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Student Visas

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Student Visas

Study English In The Uk ( Short Term Study Visa)

If you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland you can apply for a Short-term study visa for a short course of study in the UK.

This visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months periods only. You can apply for up to 11 months stay if you are over 16 and want to take an English Language course within the UK.

You can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs around of £470 for 11 months period. This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

For a Short term study visa the following requirements must be met:

  • You must have been offered a place on a course with an education provider that holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence or is held at one of the approved educational institutions
  • You must be able prove you can support yourself financially without having to work or that family and friends will support and house you during your stay in the UK
  • You must show you can meet the cost for your return or onward journey at end of the course
  • If you are under the age of 18 you will need permission from your parent or guardian and have suitable arrangements in terms of travel and accommodation in place.


While you are in the UK under this category of visa, you cannot:

  • Study on any other course or change your course while in the UK
  • Study at a state-funded school
  • Work or carry out any business (this includes paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements)
  • Extend this visa
  • Bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on this visa
  • Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension


For making application to this category of study visa you must:

  • You must be 16 or older to apply.
  • You must prove that:
  •     You’ve been accepted onto an English language course that lasts 11 months or less and includes no other subjects
  •     Your course is with an accredited institution
  •     You have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you
  •     You can pay for your return or onward journey


Your English language course must be with an ‘accredited institution’.

This can be either:

  • An accredited UK institution.
  • An eligible overseas provider, if you’re studying in the UK as part of an overseas course.


Student Visa

You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:

  • Have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
  • Have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
  • Can speak, read, write and understand English
  • Have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 - you’ll need evidence of this when you apply


How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK. If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years. 

You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor. To prove this, your education provider will send you a reference number (called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)) once they’ve offered you a place on the course. You need a CAS before you can apply for your visa.

Once they’ve offered you a place on the course, your education provider will send you a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

  • You must enter this reference number on your visa application.
  • You must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.


You can do one of the following courses:

  • A full-time course leading to a qualification that’s below degree level (RQF level 3, 4 or 5) with at least 15 hours a week of organised daytime study
  • A full-time course leading to a qualification that’s degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8)
  • A full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8) that’s equivalent to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas
  • A part-time course leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RQF level 7 or above)
  • A recognised foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists
  • An English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
  • You can also apply for this visa if you’re taking up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.
  • You may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics at RQF level 7 or above.


Note: The qualification levels are different in Scotland.

What is RQF - Regulated Qualifications Framework

It stands for the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and all qualifications regulated by Ofqual (in England) are on this framework. It became effective on 1st October 2015. Other frameworks may exist in different nations and countries. When a qualification is due for renewal, or a new qualification is created by an awarding organisation, it can go onto the RQF provided it meets their requirements.

The levels in the RQF indicate the difficulty and complexity of the knowledge and skills associated with a qualification which is regulated by Ofqual (in England). The RQF has three entry levels: 1,2,3 plus levels 1 to 8.

A rough comparison of levels 1 to 8 to existing qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is:

  1. GCSEs (grades 3-1: previously D-G)
  2. GCSEs (grades 9-4: previously A*-C), CSE grade 1, O level grade A,B or C
  3. Advanced level (A level) grade A-E, AS level, Vocational level 3
  4. Vocational Qualification level 4, CertHE, HNC 
  5. Vocational Qualification level 5, Foundation Degree, DipHE, HND
  6. Bachelor’s Degree (with or without honours)
  7. Master’s Degree, Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma, PGCE
  8. Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil or PhD).

Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists

You can apply for this visa if you’re sponsored to do a recognised foundation programme and you’ve:

  • Finished a recognised UK degree in medicine or dentistry
  • Received that degree from a registered student sponsor
  • Spent your final year and at least 1 other year of studies leading to that degree in the UK

You must prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

  • Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
  • Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18


You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a certain level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

Degree level or above Equivalent to CEFR level B2

Below degree level CEFR level B1

If you’re studying at degree level or above, your Higher Education Provider (HEP) can assess your level of English themselves. This means they may ask you to do a different test and this must still be equivalent to a CEFR level B2.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs around of £640 for each month of staying in the UK. This is so you can use the National Health Service (NHS) while you are in the UK.


Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.

You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.


Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.


Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

  • Extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK
  • Switch to a Student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK
  • Switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course


When you can travel to the UK

You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:

  • Up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
  • Up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months


You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.

Your partner and children (‘dependants’) may be able to apply to come to the UK or stay longer in the UK. You must be one of the following:

  • A full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer
  • A new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
  • A Doctorate Extension Scheme student


What you can and cannot do while you are in the UK under this visa category

You can:

  • Study
  • Work as a student union sabbatical officer
  • You may be able to work - how much depends on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term time.


You cannot:

  • Claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
  • Work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
  • Be self-employed
  • Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)


You must have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself in the UK. How much money you need depends on your circumstances and what you’re applying for. 

You need enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). 

The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to prove you have this money for your visa application.

You’ll need to show you have enough money to support yourself - unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application. How much money you need depends on where you will be studying. You’ll need either:

  • £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
  • £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

Note: London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

If you’re boarding at a residential independent school, you’ll need to pay boarding fees instead. The amount you need to pay will be on your CAS. 

You’ll need to prove you have extra money for each family member you bring with you.

You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

Example: If you submit your application on 1 January 2021, you’d have to show that the funds were in your bank account for at least the 28-day period ending on 1 December.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you’ll need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.

You do not need to prove the financial requirement if:

  • You’ve had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of your Student visa application - you must currently be in the UK
  • You’re applying as a student union sabbatical officer
  • You’re applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognized foundation program


Child Student Visa

You can apply for a Child Student visa if you’re between 4 and 17 years old and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.

You must:

  • Have an unconditional offer of a place on a course at an independent school
  • Be able to show you’ll have access to enough money to support you in the UK and pay for your course
  • Have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK - you’ll need to prove this when you apply


When you can apply depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts. You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

How long you can stay depends on your age on the date you apply and the length of your course is depend on an age when you apply and also how long you can stay in the UK

  • Under 16 Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards
  • 16 or 17 Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards


You can arrive up to 1 month before your course starts, but no earlier than the start date given on your visa.

You may be able to extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK and switch to a Child Student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK.

What you can and cannot do while you are in the UK under this visa category

You can:

  • Study at an independent school.
  • If you’re 16 or over you can work:
  • Part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
  • Full-time during vacations
  • On a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course)


You cannot:

  • Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further or higher education institution
  • Get public funds (benefits)
  • Take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
  • Work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
  • Apply for settlement
  • Bring family members (‘dependants’) - if a parent wants to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa visa


You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor. To prove this, your education provider will send you a reference number (called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)) once they’ve offered you a place on the course. You need a CAS before you can apply for your visa.


You can do a course at an independent school that’s taught in line with one of the following:

  • The national curriculum
  • The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at level 3 or below
  • Independent school education inspection standards


You can also do a course that’s accepted as being at the same academic level by:

  • Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
  • Education Scotland
  • Estyn (in Wales)
  • Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)


You can do a short ‘pre-sessional’ course to prepare you for your main course. You cannot do a foundation course that will prepare you for direct entry to a higher education institution.

You must have enough money available to you to pay for your course and support you in the UK. How much money you need depends on where you will live and who will be looking after you.

If you’ll live with your parent or guardian together;

Your parent must have a Parent of a Child Student visa to accompany you to the UK. If you’re over 12 your parent will not be eligible, unless you have a younger sibling who’s under 12 and also has a Child Student visa.

  • You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
  • You’ll also need £1,560 per month (for up to 9 months) - this amount is for both you and your parent.
  • Your parent will need an extra £625 a month (for up to 9 months) for each additional child they accompany to the UK. The child must be your sibling and must also have a Child Student visa.


If you’re boarding at an independent school;

  • You must have enough money to pay for your course fees and your boarding fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).


If you’ll live with a foster carer or close relative;

  • You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months).
  • Your foster carer or close relative must confirm they have at least £570 per month (for up to 9 months).
  • Your foster carer or close relative must be a British citizen or be settled (have ‘indefinite leave to remain’) in the UK. They cannot be your parent.


If you’re 16 or 17 and living independently;

  • You must have enough money to pay for your course fees for one academic year (up to 9 months). 
  • You’ll also need either:
  •     £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying in London
  •     £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) if you’re studying outside of London

Note: London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

You must prove you (or your parent) have the money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

Example: If you submit your application on 1 January 2022, you’d have to show that the funds were in your bank account for at least the 28-day period ending on 1 December 2021.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you’ll need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.