Study Abroad visas and immigration

Students studying for 1 semester (and on the Summer Study Abroad programme) usually enter the UK as a Standard Visitor.  Please make sure you understand what you can and cannot do on a Standard Visitor visa before entering the UK.

Some students may not need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK. Whether you need to apply before you travel depends on your nationality. Please check if you need a UK visa before travelling to the UK.

Important:

During your Standard Visitor visa application, you will be asked the following question: "What is the main reason for your visit to the UK?". You must select the "Short-term study (up to 6 months)" option. Do not select any other options.

Standard Visitor visa for non-visa nationals

These include nationals of EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the USA. To find out if you are a non-visa national, the country of your nationality will not be listed on the UK government’s Visa National list.  If you are a non-visa national, you can obtain a Standard Visitor visa stamp upon entry to the UK. To receive the Standard Visitor visa stamp upon entry at the UK border, you will need to carry a Standard Visitor visa letter in your hand luggage alongside your passport and other documents you may need to provide to support your application to enter the UK as a visitor.

The Standard Visitor visa letter will only be issued to you by the Study Abroad Office 3 months before the start of your programme. Please see the terms of your offer for further details. You can apply for your Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK if you wish. This would usually be issued as a multiple entry visa which is beneficial if you plan on taking trips outside the UK during your course.

Please email the Study Abroad Office if you have any international travel planned prior to the start of your Study Abroad programme.

Students will not be able to complete enrolment until they can demonstrate that they have obtained the correct immigration permission.

The use of e-gates

If you are a national of EU, EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA you are permitted to use the e-Gates to enter the UK as a Standard Visitor for a period of 6 months or less.

The use of eGates to enter the UK as a Standard Visitor will mean that you do not receive a stamp in your passport. It is important that you retain some form of evidence of entry to the UK such as travel ticket or boarding pass (if applicable). This will help you to remember exact duration of your 6 month stay and also we will ask you to provide this evidence at your enrolment.

An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is a requirement for many non-visa nationals travelling to the UK as a visitor. If your nationality is included in the ETA scheme, you must obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK. Visit the ETA website to check whether this requirement applies to you.

If you travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland, there will be no immigration control on arrival in the UK from Ireland. You will in most cases automatically have a permission to be in the UK for six months.

Visa nationals

These include nationals of Russia, Vietnam, China and India. To find out if you are a visa national, the country of your nationality will be listed on the UK government’s Visa National list.

You will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa prior to travelling to the UK.

When you apply online, select ’Standard Visitor visa’.  

You must not apply for a Short-term study visa.  The Short-term study visa will only allow you to study an English language course. You will be unable to study on a Study Abroad course with this type of visa.

Please submit your completed visa application and supporting documents including your Standard Visitor visa letter you received from us to your nearest visa application centre. Your immigration permission will normally be issued as an eVisa. After you receive your immigration permission, please check that you have been given the correct type of permission and that it has been issued for the correct length of time. You must not enter the UK before the start date of your immigration permission.

Students who are subject to immigration control and studying on courses longer than 6 months will normally need to apply for a Student Route visa.

For instructions on how to apply for a Student visa and everything you need to know before and after receiving your visa, check out Immigration and visas for the latest guidance from the UK government’s Home Office. You can also contact Student Advice for guidance.

Find out more about the new points-based immigration system.

Students will not be able to complete enrolment until they can demonstrate that they have obtained the correct immigration permission.

Your immigration permission will normally be issued as an eVisa. After you receive your immigration permission, please check that you have been given the correct type of permission and that it has been issued for the correct length of time. You must not enter the UK before the start date of your immigration permission.