Student visa FAQ's & information

Questions and Answers on Student Visa Applications

What is the points-based system?
This is the new system for managing entry to the UK for the purposes of work, study and training. Since 31 March 2009, you need to pass a points-based assessment under Tier 4 for students. This makes the visa application process simpler and easier to understand. It is important that you read and follow the official Tier 4 guidance, which is available at:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk

What changes does Tier 4 introduce?
• There are two categories in the new Tier:
(i) General Student (also known as adult student) - for post-16 years education and
(ii) Child Student - for children between 4 and 17 years to study in an independent school.

• Applicants must pass a points-based assessment, score 40 points and meet the Immigration Rules in order to qualify for entry to study in the UK.

• All education providers in the UK must register with the UK Border Agency and be a licensed sponsor before they can recruit international students.

How do I accumulate the necessary points to qualify for a student visa?
You need to score 40 points for the following:
30 points for a Visa Letter issued by a licensed sponsor +
10 points for showing you have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs (known as maintenance).

What is a Visa Letter?
You need an unconditional offer from your education provider. The Visa Letter shows that your education provider is confident that you are capable of doing the course of study for which you have applied, will act as your "immigration sponsor" and accepts responsibility for you while you are in the UK. The Visa Letter must include all the information set out in the Tier 4 guidance, including details about you, the course, and the documents you submitted that led to the offer of a place.

You can have a number of Visa Letters from institutions to which you have applied. But you can use only one to apply for a visa. The Visa Letter does not guarantee that you will be issued with a visa. If you are issued with a General Student visa, it will be valid for study at a particular institution. If you want to change institutions after you have your visa, you need to ask permission from the UK Border Agency by emailing: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What are the English language requirements for studying in the UK?
The education provider needs to be satisfied that you are capable of following the course for which you have applied. You need to check the language requirements for admission. You may need to provide a formal qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL as proof of your language ability.

What is a licensed sponsor?
You must study with an education provider that is registered with the UK Border Agency as being permitted to recruit international students. You can check whether your education provider is registered by logging on to:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points/whatisthepointsbasedsystem/sponsoringstudents

What are the maintenance requirements?
You need to have sufficient funds to cover your course fees and your living costs during your studies. The maintenance you need to show depends on where you want to study and the duration of the course.

Length of course where you will study Maintenance funds

9 months or less inner London Course fees + £800 for each month of the course
9 months or less outer/outside London Course fees + £600 for each month of the course
More than 9 months inner London First year fees + £7200 for the first 9 months
More than 9 months outer/outside London First year fees + £5400 for the first 9 months

You will need to provide evidence of additional funds to support any dependents coming with you. For more information, please log on to:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/pbsdependantspolicy.pdf

Evidence must be dated no more than one month before the date of application and you must have held the money for at least 28 days. Under transition arrangements that apply until 30 September 2009, you do not need to show the funds for 28 days.

You can prove you have the money if you have:
- cash in an account in your name (or in a joint account with you as one of the named holders) - evidenced by a bank statement or letter
- a loan in your name
- official financial or government sponsorship

You need to show (write on the document) the closing balance in pounds sterling. To calculate the official exchange rate, use: www.oanda.com/convert/classic

Shares, bonds, pension funds and similar savings accounts will not be accepted.

What can I study?
You must study full time on one of the following:
• A full-time UK degree level course or above, at a higher education institution
• An overseas higher education course which is recognised as equivalent to a UK higher education qualification
• A course of study below UK degree level but at a minimum of NQF level 3 or equivalent or a course of English language study at Common European Framework of Reference for languages level A2 (such courses must involve a minimum of 15 hours per week organised day time study).  

What are the requirements if I want to study English language?
To qualify for a General Student visa, English language courses must be set at a minimum level of CEFR A2.
For how long will my visa be valid?
Your visa will be valid for the duration of your course if degree level or above (and a maximum of 3 years if the course is below degree level), plus a short period of between one week and four months at the end of your studies (depending on the level and duration of the course).

What happens if I want to study a pre-sessional course?
The pre-sessional course must be at the correct level for a General Student visa.

If you have unconditional offers for this course and the main course, you can be given permission for both courses at the same time (the courses also need to be at the same institution or a partner institution).

If you have a conditional offer for the main course, permission can be given to study the pre-sessional course only. You can apply for a new visa in the UK to study the main course.

When I apply for my visa, what documents do I need to provide?
You will need to complete the visa application (VAF 9 + appendix 8 for General Student), pay your fee and provide:
• Current passport
• Visa Letter from a licensed sponsor (dated no more than 6 months before the visa application is made. The date you apply is the date on your application fee receipt)
• Proof of maintenance funds - please see guidance for specified documents to be provided
• Documents assessed by your sponsor when you were accepted onto the course and specified in the Visa Letter.
• Your biometric details (finger scans and digital photograph, taken at the visa application centre)
• Original specified documents.

Please note that current visa fees and the application form can be found at: www.vfs-uk-lk.com

Please ensure you provide all supporting documentation with your application. If you do not provide all the mandatory information, your application will be refused. No further evidence can be accepted after a decision has been made on your application. If your documents are not in English, you must provide a certified translation.

Can I work while I study?
Yes, if you have a Tier 4 General Student visa you may work part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) during term time while studying and full-time during holidays. You can also undertake a course-related work placement if it constitutes less than 50% of the total duration of the course.

You are not permitted to work if you hold a short term student visitor visa.

Can I extend my visa?
You can apply to extend your visa in order to complete your course (up to 3 years below degree level) or for a further course of study at a higher level. You must apply before your existing visa expires and you will need a new Visa Letter and proof of maintenance.

Can I work in the UK when I have finished my studies?
You may be eligible to apply for permission to work under Tier 1 (post-study work) or Tier 2. Post-study work provides a bridge from study in the UK to skilled and highly skilled work. Under this scheme, you may apply to work in the UK for up to 2 years. For further information about eligibility, log on to:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs25pbspoststudywork

What is the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
If you need an ATAS approval certificate, you must obtain this before you apply for your visa. To apply for ATAS approval you will need to know your course JACS code. You need to check the website to see whether you need an ATAS certificate for your course. If you apply without an ATAS certificate and one is needed, your application will be refused. For further information, log on to: www.fco.gov.uk/atas

What are the rules for student visitor visas?
If you intend to come to the UK to study on a course of less than 6 months, you may apply for a student visitor visa. You will need to meet the entry clearance requirements for student visitors under paragraph 56k of the Immigration Rules. This category is not affected by the points based system. If you hold this type of visa, you are not permitted to work, extend your visa or switch to another type of visa.

What are the rules about forged documents?
If you use deception in your visa application, including submitting forged documents and failing to disclose previous visa application refusals, your application will be refused. It may also result in future visa applications to the UK being refused automatically for 10 years.

Do I need an agent to make a visa application?
Students do not necessarily require an agent to make their applications, but if they would like assistance, then they should choose an agent carefully. In Sri Lanka some agents have been selected and trained by Visa Services and the British Council. They are entitled to refer to themselves as "Trusted Partners" of the British High Commission/Deputy High Commission.

Where do I make my visa application?
You need to attend the visa application centre (VAC) in person, with your completed forms, supporting documentation and the visa fee. Your fingerscans and photograph are taken as part of the visa process. The VAC is operated by UK Visa Services' commercial partner, VFS Global.  Your application will be sent to Visa Services to make a decision. When a decision has been made, your passport and documentation are returned to you through VFS.

What happens if my visa application is refused?
Under the points based system it will be possible for you to ask for an Administrative Review. This is a review of the original decision by an Entry Clearance Manager who was not involved in the original decision. You cannot submit any new information with an administrative review - it is therefore very important that you thoroughly prepare your visa application form and provide all necessary documents when you first apply.  You may also re-apply for a visa addressing the reasons for refusal in the earlier application.

What happens if I apply to an education provider that is suspended or removed from the register?                                                                      If an education provider is suspended, it cannot issue new Visa Letters. If the provider's licence is withdrawn, the Visa Letters it has issued become invalid.