If you would like further information and personal advice on a Student Visa, please complete our simple query form.

introduction

The UK is very keen to attract bright young people to come and take advantage of the many high quality courses and study opportunities available in the UK. This applies to people coming from overseas and people already in the UK. In addition, the current skills shortage in a number of occupations listed by the Home Office enables people who are interested in furthering their careers in these areas to do so by undertaking a relevant course of study at an approved institution. fastUKpermit aim to assist in solving the UK's skills shortage by way of Immigration and Education. We provide a full and comprehensive resource for students wishing to study in the UK and for Universities and Higher Education institutions.

The process of obtaining a UK Student Visa has greatly changed in recent times, with the process and criteria for what you can do during and after your UK education such as working, further study or employment becoming more complex. Our specialised lawyers and advisers here at fastUKpermit have made it their business to become familiar with all aspects of the process. Once we take on your case, a lawyer will be assigned to your application to ensure the process is completed successfully. All you need to do is choose the course that interests you and fastUKpermit will do the rest!

what is a student visa?

People who have secured a place to study on a full-time basis at some form of educational institution may be able to obtain permission to enter the UK as a student. Candidates wishing to enter the UK on a student visa should make it clear to Immigration Officers that they intend to return to their country of residence at the end of their studies. A student visa will allow individuals to spend time in the UK while studying, with the ability to work part-time.

In order to remain in the UK as a student, you will be required to demonstrate that you have been accepted on a course of study at an organisation which is included on the Department for Education and Skills - Register of Education and Training.

This course will need to be at either a publicly-funded institution of higher education such as a university, a private-education institution, or an independent fee-paying school.

You will be required to demonstrate that you intend to undertake a recognised, full-time degree course, a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school or a course which is run during the week that necessitates at least fifteen hours of organised daytime study per week.

who needs a student visa?

Candidates from visa-national countries (those who need a visa even for entry to the UK as a visitor) must apply for a student visa at the British Embassy, Consulate, or High commission in their home country, regardless of the duration of their course.

In the case of a course that is up to 6 months duration, candidates from non-visa countries may present the relevant documents to the Immigration Officer on entry. Prior entry clearance is not mandatory, but applicants may obtain entry clearance if they wish. You may apply for leave to enter when you arrive at a British port, however ensure you have all the appropriate documentation ready to present to the Immigration Officer.

It is now more difficult for non-visa nationals to extend their leave to stay as students, however, due to changes made to the Immigration Rules in 2004, more non-visa nationals opt to obtain entry clearance before travelling.

If the course duration is longer than 6 months, then all candidates must apply for a student visa PRIOR to entering the UK, regardless of which country they are nationals of.

current students

There are a number of requirements that must be met by people who wish to obtain a student visa for entry to the UK. You must show that:

• you have been accepted for a course of study at a public institution of further or higher education, or at a genuine private education institution, and
• the institution at which you have been accepted for a course of study is registered with the Department for Education and Skills as an education provider.

In addition, you may be required to show the following:

• you are able and intend to follow a recognised full-time degree course at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education, or a weekday full-time course involving attendance at a single institution for a minimum of at least 15 hours study per week of a single subject, or directly related subjects, or a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school;
• you do not intend to engage in business or to take employment, except part-time or vacation work; and 
• you are able to meet the costs of your course, accommodation and maintenance of yourself and any dependants without having to work or access public funds.

prospective students

Candidates who have not already chosen and been accepted in a course of study may apply for entry as a Prospective Student for up to six months. As a Prospective Student, you may still be required to show the following requirements:

• you have a genuine and realistic intention of undertaking a course of study which would meet the same requirements as for that of the above;
• that you will begin this course within six months of entry into the UK;
• you intend to leave the UK on completion of your leave as a Prospective Student if you are not accepted into the course you have applied for; and
• you can maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without working and without having to access public funds.

If you are not planning to undertake a course as set out above, fastUKpermit can help you to explore other means by which you can undertake academic activities, such as Sponsored Researchers' Work Permits, Training and Work Experience (TWES) Work Permits; Student Intern Work Permits, and so on. Please see the other sections of our website for further information, or feel free to contact us.

sponsored researchers

This category is for someone who has a job overseas, for which they are still being paid, or someone who is currently on paid or unpaid sabbatical who has come to the UK to undertake a period of research at an employer/host organisation. The funding for this research may either remain overseas, be transferred to the UK employer or host, or be arranged and paid for by the UK employer or host.

exchange students

The Home Office has in place some schemes for high-school aged children (usually aged 14-18 years) to spend a year in a foreign school. If appropriate arrangements have been put into place concerning the school to be attended, accommodation and relevant funding, the student may be granted leave to enter the UK for up to a year, provided the pupil intends to leave the UK at the end of the exchange period. If the Home Office decide to issue entry clearance, it will be endorsed 'exchange student'.

switching

Those candidates who are already in the UK on another type of visa, who wish to switch categories to stay as a student, may make an application through fastUKpermit. The rules are somewhat more complex depending on the type of leave you currently have, and also depending on which country you are a national of. Generally speaking, the only category of visa that you will not be able to switch from is that of a Visitors Visa. Feel free to contact us and one of our lawyers will be able to explain which Immigration Rules in particular apply to you.

intention to leave or to work full-time at the end of studies 

Like those people entering the UK as visitors, those coming as students normally have to show that they intend to leave at the end of their proposed studies. However, in order to help address the skills shortage, the Home Office has made a certain concession to the rules where certain students no longer need to demonstrate an intention to leave. This is particularly the case for students who have been undertaking a course at a degree level or higher. Some of these students will go on to obtain employment in the UK and will be permitted to remain on a long-term basis and qualify for settlement.

indefinite leave to remain

A student visa does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain, unless you study in the UK for a continuous period of ten years, at which time you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the discretionary 'ten year' rule.

educational institutions

One of the factors taken into consideration during the assessment of a Student Visa application is whether the institution you are proposing to study at is in fact a genuine one that maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance. These are first and foremost publicly funded institutions such as universities or other places of higher education, but may also include privately owned and funded schools. A bona fide institution is one which must be genuinely providing education and may include English language schools or secretarial colleges. They may also be institutions of further or higher education, but are not publicly funded. As these institutions are not publicly accountable through the Department for Education and Skills, and the academic standards vary, and Immigration Authorities have the right to check that they keep satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance.

attendance at course

As a minimum, the student applying for a visa should be spending at least 15 hours a week in study. If the course they plan on studying is at a private institution, the student will normally need a letter from that institution confirming that they have been accepted on a particular full-time course. If the course is a higher level one at a public institution, it is sufficient that the institution designates the course as 'full-time'. Students from ALL other institutions will need a letter from that institution stating that they will spend at least 15 hours per week in organised week-day classes. Please keep in mind those evening classes that commence after 6 pm and weekend classes will not count towards the 15 hours.

The Home Office has also made exceptions for those wishing to study English courses in combination with other courses. Please contact fastUKpermit if you require any further information.

financing

One of the most common reasons for Student Visa applications being denied is that the student has not been able to show that they can meet the cost of the course, maintenance and accommodation without having to work or access public funds. Financing may be from funds you have saved up, or from a potential sponsor (such as a family member), a scholarship or bursary, and so on.

At fastukpermit we have perfected student visa applications, so that we prepare your case thoroughly and to the best of your advantage, addressing as many issues as possible that may potentially count against your application. We will assess each case individually, helping you to gather the most appropriate documentation that will help ensure a successful application.

You will need a letter from your institution that states the course costs that you need to pay, and whether the whole amount, or a deposit towards it, has been paid. In addition, you need to show that you have the means to meet the cost of your living expenses including accommodation and transport. A minimum amount which is set by the Immigration Authorities. This changes from time to time, so contact us for the latest figures quoted.

working as a student

Although students may be permitted to do some form of paid employment, any earnings they may obtain will not be taken into consideration by the Home Office when considering whether to grant them a Student Visa. There are of course exceptions to this rule, particularly in cases where students have guaranteed part-time work at a publicly funded institution. If you think you fall into this category, please contact fastUKpermit and we will help you.

The Home Office has issued a general approval for limited work to certain students. Generally those whose courses run for a minimum of 6 months may work 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours per week during holidays.

extending leave as a student

There are a number of conditions that must be met by those who are seeking to extend their leave in the UK to continue with studies. These include the following:

• they were last admitted to the UK in possession of a valid Student (or Prospective Student) Visa;
• they are enrolled on a full-time course and, if the course has begun, have regularly attended it, or any other course they have been enrolled on in the past; and
• they have made satisfactory progress on the course, including the taking and passing of any relevant examinations.

This next condition is of particular importance:

• they would not, if this extension was granted, have spent more than two years on short courses below degree level, that is, courses of less than one year in length, or longer courses if broken off before completion; and
• they have not come to the end of a period of a scholarship from a government or an international scholarship agency or, if they have, they have the written consent of their sponsor for further studies, and can show sufficient sponsorship funding.

As with all immigration rules, there are always exceptions, depending on the category of Student Visa you wish to extend. For extensions in the other specific categories, please contact fastUKpermit.

spouses or civil partners, and children of students

There are usually no restrictions on a spouse and children working in the UK, if the student will be studying for at least 12 months. However, students must be able to show that there will be adequate accommodation in relation to any dependants who are also applying, as well as showing that they or their partner can meet the minimal costs for living requirements.

student nurses and midwives

People wishing to train as nurses may enter the UK on Student Visas provided they have been accepted for training as a student nurse or midwife, at a nursing educational establishment or public institution. This should lead to a recognised British qualification. If you are an overseas qualified nurse or midwife and are enrolled for an adaptation course leading to registration in the UK under the Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, then you may also apply for a student visa on this basis.

Extensions of leave are permitted under the rules, but you are allowed up to four years to obtain your qualification. If you have come to the end of a scholarship, you need to obtain the written consent of the official sponsor to continue their studies. As a student nurse, you are generally permitted to work for a maximum of eight weeks at the hospital at which you are to be trained. After the course has begun, you may work more than the normal 20 hours per week during term time but only in employment which is a necessary part of your course and with the agreement of your educational institution.

postgraduate doctors and dentists

Medical and dental graduates seeking post-graduate training or further studies can normally gain entry to the UK on a Student Visa. It is also possible for those within the medical profession who are sitting exams to have obtained entry as a visitor, whereby having passed these exams they may change over to a training visa. As with all other categories of student visas, trainee doctors and dentists must meet a number of specific conditions. These are as follows:

• the doctor or dentist should be a graduate from a medical school or dental school, who has a confirmed place to continue their training in the UK; and
• the doctor or dentist should be on a recognised trainee programme such as the PLAB test, or should undertake a period of clinical attachment or a dental observer post.

It may be that you may be a doctor or dentist who has full, limited, or temporary registration with the General Medical Council or General Dental Council, or who is eligible for that registration and who intends to take basic or higher specialist training in the UK in a hospital or the Community Health Services, or in General Practice, or in a combination of these.

doctors wishing to take the PLAB test

Students in this category will be granted entry for up to six months. It is not possible to switch into this category, but students granted entry in order to take their PLAB test may obtain extensions of up to six months at a time provided that they meet the above rules. In the case of applicants who have been accepted to sit the PLAB test, they must produce documentary evidence of a confirmed test date. The maximum period of time a person can spend in the UK in order to undertake this exam is 18 months in total.

doctors or dentists undertaking clinical attachments or clinical observer posts

The purpose of this category is to enable graduate medical and dental students to spend periods of time on unpaid attachments observing medical and dental practice in the area of their specialism, for a period of up to 12 months, although extensions may be permitted. As with the two previously mentioned categories of students, the Home Office (and the relevant registering body) have stated the following conditions must be met in these cases, that the applicants:

• are graduates from a medical or dental school and intend to take a clinical attachment or dental observer post in the UK; and
• can provide documentary evidence of the clinical attachment or dental observer post, which must be unpaid and must involve only observation ? not treatment ? of patients, as well as being able to meet the previously mentioned requirements of visitors to the UK.

Aside from the above, fastUKpermit would be more than happy to discuss with you other options you may have to come to the UK, such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, or obtaining a Work Permit. fastUKpermit is here to help you find and complete your chosen education, so contact us today!

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