This section is intended to provide some general guidelines about UK immigration and visa regulations for study in the UK.

Important: New Rules for students from 21 April 2011

Important: New Rules for students and their dependants  from 4th July 2011

Click on the links listed below to take you to the relevant information:

Please note that recent changes in the immigration rules may not be incorporated in to the website

• Which Visa should I apply for?
  
• Applying for a Tier 4 visa outside the UK
  
• Extending a  Tier 4 visa in the UK
  
• Student visitor visas
• Pre-sessional Students
• Single semester students
• Working in the UK
• Changing your course
  
• Bringing your family
• Forms and websites
  
• Frequently asked questions
  
• Visa advice
  
• Embassies in London

Which Visa should I apply for?

Students who are studying  a degree course which is longer than six months will need to apply for a Tier 4 General Student Visa.

Students who are studying on a short course of six months or less can apply for a Student Visitor Visa as long as they do not intend to extend their stay or work in the UK. A Student Visitor Visa can be given for a maximum of six months and does not allow students to work whilst in the UK,extend their visa or switch visas.

Students who are studying one English Language course of more than six months but less than eleven months can apply for an 'Extended Student Visitor Visa' which does not allow students to work whilst in the UK,extend their visa or switch visas.

Students who will be studying a course of six months or less but who will be working in the UK or who will need to extend their visa (they maybe taking a second course) will need to apply for a Tier 4 General Student Visa. If you are taking a second course and will need to extend your Tier 4 General Student Visa whilst you are in the UK you should check that the gap between the end of your visa and the start of your next course is not longer than one month.

Students who are studying a Pre-sessional English course at the University as a condition of their degree course will need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa for the Pre-sessional and then extend their visa whilst in the UK to study their degree. Students will receive a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number for their Pre-sessional course and then a separate CAS once they have met the conditions for their degree. This means they will need to make a second Tier 4 General Student Visa application in the UK

Students who are returning to the UK to re-take an exam can normally apply for a Student Visitor Visa.  A Student Visitor Visa can be given for a maximum of six months and does not allow students to work whilst in the UK,extend their visa or switch to another sort of visa.

New Rules for students from 21 April 2011:

The rules for 'established presence' are changing.  This affects the amount of money for your living costs that you need to show in your bank account.  The rules are much stricter than before.  See the information in 'Applying for a visa outside the UK' or 'Extending your visa in the UK' for more information.

English language requirements for Tier 4 visas have also changed for students who recieve their Confirmation of  Acceptance of Studies (CAS) on or after 21 April 2011.  The CAS for degree students will need to confirm that they can Speak, Listen, Read and Write at CERF English level B2 or above.  Students who are studying a Pre-sessional English Language course as a condition of their degree will need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) showing that they are able to speak, listen, read and write at CERF English level B1 or above when they apply for a Tier 4 Visa. Their Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies will also need to confirm that they meet the English Language Requirements.

Approved English Language Tests


If you cannot find the information you need or you want to discuss your situation in detail, please contact the Student Advice Service on Tel: 00 (44) 207 911 5000 ext 66080 Email: Studentadvice@westminster.ac.uk or you can visit the UK Border Agency website.