Visa Information
Do you need a visa to study English in the uk?
EU/Switzerland – no visa needed for courses less than 6 months.
Check if you need a visa here
Other countries:
How long do you intend to stay in the UK? Which Visa ? Under 6 months is a national: you must get a visa before leaving your country (pre-entry clearance). You can apply for a Short-term Study Visa. Non-visa nationals: You are required to get a visa, but you can apply for a Short-term Study Visa upon arrival in the UK rather than before travel. Make sure the Immigration Officer gives you the correct stamp on your passport. From 6-11 months, nationals and Non-visa nationals must get visas before leaving your country (pre-entry clearance). You can apply for a Short-term Study Visa (11 months). Over 11 months Visa nationals and Non-visa nationals: you must get a General Student Visa (Tier 4) before leaving your country.
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
What can and can’t you do with your short-term Study Visa?
Valid for courses of up to 6 months
No work allowed
No visa extensions allowed
All levels are allowed
Minimum age: 18 (under 18s need a Short-term Student Child Visa).
What can you and can’t you do with your short-term Study Visa for 11 months?
Valid for courses of up to 6 months
No work allowed
No visa extensions allowed
All levels are allowed
Minimum age: 18 (under 18s need a Short-term Student Child Visa).
How long can you stay?
You can stay in the UK for:
6 months – for any short course (including English language courses) or short research period if you’re 18 or over.
11 months – if you’re 18 or over and taking an English language course.
You must leave the UK on or before the expiry date and will not be able to extend it or switch to a different category in the UK
You cannot make an application more than 6 months before the start of the course. However, give yourself plenty of time to apply and receive your visa. You can find out how long it takes to process a visa in your home country on the UKVI website
When you make your application, state when you wish the visa to start (the date you intend to enter the UK) otherwise, they will start the visa from the date they issue the visa to you
Requirements for the application
Below is a list of things you will likely be required to provide as part of the application process:
1)A current passport or other valid travel documentation.
2)Letter from our school
You should use your offer letter from our school confirming your course details, the dates you need to be in the UK, and the course fees.
If you are already enrolled but are studying abroad and entering the UK for a short period as part of your course, you should contact your academic department and ask them to provide a letter. This letter should confirm your enrollment and the periods you need to enter the UK for a face-to-face study.
3)Information about your finances and employment.
You should prepare at least 3 months of bank statements to show you have funds to cover yourself while in the UK. You may also want to provide a letter from your employer as well. If you have a scholarship, make sure you obtain a letter from your provider confirming their sponsorship for the period you will be in the UK.
It would also be a good idea to show you have medical/travel insurance to cover your study period.
4)Your accommodation and travel details.
They will expect you to provide some evidence of where you will be staying whilst you are in the UK. This can be a letter from a friend or relative, a letter from an accommodation provider, or a hotel booking.
5)You must also show proof of a return flight ticket booking.
6)Qualifications
You may be required to show proof of your academic qualifications to prove you are a valid student.
7)Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you are under 18.
8)Proof of your relationship with your parent or guardian if you are under 18.
9)Proof of tuberculosis test results
10)Other information
It would also be a good idea to prepare some information to show that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your study period.
This may be proof of employment, proof of property, or strong family links in your country. This sort of information is usually more important for countries that the UKVI considers higher risk and will be more suspicious about a student’s motives for entering the UK.
How to apply
You will need to make your application online unless you are from North Korea, so you have to make a paper-based application.
When you apply, you will do the following:
Register an account with the UKVI
Complete the online application form
Pay for the application
Make an appointment to have your biometrics taken
Selecting the correct visa type
When you complete the online application, you must ensure that you are applying for the correct type of visa. In the “Select Visa Type” section of the application, choose the following options from the drop-down list.
Reason for Visit: Study
Visa Type: Student non-points-based system
Visa Sub Type: Short-term student up to 6 months (or 11 months)
Biometric appointment
Whether you make an online or paper-based application, you must make a biometric appointment to have your fingerprints and photo taken. These are a mandatory part of any visa application to the UK.
Sending your documents
Once you have completed and paid for your application and booked your biometric appointment, you must submit your documents to the UKVI.
Normally, you will send them through the post. After completing your application, you will receive an acknowledgment e-mail from the UKVI instructing you where to send your documents.
You will need to submit the following documents:
A printed-off copy of your online application
Your passport
Passport photos
Letter from T4L
Financial information
Accommodation and travel details
Qualifications (if required)
Additional documents (if required)
Making a paper application
If you are from North Korea and making a paper-based application, you must complete the VAF1D application form. For more information about how to make a paper-based application, please see the UKVI website.
________________
Useful links
Click here for further information and an application form for a Short-term Study.
Click here for application form
Click here for information on applying in your country