Visa Information

What is a visa?

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom to study?

How do I apply for a visa?

What will I need to make my application?

What will happen when I make my application?

What are public funds?

Can I extend my stay as a student?

Will I be allowed to work?

Can I switch to Work Permit employment whilst in the UK?

Can I bring my husband or wife and children with me?

Will my husband or wife be allowed to work?

Can I go to the UK to arrange my studies?

Immigration and Nationality Directorate Details

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) Details

Drugs Warning

Customs and Excise

Health Insurance

List of Visa Nationals

Travelling Abroad

What is a visa?

A visa is an entry clearance certificate that is placed in your passport or travel document by an Entry Clearance Officer at a British mission overseas. The entry clearance certificate confers leave to enter the UK. If you have a valid UK visa you will not normally be refused entry to the UK unless your circumstances have changed, or you gave false information or you failed to disclose important facts when you applied for your visa. When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration Officer may question you, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

You will need a visa if you:

· are a national of one of the countries listed here

· are stateless

· hold a non-national travel document

· hold a passport issued by an authority not recognised by the UK

Other nationals do not have to have a visa to study in the UK. However, you will have to satisfy the Immigration Officer on arrival in the UK that you qualify for entry. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility you are advised to apply for a visa before you travel.

How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom to study?

You must show that you have been accepted on a course of study at:

· a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (for example, a university);

· a private-education institution; or

· an independent fee-paying school;

and that you are going to follow:

· a recognised full-time degree course;

· a course run during the week that involves at least 15 hours of organised daytime study a week; or

· a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school.

You must also:

· be able to pay for your course and support and accommodate yourself and any dependants without working or help from public funds; and

· plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your studies.

If you are a visa national, you will need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. If you are not a visa national, you will find it helpful to carry documents with you which will show immigration officers that you meet the requirements for entering the United Kingdom as a student.

www.ukvisas.gov.uk shows a student how to apply, etc.

How do I apply for a visa?

You will need to complete visa application forms IM2A and IM2S. You can also get the forms from your nearest UK Overseas Mission where there is a visa section. You should check with your nearest British mission whether they can deal with your application. If they cannot they will tell you where to apply.

Applications may be made to the Visa Section of a British mission in person or, in some instances, by post. (Please contact your nearest British mission to enquire about postal applications.)

What will I need to make my application?

To download the following brochures, you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

To make your visa application you will need:

· a completed Application form IM2A - All applicants except direct airside transit (PDF, 33K)

· a completed Application form IM2S - Students (PDF, 57K)

· your valid passport or travel document

· two recent passport sized photographs

· the visa fee, which is non-refundable, and must normally be paid in the local currency of the country where you are applying

· any relevant diplomas or educational certificates which you hold

· a letter from the university, college or school confirming your acceptance on a course of study in the UK and a statement of charges for the course

· evidence of Government sponsorship (if applicable)

In addition to the documents listed above you may be asked for:

· evidence of funds, for example bank statements or payslips, to show that you can pay for your stay and your course of studies in the UK

· a letter from your host or sponsor in the UK to say that he or she will support and accommodate you during your course of studies, again with evidence that he or she can do so.

What will happen when I make my application?

The Entry Clearance Officer will check that he or she has all the information that is needed to make a decision. If more information is required you may be asked to return with additional information before your application is accepted.

After looking at your application the Entry Clearance Officer may offer you the opportunity to withdraw your application before you pay the fee. You do not have to accept this advice. If you wish to continue with your application it will be accepted and you will be issued with a receipt for your fee.Once your application has been accepted you might have to be interviewed.

What are public funds?

The Immigration Rules require that people who wish to travel to the UK to study are able to support and accommodate themselves without claiming certain state benefits. Use this link to see a list of them:

Public Funds

Can I extend my stay as a student?

If you enter the UK with a student visa and wish to extend your stay for further studies you can apply to do so at the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).If you are a visa national, you cannot stay on as a student unless you entered the UK with a student or prospective student visa.

Will I be allowed to work?

If you are admitted for a course lasting more than 6 months, you may, without a work permit or permission from the local Job Centre, take part-time or holiday-work, but you must not:

· work for more than 20 hours per week during term time unless your placement is part of your studies, has the agreement of the education 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

· work full-time in a permanent job

If you are admitted for a course lasting 6 months or less, permission to work is granted at the entry clearance, or immigration officer's discretion.

Can I switch to Work Permit employment whilst in the UK?

You may be able to switch if you meet the following requirements:- you have completed a recognised degree course at either a UK publicly funded further or higher education institution or bona fide private education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance

· you hold a valid work permit for employment

· If sponsored by your government or international scholarship agency you have their written consent

· you do not have an adverse immigration history

Can I bring my husband or wife and children with me?

Your husband or wife and any of your children under 18 can come to the UK with you during your studies as long as you can support and accommodate them without help from public funds.

Will my husband or wife be allowed to work?

Your husband or wife will be allowed to work in the UK if you are given permission to stay in the country for 12 months or more.

Can I go to the UK to arrange my studies?

You may travel to the UK as a prospective student to arrange your studies for up to six months. You will need to show that:

· you plan to enrol on a course of study within six months of arriving in the UK

· you can pay for your course and support and accommodate yourself and any dependants without working or help from public funds

· you plan to leave the UK when you finish your studies or when your permission to stay ends if you are not able to qualify to stay in the UK as a student

Note: You should not buy a ticket, or pay all or part of the cost of a course of studies, if delay or refusal of your application will result in financial loss. The entry clearance officer may ask you for other documents: production of those listed above does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

You can get further advice and guidance about extending your stay once in the United Kingdom from

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Croydon Public Caller Unit

Lunar House

40 Wellesley Road

CROYDON CR9 2BY

General enquiries: (+44) (0)870 606 7766

Application forms: (+44) (0)870 241 0645

E-mail: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)

The IAS is an independent charity that gives free and confidential advice, assistance and representation to persons who are applying for an entry clearance for the United Kingdom. Their address is:

Immigration Advisory Service

County House

190 Great Dover Street

LONDON SE1 4YB

Telephone: (+44) (0)20 7357 6917

Duty Office (24 hrs): (+44) (0)20 8814 1559

Fax: (+44) (0)20 7378 0665

E-mail: advice@iasuk.org

Drugs Warning

The United Kingdom has severe penalties against drug smuggling. Drug traffickers may try to bribe travellers. If you are travelling to the United Kingdom avoid any involvement with drugs.

Customs and Excise

Advice on importing personal effects and goods into the United Kingdom may be obtained from:

HM Customs and Excise

Dorset House

Stamford Street

LONDON SE1 9PY

Telephone: (+44) (0)845 010 9000

Health Insurance

Before you travel, please check that you have adequate health insurance cover. Medical treatment in the UK can be expensive and students are not covered by the UK’s national health insurance scheme (unless they are covered by a reciprocal health care agreement or they are enrolled on a course that is of six months duration or longer).

List of Visa Nationals

If you are a national of one of the countries listed in the link below, or if you are stateless, hold a non-national travel document or passport issued by an authority not recognised by the UK you must hold a valid UK visa on each* occasion that you travel to the UK.

Visa Nationals

If you are a national of a country not listed, you do not need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor or student. You may need to apply for prior entry clearance if you wish to come to the UK in another immigration capacity.

*Visas are not required if you are settled in the UK or if you already have permission to stay in the UK and are returning to the UK before your permission to stay expires.

Travelling Abroad

If you are going out of the UK but are planning to return, you will again have to satisfy the ImmigrationOfficer at the port of entry that you meet the necessary requirements for entry into the UK as a student. Before you travel abroad you should: - Check that your passport is not going to expire while you are away.

If it is you should apply for a new one in plenty of time before the trip.

· Check that you have evidence that you are a student enrolled on a full-time course (a letter from the Undergraduate, Postgraduate or International and Study Abroad Office); and evidence that you have enough money to support yourself.

· Check your remaining period of Leave to Remain. If you are on a course which is six months or less (visiting or exchange students) and your Leave to Remain is for six months or less you will require a multiple entry visa from your country of origin. If your Leave to Remain is for a period of more than six months, you do not require a new visa to re-enter the UK.

You should also check whether you need a visa for the country you intend to enter or any countries through which you will be passing. In order to find this out, you should consult the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of the country concerned. This will probably be in London.

There are agreements (Schengen Agreements) between a number of EU states which allow certain visa nationals to travel freely for up to three months between the states. Countries which are currently parties to the scheme are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. For information about which visa nationals are covered by the agreements take a look at our Schengen Visa information page.

The visa should be obtained by applying to the Embassy of the country in which you will be spending most of your time.

Most of the information displayed on this page has been taken from the following government website:

STUDENTS - Information about studying in the UK (INF 5) (12/10/06)