International Students

Visa & Immigration

Visa and Immigration Information

Find out if you need a visa or entry clearance to study in the UK and what to do when you arrive.

Important

Tier 4 General closed to new applicants on 5 October 2020. New students who wish to come to the UK for more than six months, or Tier 4 General students who wish to renew their visas, will now apply under the Student Route https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.

National of EEA or Switzerland

The UK left the European Union on 31 January 2020. On 31 December 2020, the transitional period came to an end and freedom of movement ceased. This means that EEA or Swiss nationals who do not have Settled or Pre-settled status may need to apply for a visa to enter the UK to study for more than six months from 1 January 2021.

 

 

Travelling to the UK

If you require a Student Visa to study in the UK, it is important that you should only travel to the UK once the student visa has been granted. You should receive an email or letter from the UK Visa and Immigration informing you of the decision for your visa application

If your passport is endorsed with an entry clearance visa, you should travel within the validity period as stated on the visa.

If you travel to the UK before your student visa is granted or outside the validity period on the visa, and you are allowed to enter the UK, you may not have the correct visa to undertake your programme of study.

Travelling to the UK – eGates

Students who hold a biometric passport from one of the following countries can take advantage of the eGates when travelling to the UK:

Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or USA, The European Economic Area and Switzerland.

There will be eGates at the following port of entry:

Birmingham, East Midlands, London City, Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, Cardiff and Gatwick Airport, as well as Eurostar terminals in Brussels-Midi/ Zuid and Paris Gare du Nord.

 

Contact us

If you have any visa queries, you can contact us for help. Complete our enquiry form and select 'Student Resources and Records' followed by 'Visa Support' so your query comes straight to us.