Applying for a visa
Applying for Student Visitor visa – from overseas
A Student Visitor visa allows you to study short courses in the UK and is suitable if you are over 18 and are:
- Studying English language for less than six months;
- Studying an English language course of between 6 and 11 months duration (extended student visitor);
- A Study Abroad student, if you will be with us for less than six months;
- Resitting exams or retaking modules, if your studies are for less than six months; or
- A distance learner who needs to visit for less than six months.
If you will be studying a pre-sessional English course and intend to continue your studies afterward, you should apply for entry clearance under
Tier 4 (General) and not as a Student Visitor.
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Before making your application overseas
Check you are eligible to apply and can meet all the requirements. Read
the UKCISA guidance and
the immigration rules and guidance.
You will only get a visa for a maximum of six months (or 11 months if you are applying as an extended student visitor) from the date
you tell the UKBA you intend to travel. So make sure you will have enough time to cover the whole of your course.
The University will not be
able to register you for your course if your visa expires before the course end date.
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Where and when do I apply?
You can apply from any country outside the UK up to three months before your course start date.
If you are a visa national you must apply outside the UK (see the Immigration
Rules, Appendix 1 for a current list of visa nationals.
If you want to study an English language course of between 6 and 11 months duration you must apply outside the UK.
If you are a non-visa national and your course is less than six months, you can choose to apply outside the UK (recommended) or; you can apply at the
UK port of entry when you arrive. See UKCISA Guidance - Making an immigration
application as a student visitor for more information, including what you should carry with you to apply on arrival. Make sure you don’t come to the UK too early to ensure
you can stay until your course has finished.
Wherever and however you apply you will need an original letter from the University to support your application.
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How do I apply?
Depending on where you live, you may be able to make your visa application online or by printing out and completing application form VAF1D.
You will apply to a visa application centre.
Go to the UKBA website and select your country from the country finder to
find out what you need to do and to download and read the guidance notes, including those on supporting documents.
Letter from the University
The University will supply you will a letter that meets the UKBA requirements to support your application for a Student Visitor visa. When you receive it please check that it contains all the
information the UKBA require by checking the Immigration Rules and Guidance.