How to Prepare for Credibility/Visa Interview

Points to remember while preparing for the interview:

 Read the offer letter and SOP.

 Understand the course modules well.
 Do not give vague or generic answers. Do research, be specific, and give detailed
answers. All your answers must align with your course and career goals.
 Read your responsibilities as a student Visa Holder
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Protecting-
your-Student-status
 Go through the university-specific YouTube videos to find how they conduct
interviews.
 Remember the source of information i.e., names of websites, education fair,
brochures, etc.
 The interviewer may ask a question differently or can cross-question; hence students
must do their research and avoid mugging up the answers.

1) Tell me something about you?

- Tell your name, place, educational background, work experience, achievements, and only if
asked talk about family (in short) and hobbies.

2) Why do you want to study in the UK? How many countries are there in the UK (along with
their respective capitals)?
- Mention at least 8 to 9 points.
- Do not mention your intentions of working in the UK.
- Go through the following links.
 https://www.ucas.com/studying-uk#:~:text=High%20quality%20education,-The
%20UK%20is&text=They%20also%20have%20a%20reputation,to%20drive
%20forward%20their%20careers
 https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/why-study
 https://www.kaplanpathways.com/about/news/top-9-reasons-why-you-should-
study-in-the-uk/

3) Why did you not choose any other English-speaking countries or your home country?
- Which universities did you check in other countries (Talk about at least 1 or 2 similar
ranked universities from each country you considered to study)
- You can compare based on the education system, course fees, cost of living, climate, socio-
economic issues, etc.
- Please check world ranking from
 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/
 https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-
rankings/2021

4) Why do you want to choose this university?

You can talk about
- World ranking, national ranking, Teaching Excellence Framework
 - Accreditation with independent professional bodies e.g., AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB, CMI for
MBA, CMI, CIMA for Other business courses, ACCA, for Accounting CFA for Finance RIBA for
Architecture, British Computer Society for Computer Science and so on (check course
specification)
- Subject Ranking (check Guardian League Table)
- Student satisfaction rate (NSS 2020), the Student employability rate
- Facilities, student support, awards won by the university, several international students
(Times Higher Education), positive feedbacks you have read, etc.
- Read the university website very thoroughly.
- Compare with at least 4 other UK universities providing similar course – comparison can be
made based on
 Course modules: What modules can you study from your university but not from
other universities. Find the difference between their modules.
 Accreditation: Check if the course is accredited in other universities (Only if your
course is accredited)
 Student satisfaction rate, employability rate, course fees, facilities available, etc.
- Go through the following links.
 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/
 https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-
rankings/2021
 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/national-student-
survey-2020-overall-satisfaction-results
 https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-
uk-universities-2021-league-table
 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/blogs/what-tef-results-
teaching-excellence-framework-2019

5) Know the location of the university well.

- Remember website URL.
- Name of your campus
- What are the other campuses?
- Postal Address
- What do you know about the city/town?
- Why did you choose this campus/city?
- Which is the nearest international airport?
- Names of major cities around your university
- How will you travel from India to the UK and from the airport to the university?

6) Why did you choose this course?

-Tell the name of the course as it is written on your offer letter.
- Explain your decision-making process on what attracted you to this specific course.
- Also discuss the modules and their contents, learning outcomes, and progression routes.
- Articulate the justification by engaging with the modules and linking them with your
previous studies and future job title’s duties.
- Also, explain how this course is related to your previous studies.
 - If you are switching your field of study, provide strong and valid justification of the same
e.g., if you are switching from an engineering background to MBA or International
Business, etc.
- Full form of MSc: Master of Science
MA: Master of Arts
MEng: Master of Engineering
BSc: Bachelor of Science
BA: Bachelor of Arts
BEng: Bachelor of Engineering
- If your course is the foundation, International Year One, Pre-Masters, Extended Masters
courses, know what they mean.
- Also, while mentioning your previous course avoid saying abbreviations. Use full forms
only e.g. Don’t use BCA, mention Bachelor of Computer Application
- Do you have any academic gaps? Why do you want to return to full-time studies now?

7) Did you consider any other course?

8) Know the structure of the course well.

- Remember the names of modules.
- What you can study from each module
- How many credits points each module carries?
- Total credit points for PG are 180 and UG is 360.
- How many semesters do you have? PG: 3 semesters, UG: 2 semesters/year (6 Semesters)
- How you will be assessed?
- What is the entry requirement for your course?
- Duration of the course, start date, end date (Check offer letter)
- Which module will be the most challenging and least challenging for you and why?

9) What is your future career plan?

- Explain what your plans are after you graduate?
- What skills and knowledge will your course at the university provide for your future
career?
- How will the knowledge and skills you gain from this course help you with the type of work
you hope to do?
- What research have you done about the job market, including job titles, job requirements,
and expected earnings?
- What value addition you can do to the organization?
- e.g., After the course, I will apply for “Job Title” and companies like “Name 1, Name 2 and
Name 3”. Explain the job title’s responsibilities in 2-3 lines and engage with the applied
course’s modules. Explain briefly how ABC modules will help you perform your duties at
the respective job title and what skillsets will get enhanced.

10) How will you support yourself financially?

- If a family member is supporting, know their annual income and source of income.
- How much funds do you have and in which bank? And where has this money come from?
- How many people are dependent financially on your sponsor?
 - If you have applied for an education loan, explain in which bank and branch? Why are you
taking a loan? What is the rate of interest? How will you repay this loan? What security you
have given against the loan?
- Although you can work a part-time job under a student visa, you should not be relying on
that income for your maintenance funds.
- What is your tuition fees (Check offer letter)
- If you are going for a course with more than one-year duration, you should also be able to
explain how you will be paying your next year’s course fees and living expenses. You can
talk about the family’s income or property which can be used to pay for fees and living
expenses. e.g., if you are going for a 3-year bachelor course you must be able to explain
how you can manage your finances for each year.
- Calculate funds required including course fees and living expenses.
The first year unpaid tuition fees + Nine months of living expenses
For universities inside London nine months’ living expenses: £12006.
For universities outside London nine months’ living expenses: £9207.

11) What about your accommodation?

- A student must research the accommodation webpage on the university website and
should make himself aware of the properties available for the students.
- For private accommodations check
 https://www.gumtree.com/
 https://www.casita.com/
 https://www.spareroom.co.uk/
 https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

- What is the address?

- What is the rent and what facilities are available?
- How far it is from the university.
- How will you travel from the accommodation to the university?
- Shortlist at least 3 accommodations
- How will you travel from your home country to your University Campus?
- Which airport will he/she be landing in the UK?

12) Can you tell me how much your monthly living expenses will be?

If asked specifically the student must be able to explain the actual cost of living with a
breakup in Rent, Food expenses, Conveyance cost, other monthly bills like Sim Recharge,
Entertainment, etc. There is a difference between show money required for a visa and the
actual cost expected incurred while in the UK.

13) Do you have any immigration history?

14) Do you have any visa refusals? If so, why was it refused?
- It is important that you tell the interviewer about any refusals you have and explain the
reason. You need to demonstrate that you understand the reason for the refusal and
explain why this will not happen with this application.

15) Do you intend to work in the UK? Do you know how many hours you are allowed to work?
 - During term you are allowed to work 20 hours per week and during vacation, you can work
for 40 hours per week. But be clear that work is not a priority for you. You should mention
that study is a priority and after that, if you find some spare time then only you will
consider working part-time and gain some experience, it will give the opportunity to know
and connect with the local people and do networking.

16) Do you know anyone in the UK?

17) Did you give IELTS?
18) If you have not been given IELTS, how did your English language requirement get waived off?
(through 12th English marks or interview)
19) Who is your agent? Did your agent choose this university for you or you have selected it?
20) Which subjects did you study in your previous course? Can you explain any one of them?