What you will study
This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course is designed for individuals interested in learning about the complex aspects of UK Immigration law.
You will learn about the UK’s Immigration Rules, explore exceptions to those Rules, including Leave Outside the Rules, and consider the skills and competencies required in practice, including those required in making an application on behalf of a client. Covering the OISC Level 2 and 3 syllabi, the course provides an opportunity for you to learn more about this specialist area of practice and provides opportunities for those planning to undertake the OISC Level 2 or 3 examination to practise their examination skills.
Designed for flexible study this unique course is structured around 15 units and an online immigration law manual. Developed in partnership and bringing together the expertise of the OU and HJT training, the course focuses on supported online learning containing specific subject area written units, video and audio materials, online activities, opportunities to self-assess progress, for reflection, skills development, consolidation of learning for examination preparation.
The units cover immigration control, making an application, human rights, private life, family life, leave outside the Rules, the Eu Settlement Scheme (including complex EEA cases), human rights: complex cases, immigration detention (bail, removal, and deportation), client care, OISC Level 2 and 3 examination preparation and readiness, OISC Level 2 and 3 examination practise and reflection, appeals against Home Office decisions, the process and skills used in managing an appeal, OISC’s Code of Standards, responsibilities and next steps.
In addition to knowledge, you gain several important skills essential to those working with immigration law. These include the application of suitability and eligibility criteria, gathering evidence, choosing the appropriate rules and immigration route, working with the immigration rules, client interviewing, time management, letter drafting, identifying resources, and managing applications appropriately and efficiently. The features of ethical practice are also considered.
For individual’s seeking to qualify as an OISC Level 2 and 3 advisor, the course also provides a unique opportunity to explore and practise the knowledge and skills required of the OISC Level 2 and 3 examinations.
Immigration law is a complex and fast-changing area and throughout the course, emphasis is placed upon developing skills which enable you to keep up to date and equip you to work with the Immigration Law Rules as they change and develop. The course is updated annually and those seeking to take the OISC Level 2 and 3 examinations are guided through the examination process with references made to the OISC Level 2 and 3 online examination resources provided by OISC.
You will learn
On successful completion of this CPD course, you will have gained knowledge of:
- specific areas of UK immigration law set out in the OISC Levels 2 and 3 syllabi.
- the skills and competencies required at OISC Level 2 or 3.
- the permitted work of an OISC Level 2 or 3 immigration advisor.
- the role of the OISC syllabus and OISC examination resources.
You will also have developed several legal, practical, and professional skills including those relevant to:
- practice as a Level 2 and 3 Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) Immigration Advisor
- working with the Immigration Rules
- working with clients
- the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) Level 2 and 3 examinations
Vocational relevance
This course has vocational relevance for those seeking to work as an Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) Level 2 and 3 Immigration Advisor. It explores the knowledge and skills required by the OISC Level 2 and 3 syllabi.
Requirements for registration for an OISC examination and OISC registration are set by OISC and individuals must register for these directly through OISC.
Learner support
This course is designed for independent study. Other support is available, contact OU-immigration-courses@open.ac.uk for course specific enquiries, via StudentHome for general study enquiries or the computing helpdesk for IT support for your studies.
Work-based activity
This is a self-study course in which you self-assess your progress through activities, reflection and feedback. These enable you to check your understanding and apply the knowledge as you work through each unit. There is no formal assessment. A certificate of participation is provided on completion of the course.
For those studying as part of their preparation for becoming an OISC Level 2 and 3 Advisor, the syllabus, competencies, and examination for OISC Level 2 and 3 practice are set by OISC. OISC sets the examination dates, examination entry requirements and registration requirements. OISC also provides an examination resources booklet. You need to be familiar with all of these before applying to sit the examination and sitting the examination. OISC set application criteria which applicants for OISC Level 2 and 3 must meet (in addition to passing the OISC Level 2 and 3 examination). To ensure you can work as an immigration advisor please contact the Home Office directly to ensure your understanding of their requirements is correct before making your application to become an OISC Level 2 and 3 adviser and sitting the examination.