UK Immigration Visa for Overseas Students:
Student Visa Immigration for the UK
How do I qualify to travel to the UK as a student?
You must be able to show that you are going to follow:
a recognised full-time degree course, or
a course run during the week involving at least 15 hours of organised daytime study each week, or
a full-time course at an independent fee-paying school
You must also:
be able to pay for your course and support yourself and any dependants, and live in the UK without working or needing any help from public funds, and
intend to leave the UK when you complete your studies.
If you are a degree student and you successfully complete your studies, you may be able to take work permit employment if you meet the requirements. You can get more information about work permits here.
If you graduate in an approved science or engineering subject you can apply to stay in the UK, to look for or to take work, for an additional year after your degree course finishes without getting a work permit. For more information, click here
Under the 'Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland' scheme, if you successfully complete a degree level course or above, and it was awarded by a Scottish institution, you may be able to apply to live and work in Scotland for up to two years after achieving your qualification.
What supporting documents should I include with my application?
You should include all the documents you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK as a student. If you do not, we may refuse your application.
As a guide, you should include:
any relevant diplomas or educational certificates that you have
a letter from the university, college or school confirming that you have been accepted on a course of study in the UK, and a statement of charges for the course
evidence of government sponsorship (if appropriate)
bank statements, payslips or other evidence to show that you can pay for your stay and your course of studies in the UK, and
if you are being privately sponsored (for example, by a college in the UK) you should provide a letter from your sponsor giving details of how they will support you during your studies, and evidence that they can do so.
What will happen when I make my application?
The Entry Clearance Officer will try to make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.
Please check your visa when you get it. You should make sure that:
your personal details are correct
it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately.)