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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate Foundations of UK immigration law: IAA Level 1 short course
This online course introduces UK immigration law and the role of an Immigration Practitioner. It is ideal for anyone interested in the UK immigration system or aiming to become a Level 1 Immigration Practitioner with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), formerly the OISC. You’ll explore sources of immigration law, the UK’s Immigration Rules, and key areas such as nationality, asylum and appeals. The course builds practical skills in client interviewing, route identification, application preparation and professional conduct. Developed in partnership with the OU and HJT Training, it offers expert-led insight into immigration law and prepares you for practice with confidence.
This course has been developed in partnership with HJT Training
HJT Training Professionals logo
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.
This course assumes some knowledge of the UK’s legal system and law-making processes.
If you are new to the study of law and immigration law, or want to refresh your knowledge, An introduction to UK immigration law and becoming an immigration advisor is a free 15-hour course designed to prepare you for the Foundations of UK immigration law (IAA Level 1). As the course builds on this free Open University OpenLearn resource, we recommend looking at this before you start.
The course is delivered online and use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying WG001 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
StartEngland fee
At anytime before 31/12/2026£249
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
If this course is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could ask your employer to sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. Your sponsor just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.
The fee information provided here is valid for short courses starting in the 2026/27 academic year. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
You can start this course anytime.
You can start this course anytime.
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