Visa and Immigration

UK visa requirements and general immigration criteria are managed by UK Visas and Immigration, which has an easy-to-navigate site to help you determine whether you need a UK student visa. While Swiss nationals and those from the EU/EEA states do not currently need a visa to study in the UK, all other international students are likely to need one. The result of the UK’s referendum on membership in the European Union (‘Brexit’) has led to some uncertainty over visa regulations, but the UK government has stated that there will be no immediate change to visa policies.

Short-term study visas are available to students who want to join courses that are up to six months long or English language courses up to 11 months long. This type of visa cannot be extended in the UK. To apply for a Short-term visa you will be required to provide evidence that you can support yourself during your trip by providing finance evidence.

If you are 16 or over and want to study at higher education level, you’ll need to apply for a Tier 4 Student visa. You need to wait until you have an offer from a university before you can start your application. All applicants must meet the requirements of the relevant UK Immigration Rules in order to be successful in their visa application.

You need 40 points to apply for a student visa. This is achieved by:

• Course confirmation: you must receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a university approved by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI).
• Funding: you must provide evidence of funding to pay for both your course tuition fees and your monthly living costs (10 points).
• Visa Application: In order to submit your Tier 4 student visa application, please visit the UK Visa & Immigration website to complete the online application form. International students from all countries (apart from North Korea) have to submit the visa application online. You will also need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.
• Immigration Health Service Charge: All nationals from outside of Europe coming to live in the UK for longer than six months are required to pay a ‘health surcharge’ in order to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The health surcharge is £150 per year (or £75 for 6 months or less) for students and is payable when you submit your visa application on-line. Visa applicants need to pay up-front for the total period of their UK visa.

You can only apply for a visa once you have been given a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. Check you are eligible for a UK Student Visa but do not apply until after you have been accepted onto a course. Your chosen university can guide you through the visa process once you have been accepted onto a course.

We help you to apply for a UK student visa once you have been offered a place on a course. You can apply for the visa up to three months in advance of the start date of your course. Check the average visa processing times for your country, and be sure to allow plenty of time.

UK student visas are awarded on a points-based system. In order to meet all the UK student visa requirements, you’ll need to provide:

• Details of your passport
• A recent photograph
• A conditional or unconditional offer of a place on a course offered by a licensed Tier 4 Sponsor, evidenced by a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) form from your course provider (worth 30 points)
• Proof of adequate English language skills, demonstrated by passing one of the secure English language tests (SELT). You will not need to provide this if you’re from an English-speaking country such as the United States or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in an English-speaking country.
• Proof you have financial support throughout your stay in the UK (worth 10 points)
• Proof of financial support can take the form of bank statements or a letter from your financial sponsor, showing you can cover your tuition fees, accommodation and living costs. You must prove that you have £1,015 per month for living costs if studying in the UK outside of London, and £1,265 a month for living costs if studying in London.

You may also be required to produce documents showing your academic qualifications, and to attend an interview or biometric test, which includes a digital scan of your fingerprints. Depending on your country of origin, you may also be required to have certain medical vaccinations or undertake a tuberculosis test.

If you’re 16 or 17 years old and applying for the Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must have written consent from your parents/guardians that you can live and travel independently.

You must apply online for the Tier 4 (General) Student visa, ensuring you’ve read the full guidance here. You can apply up to three months before the start of your course.

Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are for newly arriving students. You have 30 days after arrival in the UK to collect your BRP (showing the full length of their visa) either from a Post Office or from your university, college or school.

Tier 2 visa is for students who have a ‘graduate job’ and a‘graduate salary’ with a licensed sponsor, or the Doctorate Extension Scheme covering applications to stay in the UK to seek work for 12 months.