Studying on a Visitor Visa

Standard Visitor is the most commonly used immigration category. It covers many types of short stays in the UK including tourism, visits from family and friends, perhaps returning to the UK for your graduation ceremony.

This guide specifically covers students using the route for short term study purposes.  We provide a separate guide to the visitor route being used for purposes other than attending studies.  This guide does not include academic visitors, guidance on which is provided by Human Resources.

Throughout the guide we refer to ‘visa’ and ‘immigration permission’ interchangeably as they are commonly understood to essentially have the same meaning.  As explained below some ‘non visa nationals’ do not require a ‘visa’ prior to travel but permission (or ‘leave to enter’) is still required and in some cases, e.g. using an eGate, permission is granted by merely entering the UK.

General information on visitor visas is provided by UKVI.

When you might study as a Visitor

At º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ you are only likely to need to study as a visitor if: 

    • You need to study at the University for no longer than 6 months, and 
    • You need immigration permission to enter the UK and 
    • Your studies are not appropriate for the University to issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If it is not appropriate to issue a CAS the University may provide you with a visiting student letter instead. The University will routinely issue a CAS for pre-sessional English language studies so that a Student visa can be obtained and extended for further studies as required. 

You may need to use visitor permission to study if you are: 

    • A student taking assessments without tuition, e.g. a taught student taking reassessment without attendance or a research student wanting to return to the UK just to take a viva voce examination and final thesis submission. 
    • A visiting student taking part in an exchange or partnership scheme who only needs to attend the University for less than 6 months at any given time. 
    • A student coming to conduct research studies for less than 6 months as part of an overseas course that is equivalent to a UK degree. 
    • A distance learning student needing to attend the University for a short period for tuition and/or assessment. 

In order to get visitor permission you may need to demonstrate:

    • You are 16 or over
    • You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a period not exceeding 6 months
    • You have been accepted on a course of study provided by º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ (this includes those conducting a period of research studies as part of an overseas degree)
    • Where relevant – proof of your overseas studies and that your time at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ forms part of this.
    • You intend to leave the UK before your visa expires
    • You can meet the costs of your living expenses, accommodation and return or onward journey from the UK
    • You do not intend to work or engage in any business or professional activity
    • ATAS approval, if your study or research is in one of the relevant subjects and you are not exempt.  Your offer should confirm if this is required, further information is available here. You should apply for an ATAS certificate at least one month but no more than 6 months in advance of obtaining your visitor permission.

Visitors cannot: 

    • take paid or unpaid work (volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days is allowed)
    • live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent and successive visits
    • receive treatment on the National Health Service (NHS) services (unless it is an emergency)*
    • receive public funds
    • marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

*Before leaving their home country visitors should consider taking out travel insurance which includes medical cover while in the UK.

Visa nationals must apply for a visitor visa before travelling to the UK. You can only apply for initial permission from outside the UK, usually online.

Non-visa nationals* can apply for leave to enter from a Border Officer on arrival in the UK, make sure you carry confirmation of your studies and finances to allow your circumstances to be verified.  Some nationals can readily obtain visitor permission by entering the UK via an eGate.  You might choose to apply for an entry clearance before you travel by following the visa application process, this could make entry at the border quicker especially if you have had any previous immigration problems. Entry to the UK from the Republic of Ireland is not always staffed or recorded, if so your permission can be limited by entering this way and it would not be advisable if you want to ensure you receive six months permission.

*UKVI has started to require non-visa nationals to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) prior to travel.   The list of relevant nationalities is being rolled out over time.  At the time of writing visitors who hold a passport from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates should hold a valid ETA.

The documents required will depend on your circumstances but could include:

    • º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ visiting student letter.
    • An ATAS clearance certificate if required (see ‘What are the immigration requirements for study visitors?’ above)
    • Evidence of how you will pay for any outstanding tuition fees, your living expenses, accommodation and travel costs, e.g. personal bank statements for at least three months, sponsorship letter, employer’s letter.
    • Any evidence of your intention to leave the UK, e.g. letter confirming you have to return to work or further studies in your home country, proof of business activities, property ownership and other family or economic ties to your home country, return or onward flight booking.

Any document not in English should be accompanied by a professional translation.

Permission will usually be granted for 6 months. If you enter the UK without getting a visa or stamp placed in your passport (e.g. via an eGate) you should keep records of your date of entry (e.g. flight confirmation) and avoid overstaying the time allowed.

You will not be allowed to work but you can volunteer with a registered charity for up to 30 days in total. Work placements as part of a course are not permitted (there are exceptions for unpaid medical electives which form part of a visiting student’s overseas studies).

You will not have access to ‘public funds’.

Visitors are not required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, therefore you would not have free access to full NHS services (e.g. non-emergency hospital care) and it is advisable to take out your own travel insurance including medical cover for your trip.

It is not possible to extend visitor permission beyond 6 months nor can you generally switch to another visa category while in the UK.

Applications for frequent and/or successive visits may be refused if there is little gap between such that your pattern of stays may appear as a long period of residence rather than merely visiting.

Any spouse/partner or child wishing to come to the UK at the same time may also apply as a standard visitor.

How can the University support you?

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) provides advice and support to prospective and current international students. In addition to our guide our advisers can provide individual advice on the requirements and the application process. If you require advice or guidance beyond what is covered on the webpages you can contact the Student Advice and Support Service.

Last Updated: 24th April 2024