Visa Advice and Procedures
SI-UK’s experienced visa consultants are registered with the Home Office.
SI-UK’s experienced visa consultants are registered with the Home Office.
If you wish to study at a UK university, college and language school then you will need to apply for a visa. Applying for a visa is normally the last hurdle in the admissions process; however it is essential that students start preparing for it immediately, saving stress later in time.
Before preparing your application, you will need a number of different documents (all original copies) to prove who you say you are. These include:
If you are deemed to be in a low-risk country by the Home Office, you might not even need to send in all of the above to obtain your visa. Be sure to have them ready though, just in case. All visa application forms are now available on the Home Office online portal.
In 2019 the UK Government announced that from 2020/21, international students who successfully complete an undergraduate degree in the UK may stay in the country for a further two years.
The new scheme aims to provide greater opportunities to international students who wish to remain in the UK after the successful completion of their degree and, after issuing over 250,000 Tier 4 study visas to international students wishing to study in the UK last year - 13% higher than the preceding 12 months - the UK remains a premier global study destination.
Learn more about all aspects of studying in the UK by meeting 50+ UK universities at the SI-UK University Fair Online. Register today for free entry and don't miss out on your chance to speak to universities one-to-one from the comfort of your home.
| Who can apply? | |
|---|---|
| Tier 4 (Child) Student | You can apply as a child student under Tier 4 of the points based system if you are between the ages of 4 and 17. If you are between 4-15 years old you must be coming to the UK to be educated at an independent fee-paying school. |
| Child Visitor | You can apply for a child visitor visa if you are 17 years old or under and want to study in the UK for up to 6 months. You cannot switch to a Tier 4 child visa. If you want to apply for a Tier 4 child visa you must apply from your home country. |
| Tier 4 (General) Student | You can apply as an adult student under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system if you are coming to the UK for your post-16 education. |
| Student Visitor | You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over, you want to study in the UK for up to 6 months, and you do not want to work while you are here. You cannot switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa while you are in the UK. If you want to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must apply from the country you live in. |
| Prospective Student | You can apply as a prospective student if you want to come to the UK to help you decide which course to study, or if you plan to start a course of study within 6 months. You will be able to switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) student visa while you are in the UK. |