Visa and Immigration Information for non-EEA Prospective Students
How to apply for Tier 4 general entry clearance
If you have applied for a course of study at Newcastle University and you are not a national of the European Economic Area, you may need to apply for Tier 4 general entry clearance (visa) before travelling to the UK.
Visa letters from Tier 4 general licensed institutions are no longer valid for use with Tier 4 general entry clearance/visa renewal applications. All Tier 4 general applicants need a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
If you do require Tier 4 general entry clearance, you should read the following links very carefully to find out about how to make your application using a CAS.
- Tier 4 general / CAS guidance for students applying for undergraduate courses through undergraduate admissions (PDF: 26KB)
- Tier 4 general / CAS guidance for students applying for postgraduate courses through postgraduate admissions (PDF: 27KB)
- Tier 4 general / CAS guidance for students applying to come to the UK under exchange or Study Abroad arrangements with Newcastle University (PDF: 27KB)
If you are coming to study at Newcastle University under any other study or research arrangement, please contact the relevant school for further guidance.
Changes to Tier 4 General and Tier 4 dependant visas in 2011/2012.
Throughout 2011 and early 2012, the UK Border Agency will be introducing changes to conditions for Tier 4 students and their dependants.
Please see below for a summary of some of the key changes, which are yet to be fully clarified.
* From 21st April 2011, students who wish to switch Tier 4 sponsor and who applied for their current visas before 5th October 2009, will have to formally apply for permission to switch by submitting form T4 (PTS) to the UK Border Agency before registering with a new institution. This application carries a fee of £160.
* From July 2011, only postgraduate Tier 4 students studying courses of at least 12 months at recognised bodies will be allowed to bring family to the UK as dependants. The situation regarding the dependants of government- sponsored students is not yet clear.
* From April 2012, the maximum length of time a student can spend studying at degree level under Tier 4 General will be capped at 5 years. There will be some exceptions for professional courses and PhD courses.
For further details of the implementation of the above conditions, please see the UKCISA website at http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/index.php
How to apply for a student visitor visa
If you are coming to the UK for a course of 6 months or less and you do not wish to work or extend your time in the UK, you can apply for a student visitor visa. Students who wish to enter the UK for the purpose of English language study only, may apply for a student visitor visa of up to 11 months in duration.
Student visitor visas cannot be renewed or switched to Tier 4 visas in the UK.
In order to apply for a student visitor visa, your school will need to issue you with a student visitor visa letter, which you should use with your visa application.
Entry clearance
Entry clearance is always recommended for any student coming from outside of the European Economic Area as a student visitor, even if you are a national of a country for which it is not compulsory.
Further information on entry clearance and visas: