Programme Officer

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.
Programme Officer (Welfare & Immigration), Chevening Scholarships
The Role
The Chevening Welfare and Immigration team supports scholars and fellows by offering immigration advice and welfare assistance throughout their UK stay. They guide visa processes for awardees and British Embassies worldwide, ensuring a smooth transition and positive experience. Reporting to the Programme Manager, the role also involves developing stakeholder guidance and may extend to supporting the Marshall scholarship team and broader Chevening activities.

Accountabilities

• Acting as a point of contact to provide relevant, timely and appropriate immigration advice and welfare support to Scholars, Fellows and colleagues.
• Dealing with day-to-day enquiries that are referred by team members and responding to Scholars and Fellows.
• Working with Programme Manager to draft advice and guidance for Awardees, to be issued via a variety of media and in person throughout the awards process, as required.
• Contributing to the collation, recording and analysis of relevant data as requested
• Monitoring and updating the internal scholar welfare log accurately and in a timely manner
• Working towards becoming an accredited IAA immigration adviser if not already, under supervision of an accredited Programme Manager
• Establishing and maintaining excellent communication with other support services, academic departments and outside agencies.
• Working closely with colleagues in other teams the Programme, International and Communications teams on a variety of immigration, welfare and other appropriate issues and providing absence cover as appropriate.

Essential
Role specific knowledge and experience:

• Experience of working within the field of international student immigration advice and/or student support, possessing a strong knowledge of the area with specific experience of advising on Student visas. Ideally you will hold current IAA (Immigration Advice Authority) accreditation or would be prepared to work towards acquiring it within a timeframe agreed.
• Relevant experience of working in an HE environment with an interest in/experience of the higher education sector and public diplomacy.

Desirable

• IAA accreditation at Level 1

Role Specific Skills

• Ability to apply Chevening policy appropriately and consistently, and to refer any areas of existing policy that may need reviewing with senior colleagues
• An understanding and commitment to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and to embedding these into working practices.

Education: Graduate

Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 IST/19:29 UK Time on Monday, 10 November 2025
You must have the legal right to work in UK at the time of application.

Important Information
Department:
Arts sectors and programmes

Contract Type:
Fixed Term Contract (till 31-Aug-2026)

Contract Hours:
Full time - 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Pay Band:
6

Country/Location:
London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh | UK (Please note, you will be required to work from the office for 3 days per week.)

Starting Salary:
£25,520 (Plus an additional £3,300 per annum London Market Allowance if you are based in London area only)

Benefits for the UK include, but are not limited to:

• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
• 3 days volunteering leave
• Career average defined benefit pension scheme

Note

• Frequent attendance in London for internal team meetings and for client meetings and events is required.
• The postholder must be willing to travel within the UK to attend team meetings, to visit scholars and to support the delivery of in-person events.
• Attendance at events and travel requirements above will require some evening and weekend work.

Requirements
Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in UK.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email