Credibility Interview Advice for Students

Introduction
As part of your student visa application, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) department of the
Home Office may ask you to attend what is called a ‘Credibility Interview’.

The purpose of the interview is to assess if you are a “credible student who wants to genuinely
study in the UK and is not attempting to enter the UK for some other reason”. It will also
give the Entry Clearance Officer the ability to assess your English language level - so it is
important to prepare, especially if you have never had an interview before.

Those who are selected to attend a credibility interview will normally be contacted by email after
submission of their Student visa application.
You should not ignore this invitation and must answer promptly, as failing to attend will result in
your visa application being refused. Check your email inbox and junk folder after you have
submitted your biometrics. The invitation can be sent at any time after this step is completed.

The aim of this guide is to give you guidance on what to expect during a credibility interview and
tips on how to successfully prepare for it.
However, please note that The University of Law cannot, legally, provide any of the answers to
the UKVI questions - you are expected to do your own research and preparation and provide
individual responses.
You should not learn answers by rote or rely on scripts - this will be considered “coaching” which
will lead to your application being refused.

Why have I been asked to attend an interview?

Just because you have been asked to attend an interview does not mean that there is anything
wrong with your Student visa application. The Home Office will interview a number of applicants
at random regardless of nationality, country, where the application has been submitted, age, or
gender. You should not view these interviews as a problem with your application; instead, use
them as an opportunity to demonstrate how good your English speaking level is and the large
amount of research you have done when deciding to study at The University of Law.

Pre Interview Tips

 Use the 3 R’s – Research, Rehearse and Relax. You want to appear to be natural in your
responses and not like you are reading from a script.
 Give full, comprehensive responses and avoid basic, simple answers.
 Wear smart and presentable clothes.
 Be engaging, friendly and open - and remember to breathe!
 Use this opportunity to show how much effort you have invested in deciding to study in the UK.

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 Interview Questions – Personal Details
An Entry Clearance Officer will often start the interview asking basic information such as your
name, date of birth and nationality in order to establish that they are interviewing the correct
person. They will also ask you if you can hear them. Don’t be shy and let them know if you are
having any issues, such as background noise or poor Internet connection.

The person interviewing you will expect you to answer these questions clearly and confidently -
if you don’t, they may believe you don’t understand the question. If you start the interview well,
it will set the tone for the rest of the conversation and allow you to grow in confidence.

Interview Questions – Study Intentions

You will be expected to explain why and how you reached the decision to study in the UK and,
specifically, at The University of Law. More importantly, they will want to know why you have
chosen your intended course and how this course will benefit you and your professional career.

To help you prepare you may want to ask yourself the following questions and think of an answer
which reflects your personal circumstances. Give concrete answers, providing examples to
support your statement.

Why do you want to study in the UK?

 How will this experience be beneficial to you?
 What made you choose to study in the UK over your home country or other English-speaking
countries like Australia, Canada or the USA?
 How will the British education system differ from your previous experiences?

How did you decide you wanted to study at The University of Law?
 How did you find out about The University of Law? What research did you do?
 Do you know where your campus is located? How long will it take you to travel there each day?
 Did you consider other universities? If so, why did you choose The University of Law over other
education providers?

Why do you wish to study your chosen course?

 How does it relate to what you have studied previously and your future career plans?
 How long is your course? What modules will you be studying?
 How will this course advance you in your intended career path?

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 Interview Questions – Finances
You should be prepared to answer questions that may feel very personal and may even be
considered to be rude in your culture. For example, they may want to know exactly how you will
pay for your course and support yourself while you are studying in the UK.

They may also ask you to explain, in detail, where the funds in your possession have come from.
If you are being supported by family members then you should be able to explain how they
obtained their funds, so you may want to have a conversation with your parents about that.

Remember that the person interviewing you will be able to see the financial documents you have
submitted as part of your application so it is likely they will ask questions about these documents
as well.

It is recommended that you research how much it will cost for you to live in the area where
your campus is based. You will need to take various factors into account, such as
accommodation costs, travel costs and living expenses and explain how much you will need to
cover these costs throughout the duration of your course.

One further point to note is that you may be asked if you intend to work while studying in the
UK. You must remember that while a Student visa may allow you to work for a set number of
hours per week, your studies are the primary reason you are applying for a Student visa. It is
not recommended that you apply when your ability to finance your studies is dependent on you
finding work while in the UK.

Interview Questions – Additional Questions

 Be prepared to explain any gaps in studying or working. What were you doing during these
times?
 You may be asked about previous visa applications if you have submitted applications to travel
to the UK before.
 Have you been refused entry to the UK previously? Never attempt to conceal previous
unsuccessful visa applications.

After the Interview

The interviewer will make notes of the answers that you have provided during the interview. This
will be sent to the immigration caseworker to make a decision on your visa application based on
your answers and the supporting documents you have provided.

You should be aware that it is possible for the UKVI to request a second interview if they have
further questions that have arisen from your interview, though this is quite rare. If this happens,
please contact us by emailing: visaadvice@law.ac.uk

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Where can I find further guidance on credibility Interviews?

British Council – https://www.britishcouncil.org/

Study UK - https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/
University of Law - https://www.law.ac.uk/students/international/uk-visa-requirements
UK Council for International Student Affairs - https://ukcisa.org.uk/
Home Office Student Visa Guidance (Pages 14-20) –
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/939075/student-route-casework-guidance-v2.0ext.pd