Entry into the UK

If you are a national of the European Economic Area, or of Switzerland, then these notes are not relevant to you.

You are a national of the European Economic Area if you are a national of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.

If you are a visa national It will be compulsory for you to apply for ‘entry clearance’ before you leave the country where you live to travel to the UK.

More information on visa nationals.

To study in the UK you will need to apply for a student visa from the British Embassy or British High Commission in your country.  Please do this as soon as possible as your place may not be held for you if you are unable to make the start date. The Letter of Acceptance, which we send to you when your place on a course has been confirmed and we have received the payment, will help you to obtain your visa. 

REQUIREMENTS OF THE IMMIGRATION RULES FOR STUDENTS ASKING PERMISSION TO ENTER THE UK

1. You must have been unconditionally accepted onto a course.
2. The course must be provided by an organization that is included on the Department for Education and Skills’ Register of Education and Training Providers.
3. The course must be provided by either:

• a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education; or
• a ‘bona fide’ private education institution. A ‘bona fide’ private education institution is a genuine one, which is not involved in fraud.

4. The course must be either:

• A full-time degree course at a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education; or
• A weekday course involving attendance at one institution for a minimum of 15 hours' organised daytime study a week. If you are taking more than one subject to make up the 15 hours, then you have to show that the subjects are directly related to each other. The study of English language is always considered to be directly related to any other subject, if English is not your first language.

5. If you will be studying at a private institution for a UK degree, you must also be registered as an external student with the body that will award the degree.
6. You must have the ability to follow the course.
7. You must intend to follow the course.
8. You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies (unless you are a degree student hoping to stay on to work when you finish your studies, and you are not sponsored by your own government or by an international scholarship agency).
9. You must not intend to take employment or engage in business, unless the immigration authorities allow you to.
10. You must have enough money without needing to work (or engage in business or claim 'public funds') to pay for your course fees; and the accommodation and maintenance of yourself and your husband, wife, civil partner and children, if they come with you.

 

Evidence that you meet the requirements

You need to make sure that you have the following documents, as evidence that you meet the requirements:

• A recent letter from the college or university that you are going to be studying at.
• If someone else is paying for you to study, a letter from them confirming what their connection to you is, how much they are going to give you, how often, for how long, and where that money is going to come from. You will also need evidence that they will be able to fulfil their promise (for example, their bank statements or wage slips, or a letter from their employer confirming their salary).
• If you are being sponsored by a government or scholarship agency, a letter from them confirming how long the scholarship will continue and what costs it will cover.
• If you are going to pay for your studies through your own savings, original bank statements covering at least the last 3 months.
• If you already know of an employer in your home country who will want to employ you when you return with your qualification, a letter from them confirming that.
• Any other evidence that you intend to leave the UK when you finish your studies (for example, evidence that you own your own home; or have a husband, wife, civil partner or children who you are leaving at home while you study in the UK; or advertisements for jobs requiring the qualification that you will be studying for).
• Certificates for any qualifications you have that are relevant to the new course.

You could find more information on visas and studying in the UK on the following websites:
British Council: (www.educationuk.org)
The foreign office: (www.fco.gov.uk)
UKCOSA: (www.ukcosa.org.uk)

It is your responsibility to secure a visa from the British High Commission.