1. Aims

1.1 The University is committed to excellence as measured by the highest national and international standards. We operate in a global environment aiming to be among the best universities in the world encouraging creativity, independence, enterprise and initiative.

1.2 We aim to provide an environment that attracts the very best staff and students from all over the world, encourages and facilitates academic endeavour, and provides a supportive atmosphere for the development and sharing of knowledge.

1.3 Guided by these values, we seek to build a University that distinguishes itself in the world-leading quality of its research, in its outstanding teaching, and in the quality and value of the students' university experience.

1.4 We aim to recruit and retain academic staff who are, or have the potential to become, international leaders in their disciplines.

1.5 To ensure we are able to attract and retain the very best academics internationally, we operate the recruitment and retention benefit of an interest-free loan by way of a salary advance for overseas staff in the circumstances detailed below.

2. Policy statement

2.1 This scheme operates in conjunction with the Visa Application Fee and IHS Reimbursement Policy through which the main visa applicant may be eligible to claim reimbursement for their own visa application fee and IHS.

2.2 The University is able to offer an interest-free salary advance to assist current or prospective* employees who require UKVI permission to undertake their role at the University with payment for the following costs:

• Where not eligible to claim for reimbursement under the 'Visa Application Fee and IHS Reimbursement Policy', their UK Visa fees and / or Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
• UK visa fees and/or Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for their dependants*.
• UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) application or British Citizenship fees for themself and their dependants.

*Prospective staff must have been issued with an offer of employment and may apply for the salary advance on their first day of work after their Right to Work check has been completed.

**Dependants include spouse/partner and children

3. Criteria to assess eligibility of application

3.1 Contractual status

3.1.1 The salary advance is available for staff on permanent contracts and staff on fixed term contracts of 18 months or more. It is not available to individuals engaged on a casual basis or who hold an honorary contract with the University.

4. General conditions

4.1 The current or prospective member of staff must require work permission for their role at the University and whose dependants are also required to hold a UK visa. This includes Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) and British Citizenship applications for the member of staff and/or their dependants. They must be required to pay, or have paid on their dependants' behalf, the visa fee and IHS, Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) fee or British Citizenship fee.

4.2 The individual must have received an offer of employment or extension of employment from the University or in the case of Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) or British Citizenship applications, be a current employee of the University.

4.3 The salary advance will be for no other costs than those mentioned in paragraph 2.2 above.

4.4 The salary advance will be up to a cap of £10,000 for each eligible staff member.

4.5 If applying for British Citizenship, the individual may apply for initial costs and then make a second application for ceremony fees if their application is successful.

4.6 Salary advances for UK visa fees, IHS costs, Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) and British Citizenship applications will be recovered over a maximum period of 24 months or the projected employment end date, whichever is less.

4.7 The salary advance will be repaid in equal monthly instalments deducted directly from the staff member's monthly salary.

4.8 Where an individual has one or more salary advance(s) of more than £10,000 in value this will attract a tax liability as a benefit in kind, this deduction will be made from your salary as required. The University reserves the right to make any statutory deductions as required by the UK Government and amend this policy in order to meet our obligations.

4.9 If the member of staff leaves the University before the salary advance is repaid, the outstanding debt will be deducted from their salary during their notice period including their final salary.

4.10 Any amount not fully repaid under 4.8 above will be subject to the University's debt collection procedures. All reasonable University and third party debt collection costs will be added to the outstanding debt amount. This may include interest charges.

4.11 The salary advance will be paid in UK currency.

5. Procedure and authorisation of applications

5.1 Individuals should apply for the fee advance on the visa-salary-advance-application online form.

5.2 The University will arrange the salary advance via bank transfer once the member of staff has commenced employment.

6. Monitoring, reporting and review

6.1 The application of the salary advance policy will be monitored by Finance and HR and reported to the People and Remuneration Committee annually.

6.2 The salary advance policy will be reviewed 3 years after implementation.

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• Approved on: 17 April 2024
• Last reviewed: 26 March 2024