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Understanding your visa as a Sabbatical Officer

The University is able to sponsor students who wish to undertake a role within the institution as a Sabbatical Officer.

Whilst you are in full time employment with the University as a Sabbatical Officer, you are not permitted to undertake any form of studies for the duration of your employment.

UKVI Home Office guidance states:

‘A Student Union Sabbatical Officer (SUSO) is expected to be taking a sabbatical from their studies for the purpose of undertaking a full-time, salaried, elected, executive union position. They should not therefore be studying and working full-time at the same time.’

This therefore means that any students in employment as Student Union Sabbatical Officers will not be permitted to undertake any form of studies whilst undertaking this role, this also includes dissertation work.

Students working as Sabbatical Officers should are only permitted to be issued a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) to cover the length of their employment. The CAS will not be issued to cover any further studies after their employment has ended.

UKVI Home Office guidance states:

‘A CAS is issued either for a course of study, or for a role as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer (SUSO), not for both in combination. Though it is possible to commence a SUSO role with a student CAS when the sponsor reports a Change in Circumstances as per paragraph 4.40 of Document 2 of the Student Sponsor Guidance.’

This therefore means that the University is only able to issue a CAS to cover the length of your employment as a Sabbatical Officer, with a further CAS then to be issued to complete the remainder of your studies once your employment has ended.