Training and events

Our training for professionals working with international students is delivered by our expert staff and covers our specialist areas of immigration advice and compliance, fees assessments, student experience and staff skills.

UKCISA training courses are:

  • designed to provide you with the tools, skills and knowledge to deliver the highest level of international student experience.

  • relevant and responsive to the external policy context.

  • run by IAA-registered UKCISA staff and experts from our extensive network.

  • grounded in the principles of the #WeAreInternational Student Charter.

  • 2026
  • 2025
  1. SGB 49720

    Post-study work options

    • Zoom
    • 29/01/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    There are many immigration routes available for students after they have completed their studies in the UK. We will focus on a select few during this training course to help develop your ability to effectively advise your students and graduates. 

  2. Istock 637939370

    HE fee assessment in Northern Ireland

    • Zoom
    • 05/02/2026
    • 02:00 pm
    • 2 hours

    This three-part training course offers UKCISA members an introduction to the regulations that determine who should be charged ‘home’ fees and who can be charged ‘overseas fees’ for higher education in Northern Ireland.   

  3. Istock 637939370

    HE fee assessment in Scotland

    • Zoom
    • 12/02/2026
    • 02:00 pm
    • 2 hours

    This three-part training course offers UKCISA members an introduction to the regulations that determine who should be charged ‘home’ fees and who can be charged ‘overseas’ fees for higher education in Scotland. 

  4. White Man Greeting Others On Laptop

    Student route essentials: Financial requirements

    • Zoom
    • 18/02/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    Understanding financial requirements is key to supporting students in their visa applications. This training course offers an in-depth overview of the financial requirements of the Student route and how the rules and guidance apply.

  5. Seminar In Progress Interface Of Faces

    Student route essentials: English language requirements

    • Zoom
    • 25/02/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    Student sponsors are required to assess English language ability of Student route applicants. This training course offers  an in-depth overview of the English language requirements and how the rules and guidance apply. 

  6. Woman In Hijab With Mobile And Laptop

    Student route essentials: Academic progress requirements

    • Zoom
    • 04/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    Student route applicants must demonstrate academic progression between one period of study and the next. This training course offers a detailed overview of the academic progress requirements in the Immigration Rules and the responsibilities of Student sponsors.

  7. Black Man Outside On Bench Connecting On Laptop

    Navigating Section 3C

    • Zoom
    • 11/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 protects applicants from becoming overstayers in certain circumstances. This training course will focus on what Section 3C is and how it operates. 

  8. Jason Goodman Oalh2mojuuk Unsplash (2)

    Skills for effective leadership

    • Zoom
    • 12/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    Taking on a leadership role in teams that deliver a world-class international student experience can be extremely rewarding. It can also be a highly pressured environment with unique challenges. UKCISA’s Leadership skills course was created specifically for UKCISA members experienced in working with, and for, international students.

  9. Istock 1083813296

    Student route essentials: Assisting Student route applicants

    • Zoom
    • 18/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    An important part of an International Student Adviser’s role is assisting students in making applications under the Student route. This training course offers  an in-depth overview of how to assist applicants to submit a valid Student route application.

  10. Istock 637939370

    HE fee assessment in England

    • Zoom
    • 19/03/2026
    • 02:00 pm
    • 2 hours

    This three-part training course offers UKCISA members an introduction to the regulations that determine who should be charged ‘home’ fees and who can be charged ‘overseas fees’ for higher education in England.

  11. 30425426165 9F0fbc6520 K

    The Visitor route: study options

    • Zoom
    • 24/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2.5 hours

    An individual with Standard Visitor permission can visit the UK for a temporary duration and is permitted to carry out a number of activities including tourism, visiting friends and family, or undertaking a short course of study. This training course will focus on the study options within the Visitor route.   

  12. Headway 5Qgiuubxkwm Unsplash

    SU Sabbatical Officers: Navigating the immigration Rules and guidance

    • Zoom
    • 26/03/2026
    • 10:00 am
    • 2 hours

    The Student route is part of the points-based visa system specifically for international students who want to study in the UK. It is also the route that is used for those who want to undertake a Student Union Sabbatical Officer role. This training course offers UKCISA members a general overview of how the Student immigration route can be used by those undertaking such a role.

Our training programme

To understand which course may be right for you, browse through our current training programme below. 

  • Stop Press: recent immigration changes (Nov 25 & May 26)
  • Introduction to the Student route (Oct 25, Jan 26 & July 26)
  • Navigating the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) requirements (Dec 25)
  • Student route essentials: Academic progress (Nov 25 & Mar 26)
  • Student route essentials: English language requirements (Oct 25 & Feb 26)
  • Student route essentials: Understanding financial requirements (Oct 25 & Feb 26)
  • Student route essentials: Assisting Student route applicants (Dec 25 & Mar 26)
  • Navigating Section 3C (March 26 & July 26)
  • Student route refusals and administrative reviews (Apr 26 & July 26) 
  • Visitor route: study options (Mar 26)
  • Post-study work options (Jan 26 & May 26)
  • SU Sabbatical Officers: Navigating the immigration Rules and guidance (Mar 26 & Jun 26) *new for 2025-26

UKCISA’s training equips admissions staff and advisers with the knowledge needed to accurately determine a student's eligibility for home or overseas fee status across the UK, ensuring staff can make fair, thorough and informed decisions based on government regulations, case law and an applicant’s own circumstances.

  • HE fee assessment in England (Nov 25, Mar 26, & July 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Wales (May 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Scotland (Feb 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Northern Ireland (Feb 26)
  • Spotlight on ‘ordinary residence’ in fee assessments (Dec 25 & May 26)
  • Fees revisited (England): a practical update (April 26) *new for 2025-26

UKCISA’s training focuses on empowering staff working with international students to build and enhance their professional growth in their work. It offers opportunities to staff with all levels of experience, from those new to working with international students to experienced managers.

  • Skills for effective leadership (Mar 26)
  • From adviser to coach: enhancing impact at work (Nov 25)

We offer a range of courses for early career staff, aimed to increase knowledge of specific topic areas and skills to lay the foundations for a successful career working with international students.

  • Introduction to the Student route (Oct 25, Jan 26 & July 26)
  • Navigating the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) requirements (Dec 25)
  • Visitor route: study options (Mar 26)
  • HE fee assessment in England (Nov 25, Mar 26, & July 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Wales (May 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Scotland (Feb 26)
  • HE fee assessment in Northern Ireland (Feb 26)
  • From adviser to coach: enhancing impact at work (Nov 25)

To be able to make the most of the courses below we recommend some experience in your role working with international students. We also recommend these courses for experienced staff looking for a refresher or update.

  • Stop Press: recent immigration changes (Nov 25 & May 26)
  • Student route essentials: Understanding financial requirements (Oct 25 & Feb 26)
  • Student route essentials: English language requirements  (Oct 25 & Feb 26)
  • Student route essentials: Academic progress (Nov 25 & Mar 26)
  • Student route essentials: Assisting Student route applicants (Dec 25 & Mar 26)
  • Navigating Section 3C (March 26 & July 26)
  • Student route refusals and administrative reviews (Apr 26 & July 26) 
  • Post-study work options (Jan 26 & May 26)
  • SU Sabbatical Officers: Navigating the immigration Rules and guidance (Mar 26 & Jun 26) *new for 2025-26
  • From adviser to coach: enhancing impact at work (Nov 25)

All our courses are designed for experienced managers and advisers and can be useful to refresh your knowledge and skills. We also offer the below courses that are tailored to experienced advisers and leaders, giving you the opportunity to dig deeper into complex areas and discuss shared experiences.

  • Skills for effective leadership (Mar 26)
  • Spotlight on ‘ordinary residence’ in fee assessments (Dec 25 & May 26)
  • Fees revisited (England): a practical update (April 26) *new for 2025-26
  • Stop Press: recent immigration changes (Nov 25 & May 26)

What attendees say about our courses

Booking frequently asked questions

Before booking, please check the course, aim, objective and other details to ensure that it will meet your training needs. Please also read our terms and conditions below. Once you have done this, you can complete our online booking form. 

Availability can be found online. If our courses are marked as ‘Fully booked’ please email training@ukcisa.org.uk to be put on our waiting list. We endeavour to listen and respond to requests for training and our waiting list helps us understand how to meet demand.

If you have any questions about the courses or your booking, please contact us at training@ukcisa.org.uk. 

Yes you can. If they are are registered to our website you will have the option to select them during the booking process.

Our training courses cost: 

  • £150 for UKCISA members and students’ unions. 
  • £300 for non-members.  

Our fees training courses cost: 

  • £350 for UKCISA members and students’ unions.  
  • £700 for non-members. 

Our webinar costs include copies of the presentation and links to any relevant resources and information. We do not circulate recordings of our training webinars to delegates. 

We accept payment by credit/debit card or BACS transfer. Payments should be made before the course.

A purchase order (PO) number is a code assigned by your institution (usually the finance department) to orders placed with a vendor. 

Once the online form has been completed and your payment has been received, we will send you an email to confirm receipt of your place on the course. If you do not receive confirmation two weeks after completing the form, please contact UKCISA to ensure that your booking has been received. 

Please see our terms and conditions. Refunds will only be given if cancellations are made in writing more than two weeks prior to the course. Delegate substitutions can be made at any time without a charge.  

We want to make our online training courses accessible to everyone. Our training courses include options for live transcription and closed captioning (please note that closed captioning may not be accurate). We also circulate the slides and any other relevant information to all delegates.  

If you have any other accessibility needs that you would like to discuss, please email training@ukcisa.org.uk. 

We offer in-house training on fees assessment and student immigration online.  

Please email training@ukcisa.org.uk to discuss your training needs and find out further information on costs. 

Due to overwhelmingly positive feedback to our online training and events, and the number of benefits it provides for our members across the UK, our programme will remain online.

Cancelling course bookings

The following charges will apply for online and in-person training and events if you wish to cancel a booking: 

  • For cancellations made 15 or more days before a course there will be no charge.  
  • For cancellations made 1-14 days before a course the full cost of the training course or event will be charged. 

Cancellations must be received in writing via email to training@ukcisa.org.uk and must contain the full booking details including the delegate’s name, institution/organisation name, contact details and the course(s) that you wish to cancel.  

We are not able to offer refunds for cancellations made by delegates for reasons outside our control, including illness, or technical difficulties, travel difficulties due to adverse weather conditions or industrial action.

Substitute delegates

You may transfer a place on a course to a substitute delegate free of charge at any time. Please inform us of any changes so that we can send joining instructions to the correct person. 

Payment

Payment should be made in advance of the training course.  

Course cancellations and amendments

We reserve the right to change course dates, venues and programmes without liability. If we cancel a course and cannot offer you an alternative option, we will provide a full refund of the course fee. This extends to any technical difficulties that may impact the delivery of our online training and events.   

Course materials 

If you are no longer able to attend your event or training course, we will not be able to send you the course materials.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to the promotion of equal opportunities in its employment practices and in the provision of services to its members and other users. We are committed to the progressive development of policies and practices that are non-discriminatory in the widest sense, that recognise and respect diversity and encourage the challenging of discrimination. Speakers and course facilitators will challenge any racist, sexist or otherwise unacceptable language or behaviour. 

Complaints policy

We are committed to providing the best possible service to our members and supporting them to deliver an excellent international student experience in the UK. However, if you’re unhappy with our service, we would like to hear from you so that we can resolve any issues. If you would like to make a complaint about UKCISA or its services, you can contact us.  

All UKCISA training and events

  1. ukcisa-conference-attendees-2024

    Annual Conference

    Join us for UKCISA Annual Conference 2026 from 24-25 June at the University of Strathclyde.

    Find out more
  2. ukcisa-conference-training-2024

    In-house training

    We can support your staff by delivering interactive online training.

    Find out more
  3. 49099598447 4046D93a91 O

    Practitioner networks

    Membership gives everyone in your institution access to our practitioner networks.

    Find out more

Please note that while we are registered by the IAA for the provision of our immigration advice, training provided by UKCISA is not accredited by the IAA.

Sign up to our free email newsletter

Stay in touch with UKCISA and get all of our updates before anyone else.