At Rees Clayton Solicitors we are here to provide you with expert legal advice tailored specifically to your individual circumstances on all aspects of immigration and asylum matters.  We offer a friendly, personal but professional service with years of experience and have an excellent track record of challenging decisions and winning complex immigration cases at all levels and look forward to helping you.

If you are unsure of your requirements, get in touch and we will listen and guide you through the entire immigration process, eliminating as much stress as possible for you and/or your family.

 

Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) Applications 

The Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) is a type of visa designed to provide PhD students with a bridge to Tier 2 and Tier 1 Visas. If you have nearly completed a UK PhD, or other doctorate qualification, the DES Scheme will let you apply for an additional 12 months of residence to allow you to look for work.

We are available to guide you through every step of your Doctorate Extension Scheme application, to ensure that you application has the best chance of success.

 

What you can do under the Doctorate Extension Scheme 

The DES Scheme if for students who have almost finished their PhD and require 12 additional months to search for work.

During that 12 months:

  • It’s your responsibility to make sure that you stay in contact with the international student team. You need to do this three times during the year so they can advise you on your current employment status
  • Until you receive unconditional approval for your degree from the Board of Graduate Studies, normal Tier 4 conditions apply
  • The less restrictive terms of the Tier 4 doctorate extension visa apply from the date on which you finish your PhD if a valid visa application has been made before then. This is true even if you’re still waiting to hear the outcome of your visa application
  • Under the scheme, you can’t work as a doctor or dentist in training or a sportsperson

 

Who can apply for theDoctorate Extension Scheme?

You need to be a doctoral candidate to qualify for then Doctorate Extension Scheme. This means that you must be studying for a PhD qualification or one of the doctorate qualifications listed on the policy guide.

You can only apply for a Doctorate Extension Scheme Visa if you are already in the UK and you need to have a Tier 4 Study Visa.

 

Required Documents forDoctorate Extension Scheme Visas

When applying for a Doctorate Extension Scheme Visa you will be asked to provide several documents to support your application, including:

  • Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the UK
  • Two passport sized colour photos
  • Your current passport and any previous passport which contains your current visa
  • Your Biometric Residence Permit (if you currently hold one)
  • Your Police Registration Certificate (if applicable)
  • An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate (if applicable)

 

Applying fortheDoctorate Extension Scheme with Rees Clayton Solicitors

If you are considering applying for the Doctorate Extension Scheme and would like expert assistance with your application, get in touch with our leading immigration solicitors today.

All our immigration services are fully flexible. We can support our clients by email, phone, Skype, post, and face-to-face meetings, enabling us to help everyone, regardless of their location and commitments.