country which are more affordable. Consider why you want to
study in the UK rather than in your home country or in another English language speaking country.
What are the factors that you considered before making this decision?
Why did you choose your course? What modules will you be studying?
Make sure you know about your course:
How long it is
What qualification you will receive
What is the structure of the course like?
What modules you are interested in studying
You might also be asked for technical details of your specialism. An MSc Public Health student
was asked ‘What impact would health promotion have in your region?’ and ‘Can you explain
epidemiology?’ – so it's worth recapping on your course details.
What are your future career plans?
Think about what your plans and goals are after you graduate – how will your course help you
achieve these? What skills and knowledge will it provide for your future career? Are you clear on
the career opportunities available to you with your qualification? Will you gain a professional
accreditation that you can use in your home country?
Are you planning on further study in the UK after you complete this course?
If you plan to undertake further study in the UK, explain what you intend to study and how it will
relate to the course at UWE Bristol. If you want to study another course at a similar level, have
you thought about how you can justify this as progression?
Do you have any travel plans?
If you plan to travel throughout your time as a student, give some thought as to where you would
like to go, how you would plan to fund yourself and when you are planning to travel. Remember
that your principal reason for being in the UK is as a student and you will not be permitted to travel
during term times. If you are planning on travelling to the EU, spend some time researching how
you would do so and whether you would require a Schengen Visa.
Your visa application
Overview
Your immigration history may be checked against information already held by UKVI. Possible
questions you may be asked are noted below.
Do you have family in the UK?
You may be asked whether you have family in the UK. You should always disclose this
information and mention any family members you are aware of. Failure to do so may result in a
refusal due to providing fraudulent information which can result in a visa time ban.
Have you made any previous visa applications and were they successful?
You must be prepared to talk about any previous applications you have made. If you have had a
visa refusal, you will need to be able to talk about why this was in detail and if you have been
granted a visa since then, you should explain this. Do not under any circumstances attempt to
conceal adverse immigration history.
Have you travelled to the UK previously and, if so, for what purpose?
Be prepared to talk in detail about previous trips to the UK and for the primary purpose (tourism,
work, study).
Personal and financial circumstances
Overview
As part of your Student Visa application you will be expected to demonstrate that you have made
relevant plans and have sufficient funds to allow you to study and live in the UK. Questions that
may be asked could include the below.
How did you obtain the funds you are using to support yourself during your
studies?
The purpose of this question is to check that your funds are genuinely available to you for your
studies. As part of your application you will have submitted proof of your finances - be very clear
about the source and availability of these funds, also how you plan to pay for subsequent years’
fees if your course is more than a year in duration. If you have official financial sponsorship make
sure you are aware of the amounts and exactly what is covered. If you have a loan, how will you
afford to pay this back?
Where will you be living during your studies and how will you travel to
University?
Are you living in UWE Bristol or private accommodation? How much will your accommodation
cost and are you clear about the cost of living in the UK? If you won't be living on campus, have
you considered how you will get to and from lectures and seminars? It is advisable to familiarize
yourself with the University location and surrounding area. You can find out more via Visit us.
Do you plan on working in the UK?
Typically, students studying at degree level or higher are able to work a maximum of 20 hours per
week during term time (for further information see Working during your studies), however, you
cannot rely on funds from work in support of your living costs. Additionally, the main purpose for
being in the UK is your studies so, if you do plan on working, think about how this would enhance
your academic studies.
