Applying for a student visa
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In order to travel and study in the UK for a period of more than six months, you must apply for a Student Route Visa.
In order to be eligible for a Student Route visa, you must have:
- An unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Student Route sponsor
- Enough money to support yourself and pay for your course but the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
Student Route Visa
You can apply for a Student Route visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
- have been offered a place in a course
- can speak, read, write and understand English
- have enough money to support yourself and and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
- are from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- meet the other eligibility requirements
On this visa you can:
- study
- work as a student union sabbatical officer
- apply from inside or outside the UK
- apply to extend your stay
- work - depending on what level your course is and what kind of sponsor you have
- you can bring family members (dependents).
- You can arrive up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less or up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months
Student Route (Child) Visa
- You can apply for the Student Route (Child) visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK. You must also:
- have a place in a course
- have the consent of your parent or guardian
- have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs
- be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- meet the eligibility requirements
On this visa you can:
- study at an independent school
- apply from outside the UK
- apply to extend your stay
- You can also work, if you’re 16 or over. Work includes 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 time) or as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years
- stay for course length or up to 6 years plus 4 months if you applied under the age of 16
- stay for course length or up to 3 years plus 4 months if applied at 16 or 17.
- You can arrive up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less or up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months
Short-term Student Visa
You can apply for a short-term study visa if:
- you’re completing a short course of study in the UK
- you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
- you meet the other eligibility requirements
On this visa you can:
- complete a short course of study in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course
- complete a short period of research as part of a degree course if you are studying abroad
- stay 6 months - for any short course (including English language courses), or short period of research if you’re 18 or over
- stay 11 months - if you’re 18 or over and taking an English language course
Conditions while applying:
- You can apply from 3 months before the start of your course
- You must paythe UKVI fee.
- You can arrive in the UK 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less or 1 month before if your course lasts more than 6 months
Documents to be provided:
- A current passport or other valid travel documentation
- Proof that you can support yourself and pay for your course- this will vary depending on your circumstances
- Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18
- You need a page on your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa
- You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances
- Your documents will usually be sent back within 14 days.