List of possible questions for Credibility Interview.

Educational Plans:

1. What is the name of the University where you are going to study?
The University of Edinburgh
2. Do you know where it is? How far is it from London ? Which County is it in ?
Edinburgh in Scotland in United Kingdom. 414 miles from London nearly 5hour
from London via train.
3. How did you hear about the University and arrange this admission?
Through internet
4. What is the name of the course you want to follow?
MSc (Master of Science) in Data Science
5. When is your course starting?
Attendance date is on 12thof September and course starts on 19 thof September
(to verify from CAS)
6. Why do you want to study in this field?
I have always been interested in applied mathematics and artificial intelligence.
This particular course would, in my opinion, provide me with the knowledge to
venture further in my field of interest.
7. Is this course related to what you have studied before?
Yes, it is related.
8. In what way it is related?
The course requires knowledge of mathematical sciences mainly in areas of
statistics and computing, both of which were anintegral part of my course
curriculum in my undergraduate program.
9. If it is not related, why do you want to change?
10. How long is the course?
Welcome Week is for 1 week and the course is for 10 months(to verify from
CAS)
11. What qualification will you get at the end of this course?
Master of Science(MS)
12. Why will this qualification be of use to you?
It will help me jumpstart a research oriented career in the field of deep learning
and artificial intelligence
13. Can’t you get a similar qualification in India?
Yes but it is two years course, modules are not much in depth
14. Why will this particular qualification be better for you?
Along with practical knowledge I will get exposure to a more research oriented
study
15. Have you got any knowledge of this subject field now? How much?
Yes, I worked with a finance company as a Data Analyst and have an experience
working on and construction of statistical models. Currently I am working as a
Data Analyst in an E-commerce company and have been working majorly on
machine learning and cloud computing, both of which would be the prime focus
of my masters study.
16. If you are a graduate now, why are you enrolling in an undergraduate course?
This is not required for you
17. Will you change to a different course when you reach the UK?
NO I will not
18. Why did you decide to follow this course in the UK and not in another English speaking
country?
Because UK provides one year post graduate courses and also UK institutions
are world renowned for their research oriented study.
19. How much will this course cost you?
The tuition fees is 24100 GBP
 20. Do you intend to study for another course after you finish the one you are currently
enrolling for?
No

Background Information:

1. What are your current academic qualifications?

BTech in Mechanical Engineering
2. Are you studying now?
NO.
3. If yes, what are you studying and why are you prepared to stop your study to go abroad?
NO
4. Who is sponsoring the cost of your tuition in the UK?
I have savings in my account
5. Who is sponsoring your living expense?
Myself
6. Can you give some information about this person/these people or is it a bank loan?
Show Bank Account Statements
7. Do you know how much it costs to live in UK?
Yes. Living costs is 1015 GBP per month
8. Where will you stay in the UK?
In university accommodation. I had applied for it and have already been
allotted one.
9. Is it near the college?
It is in the college.
10. What other money do you think you will need in the UK?
I’ll pay the tuition fees by July end. I’ll have to pay the Accommodation fees on
amonthly basis. I’ll have to pay 5955 GBP for accommodation for 10 months
including all the bills. Rest 2-3 lacs for my food and other expenses.
11. Will you do some part time work in the UK along with your studies?
No I want to first concentrate on my studies.
12. What kind of part time work will you look for?
NO
13. Do you think it is easy to find part time work in the UK along with your studies?
I don’t know
14. Do you know how many hours a student can work in the UK?
20 hours per week. As mentioned in the Tier -4 VISA regulations
15. Are you totally dependent on the part time work to fund your living expenses?
No I have enough funds
16. Have you ever lived away from home before?
Yes for my bachelors
17. Do you have any friends/ family in the UK? Give full details and do not lie.
NO
18. If yes, who are they?
19. Where do they live?
20. How long have they been in the UK?
21. Why did they go there?
22. Are they working or studying? Give some details.
23. Will you return to India as soon as you have finished your course?
Yes because I am only son I don’t have any interest to stay out of my country
and far from my parents
24. What guarantees can you give that you intend to return to India after finishing your
course?
I can’t give any guarantee and I am very much attached to my family so
definitely I will come back to stay with my family.
Financial Background:

1. What are your family assets?

We don’t have any. Both my parents are working.
2. What is your family’s monthly income?
….income
3. How many people are dependent on this income?
You your mother and father
4. Does this income come from land, business or salary or a combination of these?
It’s a combination of both my parents’ salary
5. Do you have any land or property…mention here – if any house is there do you get any
rent from them
6. What is your family’s current account balance?
…..your mother income—amoutn in his account
7. What kind of job does your father do?
…..mother job details
8. If in business, what kind of business?
9. Does your family own any vehicles?
…how any vehicles

Employment Details (applicants who have a job now or who have any
employment history)

1. Where do you work now?

Working as an Intern at the Data Sciences Division at Voonik Technologies Pvt
Ltd.
2. How long have you worked there?
3 months
3. What is your current position?
Research Intern
4. What is your monthly salary?
40,000 INR
5. What are your duties in this position?
I’m working majorly on projects related to the implementation of machine
learning and artificial intelligence in business.
6. How were you recruited to this company?
Through interview process with the Head of the Division and the HR
7. Are you returning to your present company after your study?
NO
8. In what capacity?
..
9. If you have worked in other companies prior to your present one, give details.
Prior to my current position, I worked with Altisource Asset Management
Corporation as a Data Analyst. I’ve worked mainly on the construction and
analysis of statistical models.
10. Will you get a better salary after you return from the UK?
Hopefully yes
11. How will you use your new qualifications?
As a master of science in data sciences
12. Do you intend to look for a different job after you return from the UK? If yes, why?
No

Other important questions they will ask you

1. How did you make application - online application (don’t mention any thing about
siuk)
2. When did you make application – in the month of June
3. What is your student id number –
 4. Did you apply to any other university – yes i have appliedto the University of
Manchester, University of Warwick, King’s College London and Queen Mary’s
University of London.
5. Why the University of Edinburgh–The University of Edinburgh has an unparalleled
reputation in the field of computing and informatics. The university is renowned
for its world class research. Therefore, it was a no-brainer decision when it came
down to the choice.
6. Why Uk – Because UK provides one year post graduate courses and also UK
institutions are world renowned for their research oriented study.
7. When did you do payment – date of payment
8. When did you get your cas
What will you study - MSc (Master of Science) in Data Science
9. How this course will help you - It will help me jumpstart a research oriented career in
the field of deep learning and artificial intelligence
10.How you will be assessed – assignments and project work
11.What are the academic facilities you have – 24 hours library, sports, guest lectures,
best professors, visits to industries.

Credibility interview guidance :

The purpose of credibility interviews:
 To ensure that the student applying for the visa genuinely intends to study the course applied for, and
stick to the terms of their visa – e.g not working beyond the permitted time
 To ensure that the student has made a properly informed and realistic choice of course and university
 To confirm that the student has the necessary academic and financial background to ensure the
proposed study is viable
 To assess the student’s English spoken and listening skills are at an appropriate level for the proposed
course of study.

What the Home Office are looking to determine:

 The student is able to demonstrate a clear and realistic career path and that the proposed course is a
necessary part of this
 The student has a good knowledge of the course, the university they are planning to study at, and the
city that they will live in – what is it about the city, course and university that appeals to the student?
 The student can explain how their previous study links to their proposed course
 The student has considered a number of alternative courses, institutions and countries before
deciding on the proposed course, and explain why they have chosen the course they have
 The student is able to financially support themselves throughout their studies without having to work
(even though some work is permitted on the terms of their visa)
 The student is able to understand the questions asked and clearly articulate themselves in English
without the need of a translator.
The structure of the interview:
 The students will undergo an initial, short interview with a member of staff in the visa office – this will
not usually be the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO)
 A summary of this interview will then be passed to the ECO with the visa application – should it be felt
that further information is required based on the information on the application and the interview,
the student will be invited to attend a follow-up interview with the ECO
 This interview will usually be by Skype, though it could also be in person or by telephone. Where a
student is unable to hear the questions clearly as a result of difficulties with the technology – the
student should make this clear during the interview, to ensure that the ECO knows the reason the
student cannot clearly understand what is being said is due to technical difficulties and not poor
English listening skills.

How agents and partners can support students and DMU

 Provide students with the opportunity to practice answering interview questions relating to their
course, the university, and their circumstances
 Help identify potential areas of weakness for individual students and work with the student to help
them be able to answer questions on this area, some examples are:
o A student that has recently had a large deposit in their bank account might be expected to
explain where the money has come from, why it wasn’t in their account before, and confirm
that the money in the account will remain available for the student to fund their studies after
the visa application decision has been made
o A student that has only considered studying at DMU, perhaps due to a defined progression
route, may struggle to answer a question to the Home Office’s satisfaction regarding the
other institutions and courses the student has considered. The Home Office assume all
students will consider numerous courses and universities before deciding – where this isn’t
the case, the student should be able to explain the nature of the progression route
o A student that is looking to study a course at the same level as the qualification they have
previously studied (i.e Bachelors degree to bachelors degree), or is studying a course that has
little connection with their previous course of study will be expected to explain the reason
for the choice of proposed course and their plans following study, as it may not appear a
logical choice to the ECO
Where you feel a student needs some specific focus on particular areas, this should be in addition to
the other question preparation rather than instead of
 Where a student continues to struggle in providing satisfactory answers to the preparatory questions,
notify the university – we may be able to provide additional support to the student, such as skype
appointments with DMU staff to help them prepare
 Provide feedback to the university on your student’s experience of credibility interviews – the
interview structure, topics covered, problems experienced and successful outcomes – all this
information will help the university monitor and improve the level of support we offer to our students
and partners regarding interviews.

Preparatory question examples

The following are examples of the type of questions you may be asked if you are interviewed when applying
for your visa. Some guidance as to the type of issues you might want to think about in preparing for your
interview is provided. This is intended as guidance only.

The interview will be looking for students to show that they are genuine and serious students who have
thought carefully about where and what to study. relax, answer questions honestly and take the opportunity
to demonstrate your qualities to the interviewer.
Why do you want to study in the UK?
The interviewer will want to know your reasons for studying in the UK rather than in your home country, or
other countries such as Canada, the USA or Australia. Think about what attracts you to the UK.

Why did you choose De Montfort University (DMU)?

There are many reasons that students choose to study at DMU, the interviewer will want to know what
particular factors lead to you choosing DMU over other institutions. These could be factors ranging from
academic quality to the central location of the campus and city to positive experiences of friends or family – to
name a few. You should explain what is important to you.

How did you find out about DMU?

The interviewer will expect you to explain how your research about what to study and where led to you finding
out about DMU. Was it through websites, prospectuses, friends and family or other methods?

Where is DMU located?

DMU is based in Leicester in the centre of the United Kingdom. It is around 100 miles north of London. Read
more information about DMU and the city.

Which other universities have you considered

Name the other universities you thought about studying at and why you chose DMU rather than those
institutions.

Have you ever been refused a visa to enter another country?

Answer this question honestly. If you have been refused in the past explain the reason why this happened and
explain why this occurred. If you subsequently were granted a visa, tell them this too.

Do you know anyone who has already studied at DMU?

Do you know how large DMU is/how many students DMU has, and where DMU is located in England?
Information about the university and Leicester is available on the About DMU section of our website.

Why did you choose the course you have applied for and how does it relate to:
- Your previous study?
The interviewer will be expecting you to explain how the courses you have studied before will help you in the
course you have applied to study. What similarities are there in the course? Is it helping you develop further
knowledge you have already gained.
- Your future career plans?
The interviewer will be looking to find out what it is you want to do when you finish your studies, and how
your course will help you achieve this – what skills and knowledge will it provide you with that will be needed
in your future career?

How long is your course, and what qualification will you receive?
To remind yourself of this information, check our courses online.

Did you consider any other course?

The interviewer will be looking for you to explain what else you thought about studying and why you chose the
course you did in the end.
Are you planning on further study in the UK on completion of this course?
If you plan to undertake further study in the UK say what this is and how it will relate to the course that this
visa application is for.

How do you explain the gaps in your education/employment history – what were you doing during this
period?
If your visa application shows that you were not in education or employment for a period of time, the
interviewer will expect you to explain what you were doing during this time. Some students may take a year
out to travel, whereas others might be working in a family business. Whatever your reason, answer honestly
and clearly.

What is your current occupation?

Who is financing your studies?

The interviewer will be looking for you to explain where the financial support for your studies will come from,
such as parents or a sponsor.

Would you be able to pay your tuition fees in full up-front?

There are benefits in paying your fees in full in advance – DMU offers a discount for students paying in full. If
you cannot pay in full in advance, explain why you would need to pay in instalments.

Do you know what your accommodation in the UK will cost?

If you are planning to stay in halls of residence, read details of contract lengths and prices. There is also
information about private rented accommodation through our accommodation team
Do you know how much your living expenses will be?
The interviewer will expect you to have an understanding of how much things like food, bills, socialising will
cost you. Below is a guide of weekly costs:

Weekly budget guide

Rent £70/£110

Food and toiletries £35/£50

Books and stationery £10

Laundry £4

Telephone and postage £10

Miscellaneous £10

The International Student Calculator may also help you plan and manage your money and to see how other
students have budgeted for life at university in the UK.

Do you know whether you are entitled to work part time in the UK – if so, how many hours are you allowed
to work?
Students on a tier 4 visa are permitted to work part-time – up to 20 hours per week, during term-time. See the
UKBA website for more information on tier 4 student rights and responsibilities.
Do you intend to work while in the UK? If so, is this necessary for you to be able to pay for your course,
accommodation and living costs?
While some work is permitted, students will be expected to be able to focus on their studies throughout their
course