There are 15 units in which you'll explore key aspects of the IAA Level 1 syllabus and competencies. Each unit contains self-assessed activities designed to develop both knowledge and skills, to provide points for reflection on progress and to enable you to assess your own progress.
The course provides an opportunity for you to develop highly sought-after legal skills and offers advice and guidance on examination preparation alongside practical exercises. You'll explore and learn about aspects of the UK’s Immigration Rules, including applications to leave to enter or remain in the UK, visitors to the UK, applications under Appendix FM and Private Life, Worker and Business applications, Protection and Human Rights Applications, Nationality Law, Administrative Reviews and Appeals.
There is also an opportunity for you to develop relevant casework skills, including legal problem-solving, communication, ensuring the use of the relevant Immigration Rules and managing changes to the law. You'll learn and get to practice applying suitability and eligibility criteria, gathering evidence, choosing the appropriate rules and immigration route, interviewing clients, time management, letter drafting, identifying resources, and managing immigration applications appropriately and efficiently. Also considered are the features of ethical practice.
The course is designed to be studied flexibly and at a time of your choice. The teaching materials are delivered online through a course website with an online Immigration Law Manual, regular updates in the course news section and relevant IAA materials such as the Level 1 examination resource book. Access to regular updates forms part of your own skills development in keeping up to date with legal changes and the ability to research current Immigration Rules.
Please note that immigration law is a complex and fast-changing area. Therefore, the course content is updated annually. Emphasis throughout the course is placed on assisting you to develop the skills required to work with the Immigration Rules as they change and develop, to update your own knowledge and to work within a constantly changing and complex environment.
For individuals seeking to qualify as an IAA Level 1 adviser, you'll have a unique opportunity to explore and practice the knowledge and skills required by the IAA Level 1 examination. There are units that guide you through the examination process, with reference to the IAA Level 1 online examination resources provided by the IAA.
On successful completion of this CPD course, you will have gained knowledge of:
You will also have developed several legal, practical, and professional skills including those relevant to:
This course is designed to assist you to qualify as an IAA Level 1 Immigration Advisor by exploring aspects of the knowledge and skills required in this role and provide opportunities to practise important examination skills. Its design has been informed by the requirements of the IAA.
The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) sets entry requirements, examination dates and is the assessor of the Level 1 examination papers. Further information about these can be found on the IAA website.
This course is designed for independent study. Other support is available via StudentHome, the computing helpdesk and by contacting [email protected]. This course should take approximately 60 hours of study depending on your familiarity with immigration law and practice. It has been carefully designed to allow you to work at your own pace and with the flexibility to study at the times that suit you. Completing the course in a more intensive period is possible but you will benefit more if you take your time to complete all the activities, the course reading in the associated online Immigration Law Manual (prepared by our partner institution and referred to as the Course Reader) and the consolidation activities.
The course is open for registration from January to December. You can register and begin your studies at any time during the life of this course. Depending on the date you register, you have a maximum of 18 months and a minimum of six months to complete your studies (this includes the unit activities and consolidation activities). If you feel six months may be insufficient time for you to complete the course, you can register in the following January.
You'll have access to the course for six months after registration closes in December. Following this you have access to a read only version of the course for three years.
The course is delivered entirely online through a website specifically designed to support you as you study. You'll have access to an online Immigration Law Manual. This important resource is provided as an integral part of your learning. The Immigration Law Manual (referred to as the Course Reader) is updated annually by our partner, HJT, a sector leading specialist in UK immigration law (some of whose lawyers you will hear from in course videos). The course website has regular updates covering the latest immigration law news and you will be invited to bi-annual online webinars.
Each unit is designed for interactive study with activities and links to other relevant materials. There are opportunities for self-reflection, assessment of your own progress and the Learning Outcomes are things you should be able to do on completion of the unit. Several of the units have audio and video resources.
On completion of your studies you can obtain a certificate of completion as evidence of your studies. To gain this certificate you must attempt the consolidation activities. If you are seeking to qualify as a Level 1 IAA Advisor this will assist you in providing evidence as part of the IAA Level 1 application process.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
