Providing work experience for an international student

Transcription

1 Careers Service Information for Employers: Providing work experience for an international student

2 2 University of Leicester providing work experience for an international student Information for employers providing work experience for an international student The University of Leicester is a leading UK university with a worldwide reputation for excellence. It is a popular choice for international students with citizens of over 80 countries represented on our campus. Each year, there are more than 2500 students from outside the UK studying the full range of degree courses available. The majority of international students choose to take courses in business, engineering, science, computing and law at Masters and PhD level. This represents a significant pool of talent for local employers looking to develop links with emerging markets and to develop understanding of overseas business culture and networks. In the University had students from 67 countries outside of the European Union on its fulltime degree programmes. Full-time International Students Principal Countries of Domicile International students studying in the UK make a substantial financial investment in their education. They are committed, motivated and put a premium on getting work experience in the United Kingdom to add value to their course programmes, to develop their employability skills and to give them a competitive edge in their search for employment. What contribution could an international student make to my organisation? language skills helping you to communicate with overseas markets and/or suppliers; cultural and cross cultural awareness providing advice and

3 Information for employers 3 China (26%) India (9%) Canada (7%) Nigeria (6%) Malaysia (5%) Pakistan (5%) Taiwan (5%) USA (5%) Hong Kong (4%) Saudi Arabi (2%) Other (31%) information to ensure you make the right impact on your international customers and clients; knowledge of UK and overseas business practice many international students have worked in their home countries and regions, often in professional and management positions; overseas contacts and networks making sure you reach the right people and organisations to maximise your export potential; business and technical skills international students often follow highly vocational courses allowing them to make an immediate impact at work; We have provided work experience for international students from the University of Leicester for several years, and the additional dimension they bring to the organisation is highly valued. We are based in a village in Leicestershire and this programme ensures we maintain an international perspective to the challenges and opportunities. Ian Pritchard, Managing Director, Tintisha Technologies creating a diverse workforce enabling your organisation to reflect the changing pattern of the UK working population and the need to develop relationships across a global business community. Employing an international student As an employer you will want to be reassured that you can lawfully employ an international student. Most international students do have a right to work in the UK subject to some restrictions. Nationals or citizens of countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are allowed to work in the UK without any restrictions. Students

4 4 University of Leicester providing work experience for an international student who are nationals of Bulgaria or Romania will need to apply for an Accession Worker Card using form BR (3) from the Home Office (UK Border Agency) before they are allowed to work. This must be obtained before they start work. Students from outside the EEA are allowed to work during their studies. This is subject to some regulation and as an employer you will want to check the student s status before employing them. You can do this by asking to see the student s passport or identity card (entry clearance or residence permit). Providing the student s passport or identity card does not say No work, the student should be able to work. The following are examples of statements which might appear in a student s passport or ID card which enable students to work during their studies: No recourse to public funds, work must be authorised Work (& any changes) must be authorised Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State Restricted work P/T term time, F/T vacations YES What work can an international student (studying a degree level course or above) do? industrial placements of up to one year organised as part of their course; a paid internship placement for up to 3 months; project work to provide you with a business solution, organised as part of their course or on completion of their studies; informal work experience or job shadowing placements;

5 Information for employers 5 voluntary work placements for a fixed period (short term); part time or temporary work not exceeding 20 hours per week during term time (University regulations suggest 15 hours as a maximum); full time work during the vacations provided they meet the conditions* set out below; full time work on completion of their studies for up to a maximum of four months (in line with valid student visa dates) provided they meet the conditions* set out below. * Conditions international students must not: pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy; work on a self-employed basis; work as a professional entertainer or sports person. The majority of international students studying at the University of Leicester have student immigration permission. This means that they are able to work during and after their studies as set out above. National Insurance An international student is not required to have a National Insurance number before they start work. You can allow an overseas national to commence work, and deduct National Insurance contributions on a temporary number, whilst a National Insurance card is being issued. You can ask to see a copy of the student s application form for a National Insurance number as proof of application. Good practice when recruiting an international student Obtain a letter from the institution where the student is studying to confirm their status and that their residence in the UK is in compliance with their conditions of leave. Take a copy of the EEA identity card or page of the student s passport that contains their name, nationality and date of validity and copy the front cover of the passport. If the student requires an Accession Worker Card, (Bulgarian and Romanian nationals), keep a photocopy of it on file. For individuals from outside the EEA take a photocopy of their travel document or page in their passport with the most recent stamp allowing them to work during their studies (check this every 12 months). For individuals from outside the EEA take a copy of the biometric page of their passport as well as a copy of the original Biometric Residence Permit (separate document), note on the copy that it is taken from the original and sign it. For further information contact the UK Border Agency employer help line on

6 6 University of Leicester providing work experience for an international student How to employ an international student after they have graduated International students who have permission to work in the UK during their studies can work full time for a maximum of four months on completion of their course. However they must not leave and try to re-enter the UK during this time. If they want to stay on and work in the UK beyond this (after the 4 month period) they must make a new immigration application (as detailed below) before their student visa expires. They can then continue to work full-time even after the Tier 4 student immigration permission expires whilst they are awaiting a decision. Before April 2012 Students graduating before April 2012 are eligible to apply for Tier 1 Post Study Work (PSW). This route closes on the 5th April Tier 1 PSW is open to international graduates who have successfully completed (on or after 30 June 2008) a Bachelor or Masters degree, PhD or postgraduate certificate or diploma or Scottish HND at a UK institution. They can apply to remain in the UK for a maximum of 2 years. The individual student applies for the scheme after being awarded their degree. The scheme requires no further input from the employer than would be expected when employing a UK citizen. Experience gained under PSW could subsequently be used to contribute to an application for a Tier 2 visa. After April 2012 For students graduating after April 2012 Tier 2 [General] is likely to be the only immigration route available. To apply for Tier 2 graduates must have a job offer (graduate level job paying a minimum of 20,000) from an employer who is a UKBA Tier 2 licensed sponsor (or joins the list of sponsors). For further information on Tier 2 refer to the UKBA website: visas-immigration/working/tier2/ How the University of Leicester Careers Service can help you At the University of Leicester, we are committed to working closely with employers and to building collaborative and sustainable relationships with you. We offer a range of ways for employers to engage with our students. This includes helping you identify how students might contribute through business related project work and work placements. We can advertise your work placements, internships, part-time jobs and graduate opportunities through JOBSonline, the University s vacancy management system. This is a FREE service. We also provide opportunities to engage with students at careers fairs and other events enabling you to promote your organisation and your work experience opportunities. Additional services include support

7 Information for employers 7 with the recruitment and selection of students to work placement positions. Further information about services for employers is available on the website: You can find out more about how a University of Leicester student might contribute to your organisation by contacting the Work Related Learning Team on workrelatedlearning@le.ac.uk. For information on exhibiting at a careers fair or getting involved in other events on campus contact employers@le.ac.uk. Checklist for employers recruiting an EEA/international student to undergraduate and graduate internships: 1. Check the permission to work either citizen of European Economic Area (EEA), current Tier 4 Student Visa or Tier 1 Post Study Work (latter only applies to students who graduated before 5 April 2012). 2. For students from outside the EEA obtain a letter from the institution where they are studying to confirm their status and that their presence in the UK is in compliance with their conditions of leave. Where students are working part-time with the same employer throughout the period of their academic studies this should be done every 12 months; for applications for graduate internships check when the individual completed their course (usually deemed to be when all examinations have been completed and their dissertation submitted) and that sufficient time is left for them to complete the work placement before their visa expires. 3. Take a copy of the EEA identity card or page of the student s passport that contains their name, nationality and date of validity as well as a copy of the front cover of the passport. If the student requires an Accession Worker Card (Bulgarian and Romanian nationals) keep a photocopy of it on file. 4. For individuals from outside the EEA take a photocopy of their travel document or page in their passport with the most recent stamp allowing them to work during their studies. Check that this is valid for the period of time they will be working (this should be re-checked every 12 months). 5. For individuals from outside the EEA take a copy of the biometric page of their passport as well as a copy of the original Biometric Residence Permit (separate document), note on the copy that it is taken from the original, sign and date it. For further information contact the UK Border Agency employer help line on

8 Acknowledgements Thanks to Kirin Abbas of Paragon Law (Legal Services Director, Solicitor) who kindly checked this leaflet before it went to print. All information in this leaflet was correct at the time of going to press. However, changes and developments are part of the life of the University, and alterations may occur to the programmes and services described in this leaflet. University of Leicester 2012 Leicester LE1 7RH UK This leaflet was printed by Print Services, University of Leicester, using vegetable based inks on FSC certified stock 4321_03/12