Maximum period of study rules
The Student Immigration Rules limit the amount of time you can study at undergraduate degree level or below. All the time you have already had or will require student immigration permission for to study at the same level since the age of 18 will count, including the periods you are given before your course started and after it will finish.
If you take a break in your studies, the time until the date that student immigration permission was curtailed to expire on will count.
If you fail to pass and proceed to the next stage of your course you may be offered the chance to repeat or resit elements. The Board of Examiners will not be aware of your personal details, including your immigration status, therefore you may be offered options that require more time to complete your course than the Student Immigration Rules allow.
The University would not be able to sponsor you to extend your student immigration permission if you will need more time than is allowed under the Student Immigration Rules and guidance.
There is no limit for postgraduate study.
Undergraduates - five year maximum time limit rules
The Student Immigration Rules state “If the course is at degree level, the grant of permission must not lead to the applicant being granted more than five years’ permission as a Student from the age of 18 to study courses at degree level.”
Therefore, if you are studying an undergraduate degree you can only have Student immigration permission for a maximum of five calendar years (from your 18th birthday).
Below degree level - two year maximum time limit
The Student Immigration Rules state “If the course is below degree level, the grant of permission must not lead to the applicant being granted more than two years’ permission as a Student to study courses below degree level from the age of 18.”
Therefore, if you are studying a course that is below degree level you can only have Student immigration permission for a maximum of two calendar years (from your 18th birthday).
Undergraduates - five year maximum time limit rules
The Student Immigration Rules state “If the course is at degree level, the grant of permission must not lead to the applicant being granted more than five years’ permission as a Student from the age of 18 to study courses at degree level.”
Therefore, if you are studying an undergraduate degree you can only have Student immigration permission for a maximum of five calendar years (from your 18th birthday).
Below degree level - two year maximum time limit
The Student Immigration Rules state “If the course is below degree level, the grant of permission must not lead to the applicant being granted more than two years’ permission as a Student to study courses below degree level from the age of 18.”
Therefore, if you are studying a course that is below degree level you can only have Student immigration permission for a maximum of two calendar years (from your 18th birthday).
Calculating the total length of student immigration permission
We recommend you use timeanddate.com (the calculator used by the Home Office):
- Enter start date: The date your student entry clearance vignette or digital status was valid from or your 18th birthday, if you turned 18 after the date your Student immigration permission was valid from.
- Enter end date: The date your new Student immigration permission should expire (if you are eligible to apply).
For UG students your Student immigration permission should expire four months after the end of the main examination period in your final year. For instance, 8 June so we would expect your visa to expire on the 8 October.
- All Tier 4 (General) or Student visa time spent studying a degree course before this either with us or at another UK institution, after the age of 18.
This will give you the total time you would require student immigration permission for.
