Early completion

What is early completion?

Early completion means you receive your official results at least one month earlier than the expected course completion date on your last CAS (Certificate of Acceptance of Studies). 

The course completion date on the CAS will normally match the expected completion date on your student record, but not always.

Examples of early completion include: 

• An undergraduate student changes from a four-year course to a shorter three-year course. 
• An undergraduate student graduates earlier with a BEng degree instead of continuing to complete an MEng. 
• A postgraduate research student receives an MPhil instead of a PhD. 
• Postgraduate research students who have switched to an MPhil after thesis submission, where the outcome is a downgrade but no corrections are needed (pass straightaway)
• A postgraduate research student completes their PhD earlier than expected. 

Most postgraduate taught students are not normally considered early completers because official results are usually released after the CAS end date. 

 Example:

• Many PGT courses finish in September.
• Official results are published in November.

What happens to my student visa? 

Within 10 days of your results being updated on your student record, the University must report early completion to UKVI.

The University will email you after they make this report. Read this email carefully because it explains what you should do next. 

After the University reports your early completion, UKVI may shorten your student visa. This is called curtailment. It can also be referred to as cancellation. 

UKVI will normally send you an email or letter with your new visa expiry date. Check your spam folders regularly as the email might be there.

The University will not know when UKVI shortens your visa.

If you are overseas when you UKVI shortens your visa, then it is cancelled immediately instead.

Example:

Most student visas for courses longer than 12 months include an extra four months after the course end date.

If you complete your course early:

• UKVI will usually change your visa expiry date to four months after your new completion date.

If your original course was shorter than 12 months:

• Your visa may have a shorter extra period.

What should I do after early completion?

You should either:

• leave the UK before your new visa expiry date, or
• apply for another visa if you are eligible.

This helps you avoid overstaying your visa.

You can stay in the UK until your new visa expiry date, and your visa conditions stay the same until then.

You cannot appeal against a visa curtailment or cancellation decision.

What happens if I travel outside of the UK after early completion is reported?

If you leave the UK after the University has reported your early completion to UKVI

• You will not be able to use your Student visa to return to the UK. 
• If you leave the UK after your visa is curtailed, your visa will end immediately
• If you are outside the UK when your visa is curtailed, your visa will also end immediately
• If you needed to return for your graduation or other reason, you would need to use a Visit visa instead.

If you want to apply for another visa

If you want to apply for a different visa within the UK, you should apply for the visa and wait until the new visa has been granted before travelling outside of the UK. This is especially important if you intend to apply for the Graduate Immigration Route visa (see below).

When you leave the UK, keep evidence of your exit.

Will early completion affect my eligibility for the Graduate Immigration Route?

To apply for the Graduate Immigration route (GIR) you need to

• be physically in the UK
• hold a valid student visa and
• have successfully completed the course for which your last CAS was issued. 
• Apply for GIR and wait for it to be granted BEFORE travelling outside the UK

In most cases, if you successfully complete your degree early, you will be eligible for the GIR visa. 

If you complete early with lower qualification

You may not be eligible for the Graduate Immigration Route, if you have completed your degree but have been awarded a lower award, eg PG certificate rather than a Masters degree, as this is not an eligible qualification for the Graduate Immigration Route.

Can I continue to work on my student visa, if I complete my degree early?

Yes. Your student visa work conditions will not be affected by early completion.

After completion of your course

•  You can work full time from the course completion date until your new visa expiry date. 

However:

• The role should not be permanent. Visit our 'Working on a Student visa after study' page for more information.

Working at the University of Sheffield

If you work as a casual worker at the University:

• You must submit claims for any unpaid work within seven days.

After seven days:

• your casual worker record will close.

Working for a different employer

• You can usually continue working until your updated visa expiry date. 
• You should tell your employer about your visa changes and discuss your situation with them.