Student Visas |
The Dos and Don’ts
You are allowed: to study a short course in the UK, such as training of language studies.
You are not allowed to: register a marriage or civil partnership, come explicitly for medical treatment, perform work of any kind or carry out any business, bring family members with you, get public funds, extend this visa
If you are planning to travel to the United Kingdom to study, and you are from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), then you will need to apply for a student visa. There are 3 different types of student visas available for the UK, each of which we will explore on this page.
Visa Types
Student Visitor visa
- For travel to the UK to study a short course or some form of training
Tier 4 (General)
student visa
- If you are 16 or over and wish to travel to the UK and study a full time course
Tier 4 (Child) student visa
- If you wish to travel to the UK to study and you are under 18
Length of all visa type application processes
Any type of student visa can be applied for up to 3 months prior to your proposed travel date. However, you should be given a decision on your application after 3 weeks.
For more specific information on particular location please check here for processing times.
Student visitor visa overview
Applications are accepted if studying a short course in the UK and you can meet the eligibility requirements.
Please note: If you are visiting for academic reason then you’ll need to apply for a Business Visitor Visa.
Length of stay
There are 2 types of this visa which allow you the following lengths of stay in the UK.
- For a short course of training or even language studies you can stay for 6 months on the standard visa.
- For a
longer course of only English studies you can apply for the extended visa and can remain in the UK for up to 11 months.
Costs
- 6 months standard visa: £83
- 11 months extended visa: £150
Tier 4 (General) student visa overview
If you are 16 or over your application will be considered if you:
- can read, write and speak English well enough for general conversation
- have been accepted onto a course
- your
funds are sufficient to support you during your studies and you can pay for the course
- you can meet the
eligibility
requirements
The Dos and Don’ts
You are allowed to:
- work as a student union sabbatical officer
- apply from either inside or outside the UK
- apply to
extend
your visa
- work (this is dependent on your course and sponsor/s)
-You are not allowed to:
- access public funds
- work professionally in sports, including coaching
Please note: Depending on your particular situation, you may be able to bring family members with you.
Lengths of stay
The overall length of stay allowed depends on your type of course, but you will usually be able to stay for the duration of studies.
If your course is up to 6 months you can arrive in the UK 1 week in advance, but if the course is for longer than 6 months you are permitted to arrive in the UK up to 1 month in advance.
Costs
The charge to apply for this type of visa from outside of the UK is £310.
Also, if you wish to apply for a family
member (dependent) to accompany you, you will pay £310 per person.
Tier 4 (Child) student visa overview
If you wish to study in the UK but you are aged between 4 and 17 then you can apply for this visa.
To do so you will need to be able to prove:
- you have the consent of your guardian or parent
- the money to cover your entire trip, including course fee etc. is available
- you have been
accepted onto a course
- you can meet the eligibility requirements
The Dos and Don’ts
You are allowed to:
- study at either a private independent school or publicly funded further education institute (16 – 17) and long as you
are a fee-paying student
- apply either in or outside the UK
- make an application to
extend your stay
- work, as long as over 16:
1. fulltime during vacations
2. during term time, part-time only and up to 10 hours a week
3. up to 2 years as a
student union sabbatical officer
4. work placement course, but not for more than 50% of course time
You are not allowed to:
- use this visa to settle in the UK
- obtain public funds
- study at a school or institute that is publicly funded
- be self-employed or take a full-time job
- work in training as a dentist or doctor
- earn money as a professional sports person
-
bring any member of your family to stay with you – if parents wish to go with you then they need to apply for their own visa
Lengths of stay
This is all dependent on how old you are when applying and how long your course is.
Under 16 years old
If you are under 16 when you apply then you can stay for the duration of a 6 year course, plus an extra 4 months after.
16 – 17 years old
However, if you are 16 or 17 when you apply then you can stay in the UK for a 3 year course, plus an extra 4 months after.
If successful you can arrive in the UK 1 week before a course that lasts 6 months or lesson, or 1 month before a course that lasts 6 months or more.
Costs
If you apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside of the UK then it will cost £310.
Please see HERE for full guidance on how to apply for both of the Tier 4 type visas
Documents needed for all types of student visas
When applying for any of the above 3 types of student visas, you will need to provide:
- 2 passport sized photos (named and signed on the back, or for Child visa signed by parent or guardian)
- a valid travel document or passport (with one blank page for visa to be added)
- proof that there will be enough funds for the duration of your trip and course
fees, for example bank statements, payslips etc. (this will vary depending on circumstances)
- if under 18 proof the your parent or legal guardian has
given consent
- you may need your
tuberculosis test results if you are from a country that requires it
-
for Study Visit Visa only: evidence of where you plan to stay during your course
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