Description Role: Global Student Assistant (Visa Advice and Compliance) Grade and Salary: Grade 5, £26,707 - £31,236 per annum FTE and working pattern: 1FTE, 35hrs per week, Monday - Friday Contract: Open-Ended Holiday Entitlement: 28 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) Purpose of Role The role provides support and advice to international students and staff members, as well as administrative support for the daily activities of the Visa Advice and Compliance team, which forms part of the wider Global Student Office team. There is a strong focus on administrative support and student guidance in the area of student visa advice and compliance. Key Duties & Responsibilities Working closely within the team and particularly with counter-part roles, the Global Student Assistant will share responsibility with other team members to provide support collectively to deliver the following: Provide first level advice and support to students and staff in a number of key areas: International Student Advice (immigration, visas, living in the UK) Visa compliance, helping to ensure the University and its students remain compliant in accordance with UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) rules. Go Global (providing general and specialised student mobility advice and support in partnership with the other Global Student Assistants. Responsible for specific visa compliance activities, for example, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught student visa attendance monitoring and reporting eligibility for the Graduate Route Visa scheme. Working closely with the Student Visa Advice and Compliance Manager and other members of the team to ensure the University and its students are compliant with UKVI regulations. For example: Reviewing and processing excel reports on a daily and weekly basis Reporting to UKVI where sponsorship withdrawal is required Reviewing and updating attendance reports weekly Generating Graduate Route visa reports and confirming eligibility to UKVI Maintaining accurate student records and updating as required Reporting degree programme changes to UKVI Monitoring Postgraduate Research student attendance and providing updates to the Student Visa Advice and Compliance Manager Provide mid-level specialist advice/support and administrative support in one or more of three key priorities: Go Global, International Student Advice and visa compliance. This will include some of the following duties: Collectively manage enquiries received through the student portal ‘myHWU’ and maintain/develop FAQs. Providing high quality administrative support to senior members of the team. Carry out regular data analysis using excel worksheets and reporting to ensure student visa holders and the University are compliant with UKVI regulations. On a rota basis, support the three times weekly international student support face-to-face drop-ins at the Student Service Centre. On a rota basis, support and staff the University’s main Student Helpline (by telephone). Providing an appropriate level of support to students, often dealing with difficult and sensitive situations. Processing Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and other visa support letters. Maintaining accurate records using University systems in relation to, for example, International Students’ attendance and engagement with studies. Representing the University at Higher Education forums and seminars. General administrative duties. Any other tasks related to the work of the Global Student Office, as agreed with the Manager of the service. Essential & Desirable Criteria Essential Educated to SCQF Level 6 (Highers) or similar, or equivalent experience. Experience of working within a similar office environment as outlined above Competent in the use of relevant IT packages especially MS Excel Well-developed interpersonal skills Demonstrable professional and proactive approach Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment Demonstrable provision of excellent customer service Desirable Further or Higher Education qualification, e.g. degree or HND Working in an administrative role in higher education Working with relational databases Experience of process improvement Advanced knowledge of Excel spreadsheets including using pivot table and LOOKUP formulas How to Apply Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 24 th March 2026. Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options. Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. About the Team The Registry and Academic Services Directorate is responsible for the policies and procedures of services to staff and students, with support throughout the student lifecycle, including admissions, enrolment, examinations, timetabling, graduation, student support and wellbeing, careers services, global student programmes, quality management and external partnerships. The Global Student Office is based in the Student Service Centre at the Edinburgh Campus and provides a high level of student-facing support services in the following areas: Go Global (student mobility across Heriot-Watt international campuses) Student Hardship and Childcare Funds USA Loans programmes Student Exchange Programmes International Student Advice (including visa and immigration support services). Student Visa Compliance The post of Global Student Assistant is an administrative and student support role within the team. This particular post will work predominantly within the Student Visa Advice and Compliance and Go Global areas. About Heriot-Watt University At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.