Do I require a
visa to study at BCC?
KEY FACTS
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.
If you want to study for more than 6 months you’ll need to apply for either a:
- Short-term study visa - for English Language courses up to 11 months
- Student visa - for courses run by licensed student sponsors
STUDYING IN THE UK FOR SIX MONTHS OR LESS
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to study at an accredited institution (this includes English language courses) with a Standard Visitor visa. You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.
You must be able to show that:
- you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- you’re able to support yourself.
- you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey).
- you’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
You may need to meet extra eligibility requirements if you’re visiting the UK, you must prove that:
- you’ve been accepted onto a course provided by an accredited UK institution (From 1st January 2021, all international students are only allow to study English at centres accredited by a recognized government body)
- the course is no more than 6 months long (unless it’s a distance learning course).
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A STANDARD VISITOR VISA?
You must apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK and :
- If you plan to study in the UK for six months or less.
- The application costs £100.00.
- The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
If you are under 18, please visit www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa/ for further information and additional requirements.
You must apply online, please visit www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa. As a part of your application you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre, please visit www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre for more information. You will have your fingerprints and photograph ( known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.
Documents you must provide:
- Passport ( you need one blank page in your passport for a visa and the passport has to be valid for your whole stay in the UK.
- Certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
- Applicants need to show proof of their financies to cover trip, course, accommodation and living costs while in the UK.
- English Language course confirmation letter from the school or college.
More information can be found at: www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa.
SHORT -TERM STUDY VISA - FOR ENGLISH COURSES BETWEEN SIX AND ELEVEN MONTHS
Students who want to study English in the UK for more than six and eleven months should apply for a Short-term study visa before travel.
Short - term study visa:
- Is suitable for any language level
- Application costs £200.00
- You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. It usually costs £470.
- The earliest you can apply is 3 monts before you travel
- If you are under 18, please visit www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english for further information and the additional requirements
You must apply online, please visitwww.gov.uk/study-visit-visa apply as a part of your application, you need to book an appointment at a visa application centre, please visit www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre for more information. You will have your fingerprints and photograph ( known as ‘biometric information’) taken at your appointment.
Documents you must provide:
- Passport ( you need one blank page in your passport for visa and the passport has to be valid for your whole stay in the UK
- Certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh
- Applicants need to show proof of their financies to cover trip, course, accommodation and living costs while in the UK
- English Language course confirmation letter from the school or college
- Application can be submitted online at www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa
More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.
STUDENT VISAS - FOR ENGLISH COURSES LONGER THAN 11 MONTHS
Students who want to study English in the UK for more than 11 months, should apply for a Student visa before travel.
You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
- have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
- have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
- can speak, read, write and understand English
- have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 - you’ll need evidence of this when you apply (If you’re 16 or 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead)
This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A STUDENT VISA?
When you can apply depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
Applying from outside the UK
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY WITH A STUDENT VISA?
How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK.
If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.
