Student Visa Compliance Manager

University of Bristol Law School; Bristol; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A higher education institution in Bristol seeks a Student Visa Compliance Manager to oversee UKVI compliance. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing student visa compliance, strong knowledge of UKVI legislation, and exceptional analytical skills. This full-time role offers a salary range of £43,482 - £50,253 and focuses on ensuring institutional compliance and supporting international students.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in higher education student visa compliance.
• In-depth UKVI legislation knowledge relevant to students.
• Proven ability to implement new policies effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the university's compliance with UKVI sponsor duties.
• Advise senior stakeholders on visa compliance.
• Prepare for UKVI audits and monitor regulatory changes.

Skills

Experience managing student visa compliance

Knowledge of UKVI legislation

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to lead change

IT skills

Tools

Sponsorship Management System (SMS)

Student record systems (e.g. SITS)

Job description

The role

Are you an expert in UKVI student visa compliance with a passion for safeguarding the international student experience? The University of Bristol is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Student Visa Compliance Manager to lead our institutional compliance efforts and ensure we remain a trusted UKVI sponsor.

What will you be doing?

The Student Visa Compliance Manager will be at the heart of our international student operations, offering the opportunity to be a subject matter expert, manage risk, and collaborate with senior leaders across the university. Working closely with the Executive Director for Education & Student Success, you will:

• Lead and manage the university's compliance with UKVI sponsor duties, including reporting, monitoring, and record-keeping.
• Act as the university's subject matter expert on visa compliance, advising the Authorising Officer and senior stakeholders.
• Prepare for UKVI audits, respond to complex cases, and maintain strong relationships with UKVI.
• Monitor UK immigration law developments and lead institutional responses to regulatory changes.
• Produce reports and insights for senior leadership and governance bodies.
• Represent the university in sector-wide forums and advocate for best practices in visa compliance.
• Ensure compliance is embedded across the institution and managing areas of risk.

You should apply if

You have:

• Extensive experience managing student visa compliance in higher education, including use of the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
• In-depth knowledge of UKVI legislation and policy, especially as it relates to students and HE institutions.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and diplomatically.
• Proven ability to lead change, implement new policies, and deliver impactful training.
• Experience working independently, making informed decisions, and collaborating across teams.
• Excellent IT skills and familiarity with student record systems (e.g. SITS).

Please note that this role is conditional on passing a background security check required to access the Home Office Sponsor Management System.

Additional information

• For informal queries regarding the role, please contact Lyndsey Holder, [e-mail]
• Contract type: Open ended
• Work pattern: Full time
• Grade: J
• Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum
• School/Unit: Education & Student Success
• Shift pattern: 35 hours per week
• This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 21st October 2025.

If you're earlier in your career or feel your strengths align more closely with a Student Visa Compliance Officer position, we'd still love to hear from you. We're also hiring for this role here and welcome applications from individuals who are passionate about growing into leadership.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.