If you are looking to travel to Britain for the purpose of enrolling in English language courses, there’s a specific visa for that. Known as the short-term Study Visa to the UK, this visa enables foreign students to live temporally in the country while pursing English language instruction. While there are a number of visa options available to study English in the UK for international students, this short term student visa is perfect for those who are looking to spend six—11 months in the country. The application process for the student visitor visa to UK is almost entirely online, and is easy to pursue. Today’s blog will therefore provide an overview of how to apply for a short-term Study Visa to study English language in the UK. In addition to being provided with an overview of the step-by-step application process, readers will also learn the various UK student visa requirements and the other eligibility conditions for those looking to study English in the UK for international students. All this, and more, below.
Overview of the short-term Study Visa
- To apply for a “short-term Study Visa” to study English language in the UK, you will submit an online application, as well as a number of required documents, pay your visa fee, and have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) collected.
- If you receive a short-term visa, you will be able to remain in the country for however long your program lasts (in addition to 30 days on top of that period), provided your time in the country does not exceed 11 months.
- Please note that anyone who is looking to study English in the UK on this visa is restricted from the following activities:
- Being employed or conducting business of any nature (you are even restricted from performing work for which you do not receive a salary, such as internships).
- Enrolling in an educational program other than that which your visa is for.
- Enrolling at school that is characterized as “state funded”.
- Receiving UK welfare.
- Have relatives join you in the country as your dependents.
- Extending your short-term study visa.
- For information about how to apply for the short-term UK student visa, see the step-by step guidelines, below.
How to apply for the UK short-term Student Visa
- 1. Determine when you want to travel
- The processing time for the short-term Study Visa is around three weeks, which means you should begin the application process no later than three weeks before you need to enter the country.
- At the same time, you will want to avoid applying too early (you cannot apply +3 months in advance of your intended entry into the country).
- Some aspects of the application may require you to do things well in advance (for example, because you will need a passport in order to apply, you should make sure that your passport is valid before you begin the application process, so you are not rushing to renew it).
- 2. Check your eligibility requirements
- In order to be eligible for the short-term Study Visa to UK, you need to meet a number of requirements, relating to monies and the course you seek to enroll in. These include:
- Age requirements:
- You have to be at least 16 years old.
- If you are 17 or younger, you need to have done the following:
- Received the permission of your mother and father (or legal guardians).
- Created a plan for arriving in the country and residing there.
- Financial requirements:
- Evidence that you can cover your financial costs of living in the UK in the absence of applying for welfare or working while you are in the country (as you cannot work while you are on the short-term Student Visa).
- You can afford the costs of your trip home (or, if you are not traveling directly from the UK to your home country, to a country outside the country.
- Acceptance into an English instruction program that is the following:
- Does not run for longer than 11 months.
- Is exclusively focused on English language rather than that and another topic (For example, you cannot enroll in a class that teaches English and math).
- Is on the list of accredited UK institutions OR is being offered by an abroad-based provider that is:
- On its respective national list of accredited institutions.
- Hosts courses that equal a qualification from Britain.
- Hosts the majority of its courses outside of Britain.
- 3. Gather your required documents
- As evidence of the UK student visa requirements listed above, you will need to submit the following documents and materials:
- Passport (valid, with space for your UK short-term visa).
- Proof that you have some idea of where you will reside while you are in the country and a plan for your journey to the UK.
- Proof that you can cover your financial costs of living in the UK. These can be in the form of documents from your financial institution or pay stubs from the past half-year.
- Proof of negative tuberculosis test (depending on what country you are arriving from).
- Information on how to reach your mother/father or legal guardian (in the event that you are age 17 or less).
- In addition to the above documents, you need to provide evidence of the following relating to your educational program. Specific information you need to include about the program includes:
- Name
- Length
- Price (price should reflect total costs related to where you are staying)
- In addition to the above documents, you may need to submit the following:
- In the event that you are being sponsored financially, information related to the person sponsoring you (such as what he or she does for a living, and about whatever monies will go toward your course).
- Consent to be present in whatever state that you are submitting your application in (in the event that you are in this country as a foreigner (non-citizen).
- If you are aged 17 or less, and you are journeying to the country without your parents or with a person other than your parent (or guardian), or with someone who is a minor (i.e. under 18 years old), you will need to provide:
- Evidence that you have the permission of your mother and father or legal guardians. If your parents are divorced, you must have consent from the one who has sole custody of you. Specifically, your parent/guardian must give specific permission for:
- The fact that you are applying for this visa.
- Your journey to the country.
- Your residency situation (and general situation) in the country.
- Information on how to reach your mother/father or legal guardian (in the event that you are age 17 or less).
- Your parents should also give evidence of where you are residing in the country, specifically the following:
- Name of whoever you are residing with.
- Specific address where you are staying in the country.
- How you know the individual who will be responsible for you while you are in the country.
- Written permission of the person who will be responsible for you.
- In the event that you are a minor with a disability, and/or you are in a private foster care situation (i.e. you are going to be the responsibility of a person who is not an immediate family member), your local authority must be informed about your visit by your school, parent, or guardian. (You will need to include proof of having informed them on your application).
- If you are aged 17 or less, and you will be arriving to the country with an adult. Your application needs to state this, as well as the specific name of this person (which will be written on your UK student visa). In the event that you attempt to enter the country alone (i.e. the person whose name is on your visa is not with you) you will likely be denied entry to the country). Please note that you can submit the names of at least two non-minors when you apply, which would mean you could theoretically enter the country so long as one of them accompanies you. Please note that any adult who applies with you needs to submit an individual application (i.e. you cannot both apply with one application).
- Please note that any documents that you submit that are not already in English or Welsh need to be accompanied by an official translation into one of those two languages.
- 4. Apply online
- Apply online for your student visitor visa to the UK. Applicants will fill out an online application and possibly submit documents via a link.
- In addition to filling out online forms, you will be asked to schedule an in-person appointment at a visa application center.
- Please note that applicants who are willing to pay more for expediated services can potentially receive their visa in well under three weeks.
- When you are ready to apply, contact us here.
- 5. Pay your visa fee
- At some point during the application process, you will be asked to submit payment for your Short-Term Study visa.
- The basic fee for this visa is £186, which is not inclusive of other mandatory fees, such as the Healthcare surcharge (typically £470).
- 6. Attend your in-person appointment
- After you apply online, you will attend your in-person appointment at your visa application center. This appointment is likely where you will submit your required documents and have your fingerprints and photos (biometric information) collected.
- 7. Await your decision
- Most applicants receive confirmation of their acceptance (or rejection) in under three weeks.
- After you formally apply, you will ultimately receive a message informing you of the immigration authorities’ decision on your application.
- In the event that you are approved for a visa, you will receive instructions on how to proceed with securing either your visa vignette or viewing your immigration status online. In addition, you will be able to view your visa conditions (i.e. what you are eligible to do in the country on your visa).
- In the event that you are rejected for your visa, you may have the right to an appeal. The letter you receive from the immigration authorities will outline your options in the event that your visa is declined.
- Don’t buy your plane tickets or purchase housing in the UK unless you are approved for a visa (i.e wait until you receive your acceptance for making non-refundable financial commitments relating to your trip).
- For more information about how to study English in the UK, such as for specific information about English courses in London for foreigners, contact us directly.
Asaad