Visa/Entry Clearance
Are you a Visa National applicant?
Students from some countries are called visa nationals. To find out more about visa national countries, please see Visa National Countries. Students from visa national countries must do the following:
- Obtain your visa/entry clearance before leaving home. This is now done by obtaining a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, which will be issued to you as a number that you will need to state when submitting your visa application. You are strongly advised to read our information about the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
- Have a visa, even if you will be coming for 6 months or less.
- NOT enter the UK on a visa as visitor or researcher.
- You must ONLY ENTER on a visa for a student or prospective student. Immigration rules do not allow visa nationals who enter as visitors, researchers, employees, or dependants to change visa status to that of student whilst in Britain.
- You must return to your home country for fresh Entry Clearance as a student.
There are now regulations set down by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) and in certain circumstances the University is required to report students to the UKBA - read more about the UKBA regulations
From September 2007 all non EEA/EU nationals will need a visa/entry clearance to study in UK. If you are coming for 6 months or less, you can only get student conditions if you apply for your visa/entry clearance before you leave home.
If a visa has student conditions you can:
- Work part time (a maximum of 20 hours per week)
- Apply to extend your stay in the UK
If you are not a visa national and you are coming to UK for a maximum of 6 months, you can get a new category of visa called 'student visitor'. It is issued by immigration officials at the airport/port of entry. Those from visa national countries will need to apply for a student visitor visa before travelling to the UK. It does not give student conditions and we do not recommend this option to any of our students.
Visas or entry clearance are compulsory for all other non-EEA nationals coming for more than 6 months. You must obtain your visa/entry clearance before leaving home.
- This will be a visa (for nationals of the countries listed "Visa Nationals Countries") or the EU Uniform Format Residence Permit (which does NOT entitle the bearer to permanent residence). These must be issued prior to entry into the UK.
- Without entry clearance you will not be allowed entry into the UK.
- Your visa/permit will normally not be valid more than 1 month before your course starts. Check validity before booking travel tickets
- From January 2008 fingerprints will be required from everyone (excluding children under 5) applying for UK clearance.
Prospective Students
The Prospective Student category is for a candidate:
- With suitable qualifications
- With appropriate funding to study in a UK university
- Who has not yet decided which UK institution to choose
- Who can show proof of qualifications, funding and contact with UK universities.
- Any applicant coming to the UK for the purpose of attending interview should enter as a “prospective student”.
- Prospective students (including visa nationals) can apply to switch to student status on registration at UK institution.
- Refusal - no right to appeal if entry clearance is refused.
More information can be found on the UK Visas Website.
Your Leave Entitlement
- To help ensure that you will get your full leave entitlement, Please see Information Sheet ‘Aid to Full Entitlement’ and take a copy with you when applying for entry clearance.
- EXTENDING YOUR LEAVE/VISA IN THE UK CURRENTLY COSTS a minimum of £295. Be sure that you have all the required documents, including confirmation of the duration of your course (University certifying letter) when you apply for a visa/permit in your country, as this will almost certainly be more cost-effective for you.
- Undergraduates studying in UK for one year or more should be given leave until October 31st in the year their course ends.
- Graduate students should be given leave until the date four months after end of programme of studies as stated on University certifying letter.
- If you do not yet have an unconditional offer for your degree course, your leave entitlement may only be for the length of any preparatory course (English or Foundation).
- N.B. Short courses: You cannot stay in the UK more than 2 years on short courses (i.e. less than one year) one after another. This includes longer courses broken off before completion.
- If the entry clearance officer refuse to give you full leave entitlement, please ask to speak to their supervisor.
Information - 'Aid to Full Entitlement'
Reporting Students who fail to register/attend
The UK Government will impose on colleges and universities a requirement to report students who do not register and attend.
- Visas/permits will name the institution to which the student says they are going.
- A charge to change this named institution may be made to the student. Make sure that the offer letter you present represents the institution you wish to attend
- Universities will have to inform immigration authorities of students (with visas for that institution) who do not arrive to register.
Please let us know if you go elsewhere so that we can let the immigration authorities know that you are not acting illigally.
- Universities are now required to inform immigration authorities of students who do not attend lectures/seminars etc regularly. It is expected that those who take time off from their studies (leave of absence) will return to their home country.
