How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom to study?
You must show that you have been accepted on a course of study at:
- a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (for example, a university);
- a private-education institution; or
- an independent fee-paying school;
and that you are going to follow:
- a recognised full-time degree course;
- a course run during the week that involves at least 15 hours of organised daytime study a week; or
- a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school.
You must also:
- be able to pay for your course and support and accommodate yourself and any dependants without working or help from public funds; and
- plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your studies.
If you are a visa national, you will need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. If you are not a visa national, you will find it helpful to carry documents with you which will show immigration officers that you meet the requirements for entering the United Kingdom as a student.
What are public funds?
If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:
- Income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA);
- Income support;
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit;
- a social fund payment;
- Child benefit;
- Housing benefit;
- Council tax benefit;
- State pension credit;
- Housing and homelessness assistance;
- Attendance allowance;
- Severe disablement allowance;
- Carer's allowance;
- Disability living allowance;
Can I extend my stay as a student?
If you are already studying here, you can apply to extend your stay as a student subject to meeting the requirements of the Rules.
If you are a visa national, you will need a student or prospective student visa in order to stay on in the UK as a student.
If you are a non-visa national you will need a student or prospective student entry clearance in order to stay on in the UK as a student to study a course below degree level If you wish to study a course at degree level or above then you will not need an entry clearance.
Transitional arrangements have been put in place to protect the entitlement of non visa nationals already in the UK, as follows:
- Visitor arrivals on or before 22 July 2004 making an application for an extension of stay as a student to undertake study below degree level can make an application so long as their leave is current, without the need for an entry clearance.
- Visitor arrivals between 23 July 2004 and 30 September 2004 can obtain further leave to remain as a student to undertake a course of study below degree level without and entry clearance if the application is made on or before 30 September 2004.
- Student arrivals on or before 30 September 2004 making an application for an extension of stay as a student to undertake study below degree level can make an application so long as their leave is current, without the need for an entry clearance.
"Degree level study" will be defined in the Rules as:
"a course which leads to a recognised United Kingdom degree at bachelor's level or above, or an equivalent qualification at level 6 or above of the National Qualifications Framework, or levels 9 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework."
Further details can be found at :
The framework
Extensions for short courses
From 1 October 2004, the maximum overall permitted period of stay for a student on successive short courses below degree level is 2 years A short course is now defined in the Rules as "a course of less than 1 year's duration or longer courses broken off before completion". This applies to visa nationals and non-visa nationals. There are no transitional arrangements for this provision.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete an application form. Applications (except those for asylum and work permits or under European Community law) will not be valid unless they are made on the appropriate application form. You can get copies of application forms from this website.
