Study Visa for the UK
Short-term study visa
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1. Overview
You can apply for a Short-term study visa if:
- you’re doing 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 (see part 2.)
With a Short-term study visa you can:
- do a short course of study in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course
- do a short period of research as part of a degree course if you are studying abroad
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK for:
- 6 months - for any short course (including English language courses), or short period of research if you’re 18 or over
- 11 months - if you’re 18 or over and taking an English language course
2. Eligibility
You must be accepted on a course with an education provider that holds a Tier 4 sponsor license.
Learning English as a foreign language
You must be at least 18 years old and accepted on a course to learn English as a foreign language if you’re applying for an 11 month Short-term study visa. A mixed course, some of which is spent studying English, doesn’t count.
- have a place on 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 (see part 2.)
- up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less
- up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months
- study at an independent school
- apply from outside the UK
- apply to extend your stay
- an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor
- enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
Tier 4 (General) student visa
1. Overview
You can apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
- have been offered a place on a course and can speak, read, write and understand English
- have enough money to support yourself 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 (see part 2.)
How long you can stay
You can arrive in the UK before your course starts:
- 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
How long you can stay depends on the kind of course you’re doing and what study you’ve already completed.
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
2. Eligibility
You must have:
- an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor
- enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
Your course
You can do a course that’s one of the following:
- full-time leading to a qualification that’s at least level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
- an overseas course of degree level study that’s equal to a UK higher education course and is being run by an overseas higher education institution
- a full-time course with at least 15 hours per week of organised daytime study leading to a qualification below degree level but at least NQF level 3
- a recognised foundation programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist
Confirmation of acceptance for studies
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 a course. You’ll need to enter this on your visa application. You must apply for your visa no more than 6 months after you receive the CAS.
3. 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).
