INTERNATIONAL

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. you can speak, read, write and understand English, have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 and you’ll need evidence of this when you apply. If you’re 16 or 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead. 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 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. How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed. 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 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. You can arrive in the UK 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.

Fees costs:
£348 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK. 475 to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK. You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you. Healthcare surcharge you’ll also have to pay as part of your application. You may be able to bring your partner and children (‘dependants’).

What you can do while in UK:
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.

What You cannot do:
claim public funds (benefits) and pensions. work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. Can not be self-employed. study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) If your application is successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa. 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.

Courses you can study:
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 may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics at RQF level 7 or above. The qualification levels are different in Scotland.

You can also apply for this visa if you’re:
taking up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer applying to extend your stay on the Doctorate Extension Scheme - you must currently have permission to be in the UK on a Student visa (or a Tier 4 (General) student visa) and your course must lead to a 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. Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) : 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. When you apply for your Student visa you must provide these documents: a current passport or other valid travel documentation a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider. You may also need to provide proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course-his will vary depending on your circumstances. a valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it. proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18. proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18. your tuberculosis test results. written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months. You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. You need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre. You’ll be told if you need to do this when you apply. If you’re under 18 you’ll need written consent from both parents or legal guardians (or one parent if they have sole responsibility). This must include their consent for your visa application,your living and care arrangements in the UK, your travel to the UK. You’ll also need to provide a copy of your birth certificate (or another government issued document) that shows the names of your parents. 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. Course fee and 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. Money to support yourself (‘financial requirement’) 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 If you’re applying for the Doctorate Extension Scheme, and you’ve been in the UK for less than 12 months, you need to prove you have a total of £2,668 for courses in London, or a total of £2,046 for courses outside London. 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. London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs. 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. If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you’ll need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.

Knowledge of English:
You must prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply. This usually means passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT). This must be from an approved provider. 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 with a Higher Education Provider 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.This must still be equivalent to a CEFR level B2. You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of the following countries, or are from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda Australia the Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica Malta New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago UK USA You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies: you’re a national of Canada, you’re applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA, you proved your level of English in a previous visa application.