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UK Visas and Immigration, which provides an easy-to-navigate website to assist you establish whether you need a UK student visa, is responsible for managing UK visa requirements and general immigration criteria. All other overseas students will probably need a visa to study in the UK, unlike Swiss nationals and those from the EU/EEA states who do not now require one.
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You might qualify for the short-term study visa if you’re over 18 and enrolled in a brief course. For the majority of short courses, this is good for up to six months, and for English language courses, it can be extended for a stay of up to 11 months.
Make sure your preferred college has a Student Sponsor License if you’re taking a lengthier course. If you are between the ages of 4 and 17 and want to attend an independent school in the UK, you can either apply for a child student visa or, if you are 16 or older, a general student visa.
Requirements
Once you have been offered a spot on a course, ask the course provider if they will assist you in applying for a student visa for the UK. Up to three months before the commencement of your study, you may apply for the visa. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time and research the typical processing timeframes for visas in your nation. Check here.
A points-based system is used to grant student visas in the UK. You must present the following in order to fulfill all requirements for a UK student visa:
Bank statements or a letter from your financial sponsor can serve as evidence of your ability to pay for your tuition, lodging, and living expenses. You must demonstrate that you have £1,015 (about US$1,300) or £1,265 (around US$1,600) in monthly living expenses if you are studying in the UK outside of London.
Additionally, you can be asked to present documentation of your academic credentials and take a biometric test that involves a digital fingerprint scan in addition to an interview or a biometric test. You might also need to undergo a tuberculosis test or receive specific medical immunizations, depending on your place of origin.
You must have written permission from your parents or legal guardians before you may apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa if you are 16 or 17 years old. You must submit your online application for the general student visa after carefully reading the instructions. Three months prior to the start of your course, you may apply.
Visa fees
If you apply for a student visa outside of the UK, the current charge is £363 (about $418), or £490 (around $564). To use the National Health Service (NHS) while you’re there, you’ll also have to pay a yearly healthcare premium. This comes at an extra cost of £470 ($540).
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An official from the UK Border Agency will stamp your passport at the point of entry with information about how long you will be staying there. You can stay for the entire length of the course plus an additional four months, for instance, if your course is 12 months or longer. You are not permitted to stay beyond this time frame.
Make sure you are completely inoculated before traveling, and save your immunization record in your hand luggage in case the Border Agency official at your UK port of entry requests to see it. Additionally, you must have your evidence of funds, proof of housing, and documentation related to your studies, such as your CAS number (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies).
Studying in the UK and working
While studying in the UK, students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are all permitted to work. During the academic year, students at publicly supported higher education institutions with valid student visas may work up to 20 hours per week, and full-time during the Christmas and Easter breaks (unless you are aged 16 or 17, in which case the maximum is 10 hours per week during term time).