Tier 5 temporary workers
The UK Border Agency allows academic institutions to bring migrants to the UK, on a temporary basis, under the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) route, to take part in one or more of the following activities:
- collaborate on University-hosted research where they are not filling an advertised position and the work is additional to the department/college's normal requirements;
- give a lecture/lectures where they are not filling an advertised position and the work is additional to the department/college's normal requirements;
- act as an external examiner.
It is not possible for the University to issue a Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship to a temporary worker who intends to take part in any activity other than those outlined above.
Those using the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) route may be employed and paid by the host department/college, or may be employed and paid by an overseas institution, or may have been awarded a grant to fund their employment in/visit to the UK.
Certificates of Sponsorship are only issued for migrants who are doing work to a level of NVQ level 3 or above.
The University holds its own allocation of Tier 5 Certificates of Sponsorship which can be issued to those who qualify as temporary workers. Unlike Tier 2, there is currently no monthly cap on the number of Tier 5 Certificates of Sponsorship and the University is not required to request Tier 5 Certificates of Sponsorship for overseas applicants on a case-by-case basis from the UK Border Agency.
All migrants coming to the UK to work or take part in sponsored research must obtain entry clearance/visa before arriving in the UK.
If departments and colleges are unsure whether they need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship, please see Do I need a Certificate of Sponsorship? 
(62kb), or contact the Work Permits Desk for advice.
Please see the Tier 5 application process flow chart (56kb) for further information. The processes involved, and the procedures to be followed, are described in more detail in the following sections.