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Applying for an adult student visa
This quick guide explains how an adult student can apply for a student visa under tier 4 of the points-based system.
On this page
- Who can apply?
- How long can I come for?
- What do I need to apply?
- Approved education provider
- Course at an acceptable level
- Money needed
- Money needed if I have completed a course of study in the United Kingdom that was at least six months long in the past four months
- How much does a student visa cost?
- What application form should I use?
Full details of all requirements are in the immigration rules at paragraphs 245ZT to 245ZY of part 6A, which you can find on the right side of this page.
Who can apply?
You can apply for an adult student visa if you are coming to the United Kingdom for your post-16 education.
If you are 16 or 17 years old and want to study a course at National Qualification Framework level 3 or above, you can agree with your approved education provider either to apply as an adult or child. Those studying for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above must apply as an adult student. See Studying as a child for more information on how to apply as a child student.
There are different rules if you are extending your permission to stay in the United Kingdom as an adult student. See Extending your adult student visa for more information.
How long can I come for?
| Type of course | Length of course | Length of stay allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Degree level or above | 12 months or more | The full length of the course plus four months after the end of your course |
| Degree level or above | Six months or more, but less than 12 months | The full length of the course plus two months after the end of your course |
| Course to prepare you for study (known as pre-sessional) | Less than six months | The full length of the course plus one month after the end of your course |
| Short course (not one to prepare you for study) | Less than six months | The full length of the course plus seven days after the end of your course |
| Below degree level | 12 months or more | The full length of the course (up to a maximum of three years if you are 18 years old or above) plus four months after the end of your course |
| Below degree level | Six months or more, but less than 12 months | The full length of the course plus two months after the end of your course |
| Postgraduate doctors and dentists on a recognised Foundation programme | Maximum of three years | The full length of the course (up to a maximum of three years) plus one month after the end of your course |
What do I need to apply?
You need 40 points to be able to apply for a student visa and must provide the proof needed with your application form.
| Points | What you gets points for | Proof and documents needed |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as sponsorship) | Visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies issued by your approved education provider, before February 2010 (if you are applying within the United Kingdom) and the documents used to get the visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies. From February 2010 the UK Border Agency will only accept a confirmation of acceptance for studies and will no longer accept a visa letter. |
| 10 | Having enough money to cover your course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance) | Bank statement or letter confirming that you have enough money available to cover your course fees and monthly living costs for up to one year, at the time you submit your application |
If you apply before 1 October you will only need to show proof that you have the money needed, on the day that you apply. However, from 1 October 2009, you must be able to prove that the money you need to apply has been in your account for 28 days before you submit your application.
You must also arrange to have your photograph taken and give your fingerprints, which are known as biometric information. See Biometrics for more information.
Approved education provider
Education providers are approved by us when we give them, a licence to teach international students in the United Kingdom, and add them to the tier 4 register of sponsors. Once you have chosen an education provider to study with, you can check to see if they are on the tier 4 register of sponsors. If the education provider is not on the register, you will not be able to get a student visa.
Course at an acceptable level
You can do courses that lead to an approved qualification and are:
- approved at level 3 or above on the National Qualifications framework (NQF);approved at the same level in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF);
- approved at the same level by the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC);
- approved at the same level by the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland;
- are short-term study abroad programmes in the United Kingdom as part of your qualification at an overseas higher education institution, as long as the qualification is confirmed as the same as a United Kingdom degree level by UK NARIC. You can find contact details for UK NARIC on the right side of this page; or
- an English language course at a level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you want to do another English language course after your first course, you will need to show a formal assessment of the English language level you got.
Money needed
The money that you need includes course fees and monthly living costs. The monthly living costs needed depends on where you are studying.
| Length of course | Where will study | Money needed |
|---|---|---|
| Nine months or less | In London | Course fees and �800 for each calendar month of the course |
| Nine months or less | Outside London | Course fees and �600 for each calendar month of the course |
| More than nine months | In London | First year of fees and �7,200 to cover living costs the first nine months in the United Kingdom |
| More than nine months | Outside London | First year of fees and �5,400 to cover living costs the first nine months in the United Kingdom |
Money needed if I have completed a course of study in the United Kingdom that was at least six months long in the past four months
You will only need to show two months worth of living costs if you have completed a course of study in the United Kingdom that was at least six months long in the past four months, and were in any of the following immigration categories:
- child student;
- adult student (also known as general student);
- postgraduate doctor or dentist;
- student (under the rules in place before 31 March 2009);
- student nurse;
- student re-sitting examination;
- student writing up a thesis;
- Student Union sabbatical officer.
The money you will need is:
| Length of course | Where will study | Money needed |
|---|---|---|
| Nine months or less | In London | Course fees and �800 for each calendar month of the course up to a maximum of two months |
| Nine months or less | Outside London | Course fees and �600 for each calendar month of the course up to a maximum of two months |
| More than nine months | In London | First year of fees and �1,600 to cover two months of living costs in the United Kingdom |
| More than nine months | Outside London | First year of fees and �1,200 to cover two months of living costs in the United Kingdom |
How much does a student visa cost?
The student visa application fee depends on where you apply from:
Inside the United Kingdom by post - �357
Inside the United Kingdom at a Public Enquiry Office (PEO) - �565
Outside the United Kingdom - �145
Inside the United Kingdom at a Public Enquiry Office (PEO) - �565
Outside the United Kingdom - �145
What application form should I use?
If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom, you should use the Tier 4 (general) application form, which you can find on the right side of this page.
If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, go to our visa services website, which you can find on the right side of the page, to find the application form for the country you are applying from.
Application forms
Application form and guidance for adult students applying under tier 4 of the points-based system
- Tier 4 (general) application formPDF 433K opens in a new window
- Tier 4 of the Points Based System Policy Guidance
- Guidance for students applying under tier 4 of the points-based systemPDF 664K opens in a new window
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