Visas - Student Guide

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

You will need a visa if you:

are not an EEA national
are stateless (you don't have a nationality)
hold a non-national travel document, or
hold a passport issued by an authority that is not recognised in the UK.

Click here to watch a guide to the UK Student Visa.

If you do not intend to work or stay in the UK for more than six months, you might wish to consider entering as a student visitor. More information is available in our Visitors (INF2) guidance on our website or from your nearest visa application centre.

You do not need an entry clearance as a student visitor if you are a non-visa national but, you will have to satisfy the Immigration Officer that you qualify for entry to study when you arrive in the UK. You must be able to show that you have been accepted on a course of study at an educational establishment that is on the Register of Education and Training Providers. They will then give you permission to stay in the UK for up to six months.

If you have any doubts about whether you qualify for entry, you should apply for a visa before you travel to the UK.

How do I qualify to travel to the UK as a student?

You must be able to show that you have been accepted on a course of study or for a period of research at an educational establishment that is on the UK's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Register of Education and Training Providers. Contact details are under 'More advice and information' at the end of this guidance, or you can search the register on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/providersregister.

You must be able to show that you are going to follow:

a recognised full-time degree course or postgraduate studies, or
a period of study and/or research in excess of 6 months where this forms part of an overseas degree course, or
a course run during the week involving at least 15 hours of organised daytime study each week, or
a full-time course at an independent fee-paying school.

You must also:

be able to pay for your course and support yourself and any dependants, and live in the UK without going into business or getting a job, or needing any help from public funds
be able and intend to follow your chosen course, and
intend to leave the UK when you complete your studies, if your course of study is below degree level.

If you graduated from a UK university or other educational institution (which is a recognised or listed body in the UK) within the last 12 months with a recognised bachelor's degree or postgraduate degree, postgraduate certificate or diploma, or Higher National Diploma (HND) from a Scottish institution, you may be able to qualify to work in the UK for 2 years under Tier 1 (Post Study Work) of the Points Based System. For more information, please see Points Based System Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) (INF 25).

Can I work?

You can take part-time or holiday work, but you must not:

work for more than 20 hours a week during term time unless your placement is part of your studies, has been agreed with your educational institution and leads to a degree or qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer, or
work full-time in a permanent job.

Can I extend my stay as a student?

If you enter the UK with a student visa or prospective student visa, or if you want to study on a course at degree level or higher, you can apply to the UK Border Agency. Their contact details are at end of this guidance. The UK Border Agency will charge you a non-refundable fee for any application to extend your stay in the UK.

When Should I Apply

You should apply in good time for your entry clearance so that you are not delayed in getting into the UK. However, you cannot have your clearance post-dated by more than three months. It can get very busy in visa sections, especially over the summer when lots of students are applying.

Application form VAF3 - Student

Student guidance notes

You will also need the following.

Your passport or travel document.
A recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), colour photograph of yourself.
- This should be:
  - taken against a light-coloured background
  - clear and of good quality, and not framed or backed
  - printed on normal photographic paper, and
  - full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but the face must not be covered).
The visa fee. This cannot be refunded and you must normally pay it in the local currency of the country where you are applying.
Supporting documents relevant to your application.

You can get more advice about studying in the UK from the following organisations:

UKCISA

The Council for International Student Affairs provides advice and information to international students studying or planning to study in the UK, and to their family, teachers and other advisors:

UKCISA: The Council for International Student Affairs
Phone: (+44) (0)20 7107 9922 (1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday)

Website: www.ukcisa.org.uk