This article describes the visa requirements for students interested in booking an English course at a language school in the United Kingdom. For updated information, please consult the website for UK Visa & Immigration.
1. Overview
There are three categories of students:
Students from countries that need a visa
- For courses lasting for less than 30 days, these students should apply for a Visitor Visa (VV) or Business Visitor Visa (BVV).
- For courses lasting for 6 months or less, these students should apply for a Student Visitor Visa (SVV). This visa must be requested before entering the UK.
- For courses lasting for 6 - 11 months, these students should apply for an Extended Student Visitor Visa (ESVV).
- For courses lasting for longer than 11 months, these student should apply for an Adult or Child Student Visa (Tier 4 General Student Visa or GSV).
- For courses lasting for less than 30 days, these students should apply for a Visitor Visa (VV) or Business Visitor Visa (BVV).
- For courses lasting for 6 months or less, these students should apply for a Student Visitor Visa (SVV). This visa can be requested at the point of entry.
- For courses lasting for 6 - 11 months, these students should apply for an Extended Student Visitor Visa (ESVV).
- For courses lasting for longer than 11 months, these student should apply for an Adult or Child Student Visa (Tier 4 General Student Visa or GSV).
- These students do NOT need a visa for any course duration.
2. Who needs a UK visa?
A student must apply for a visa if he/she is a citizen of a country that is NOT a part of the EEA or Switzerland. Do I need a visa to study in the UK?
3. UK visa types
Visitor Visa (VV) or Business Visitor Visa (BVV)
Tourists and business visitors can study in the UK for up to 6 weeks (no more than 30 days of tuition), provided that studying is not the main purpose of their visit. A student can enroll in one or more courses within those 30 days of tuition. The study can occur intermittently or in a single block during the course of the visit. For example, a student can first take one course lasting 15 days, take a break, and then take two more courses lasting another 15 days at the same time, one during the day and another in the evening, at the same or at different schools. The student can complete any number of separate courses of study during their visit to the UK, but the student can study for no more than 30 days in total.
However, most schools only accept enrollments from students with a Visitor Visa or Business Visa AFTER the student has arrived in the UK. Schools may require that students have been in the UK for at least 2 weeks before they can enroll at the school.
Language International does not recommend applying for this visa. Most of our partner schools do not accept enrollments from Language International using this visa. Students wishing to enter the UK on one of these visa types can only register directly at the school when they are already in the UK.
Student Visitor Visa (SVV)Students who are 18 years old or over and want to come to the United Kingdom to do a course for up to 11 months may be able to do so on a Student Visitor Visa (SVV). If the student has a student visitor visa, he/she will not be able to switch and apply for an Adult Student Visa while in the United Kingdom as a student visitor.
The visa costs £67 (subject to change) but will give none of the rights associated with the Adult Student visa (no right to work, nor to switch, extend or bring in dependents). This visa has a maximum duration of 6 months and is intended for those who simply wish to follow a short course and then return home. There is no need to give proof of level, only the reason why the student wishes to follow these studies.
Students who are from a country that does not need a visa to enter in the UK may apply for the visa at the point of entry.
Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV) - Adult Student VisaThis type of visa is not recommended for students taking English courses as the requirements and eligibility is thought for students making tertiary studies.
This student visa will cost £322 (subject to change) and the student will have the right to:
- Switch to another visa category and work in the UK
- Work part time while in the UK (up to 20 hours per week)
- Extend their visa while in the UK
- Bring in their dependents (such as partner or children) if they have a visa for more than 12 months.
To apply for an adult student visa the student must:
- Be aged 18 or over - if younger, the student can apply for a Child Student Visa
- Have a letter of acceptance from The Bristol Language Centre, an accredited institution, which is on the Register of sponsors
- Be enrolled on a course with a minimum of 15 hours organised study per week
- Prove his/her knowledge of the English language by passing an English language test - it must be on the list of approved tests and providers. The result must be at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
- Be able to prove to the visa office that there are funds to pay for the course and living costs: these are considered to be £600 per month. We need you to confirm this to us before we can provide the letter of acceptance but the visa office will expect to see proof by way of a bank statement or a signed and dated letter from a financial institution.
4. Requirements for UK visa applications
- Passport
- Proof of financial means (bank statement for the last 6 months)
- Proof of reason for trip to the UK (acceptance letter, business trip letter etc.)
- Proof of accommodation
- Previous travel documents
- Details of current employment/university
Note: All documents must be in English.
5. Frequently asked questions
Do I need to show IELTS test scores to get a UK visa?
You don't need to show proof of English proficiency if you are going to a English school and studying for no more than 11 months. You only need to show proof of English proficiency if you are applying for a Tier 4 General Student Visa for the purpose of studying in a university in the UK.
Does a student visitor have to study a set number of daytime hours per week?No. The course of study does not need to meet the requirement that it is a full-time course, or that it must consist of a minimum of 15 hours daytime study per week. For a student visitor the course of study may begin after 6pm in the evening, for example, evening classes, or can take place at the weekend. Also, there is no requirement for the course or period of study to lead to a qualification.
Can a student visitor study for more than 6 months?Yes. A student visitor can study an English language course for more than 6 months but no more than 11 months.