• Students can apply for a Short-term study visa up to three months before they travel.
• They must apply from the country where they are living.

Immigration Health Surcharge

All students who apply for a visa for longer than six months must pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the online visa application. They will then be able to access national health services in the UK during their stay. This includes free doctor’s appointments and hospital services. For a visa that is valid for between six and 12 months, the cost is GBP470. The cost increases with the length of the visa.

Required Documents

• A current valid passport with a full blank page is available for the visa.
• A letter of confirmation from a UK government-approved accredited institution. This needs to include the course name, duration and cost, including accommodation. Students do not need to pay the full cost before making a visa application.
• Details of where the student plans to stay in the UK. If accommodation is booked through the school, details including cost should be included in the confirmation letter.
• Evidence of enough money to pay for course fees, accommodation and living costs. Students do not need to pay the full course fees, travel or accommodation costs before applying.
• Certified translations are required for any documents that are not in English.
• Students from some countries need to show evidence of a valid tuberculosis screening. 

Extra Requirements for Students under 18 years old

• Students must be 16 years old when they arrive in the UK to be eligible for the Short-term study visa.
• Students who are under 18 years old must provide contact details for at least one parent or guardian in their home country.
• If they are travelling on their own they must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or their legal guardian. Ask the language centre for a template letter to ensure this meets the requirements.
• If they are travelling with an adult over 18 years old who is not their parent or guardian, they need to name the adult on the visa application. This name will appear on the student’s visa. Two adults can be named on the application and the student must arrive with at least one of them.

Attending a Visa Application Centre

After submitting the application form and required documents, most students need to book an appointment at their nearest UK visa application centre to provide biometric data: their photos and fingerprints. EEA nationals do not need to attend an application centre if they have a biometric chip in their passport. Instead, they scan their passport through an app. 

Help for Student Visa Application

We can help you to formulate your Student Visa application to the very highest standard. Our highly experienced immigration advisers have helped international students from all over the world to begin a new and exciting adventure in the UK. Whether you are applying to study in the UK from your home country or inside the UK, we are here for you.

To find out more about our specialist application package, please call us now on 0208 638 5532