Quick guides for students

In this section:
● Adult students
● Child students

Adult students

This section contains a number of quick guides for adult students applying for a student
visa.
In this section:
● What type of student visa do I need?
● Applying for an adult student visa
● Extending an adult student visa
● Visa letter for adult students
● Doing a course to prepare for study

· ​What type of student visa do I need?

This quick guide explains what type of student visa you should apply for.

Types of student visa

Type of student visa Who can apply?

Child student You can apply as a child student if you are
between 4 and 17 years old. If you are
between 4 and 15 years old, you must be
coming to the United Kingdom to be educated
at an independent fee-paying school.
Child visitor You can apply as a child visitor if you are 17
years old or under and you want to come to
the United Kingdom to do a course of study
for up to six months.
You will not be able to switch and apply for a
child student visa while you are in the United
Kingdom as a child visitor. If you want to
apply for a child student visa, you must apply
from the country you live in.
Adult student You can apply as an adult student if you are
coming to the United Kingdom for your
post-16 education.
Student visitor You can apply as a student visitor if you are
18 years old or over, you want to come to the
United Kingdom to do a course for up to six
months, and you do not want to work while
you are here.
You will not be able to switch and apply for an
adult student visa while you are in the United
Kingdom as a student visitor. If you want to
apply for an adult student visa, you must
 apply from the country you live in.
Prospective student You can apply as a prospective student if you
want to come to the United Kingdom to help
you decide which course to study or if you
plan to start a course of study within six
months.
You will be able to switch and apply for an
adult or child student visa while you are in
the United Kingdom.

16 and 17 year old students applying to come for more than six
months
You and your approved education provider should agree whether you need to apply for an
adult or child student visa. If you will be studying a course below National Qualification
Framework level 3, you must apply as a child student. If your course is at National
Qualification Framework level 3 (or equivalent) or above and is longer than two years, we
recommend you apply as an adult student. If you want to study for an English language
qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2
or above, you must apply as an adult student.

· ​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 lessThe full length of the course
than 12 months plus
two months after the end of
your course
Course to prepare you for Less than six months The full length of the course
study (known as plus
pre-sessional) one month after the end of
your course
Short course (not one toLess than six months The full length of the course
prepare you for study) 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 lessThe full length of the course
than 12 months plus
two months after the end of
your course
Postgraduate doctors andMaximum of three years The full length of the course
dentists on a recognized (up to a maximum of three
Foundation programme 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 Visa letter from your approved
acceptable level) with an education provider, and the
approved education provider documents used to get the
(also known as sponsorship) visa letter
10 Having enough money toBank statement or letter
cover your course fees andconfirming that you have
monthly living costs (also enough money available to
known as maintenance) cover your course fees and
monthly living costs for up to
one year, at the time you
submit your application

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

More than nine months
More than nine months
£600 for each calendar month
of the course
In London First year of fees
and
£7,200 to cover living costs
the first nine months in the
United Kingdom
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
Nine months or less
More than nine months
More than nine months
In London Course fees
and
£800 for each calendar month
of the course up to a
maximum of two months
Outside London Course fees
and
£600 for each calendar month
of the course up to a
maximum of two months
In London First year of fees
and
£1,600 to cover two months of
living costs in the United
Kingdom
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

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.
Extending an adult student visa
This quick guide explains how an adult student can apply to extend their student visa, so
that they can finish a course or do a new course.

On this page
● How long can I extend my stay 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 paragrapghs 245ZT to 245ZY
of part 6A, which you can find on the right side of this page.

How long can I extend my stay 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 lessThe full length of the course
than 12 months plus
two months after the end of
your course
Course to prepare you for Less than six months The full length of the course
study plus
one month after the end of
your course
Other course (not one to Less than six months The full length of the course
prepare you for study) 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 lessThe full length of the course
than 12 months plus
two months after the end of
your course
Postgraduate doctors andMaximum of three years The full length of the course
dentists on a recognized (up to maximum of three
Foundation programme 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 for your extension 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 Visa letter from your approved
acceptable level) with an education provider, and the
approved education provider documents used to get the
(also known as sponsorship) visa letter
10 Having enough money toBank statement or letter
cover your course fees andconfirming that you have
monthly living costs (also enough money available to
known as maintenance) cover your course fees and
monthly living costs for up to
one year, at the time you
submit your application

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 and ID cards​ 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
Nine months or less
More than nine months
More than nine months
In London Course fees
and
£800 for each calendar month
of the course up to a
maximum of two months
Outside London Course fees
and
£600 for each calendar month
of the course up to a
maximum of two months
In London First year of fees
and
£1,600 to cover two months of
living costs in the United
Kingdom
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

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.

Visa letter for adult students

This quick guide explains what information the visa letter for adult students should contain.
The visa letter is an official offer letter which the education provider gives you. You must
provide the visa letter with your application form as part of your documents and proof. It
shows that you are studying a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education
provider and are able to get 30 points.

The visa letter should contain the following information:

Route This should say 'general student' or 'adult

student'
You (the student) ● Your name (as shown on your passport
if applicable)
● Your nationality
● Your passport or travel document
number (optional)
Approved education provider (also known as ● The education provider's sponsor
'sponsor') licence number
● The education provider's address (if
different from the letterhead)
● Contact details for the education
provider (if different from the
letterhead)
● The name and address of any partner
institution where you will be studying as
part of the course
● The name and address of the overseas
higher education institution, if the time
you spend in the United Kingdom
studying is part of an overseas higher
education course
Course ● The course title
● The academic level of course or
qualification you will get when you
complete the course (the National
Qualifications Framework level or the
type of qualification - for example, a
bachelor's degree in chemical
engineering)
● The start date (the date you start your
main studies, or the date you start an
induction or course to prepare you for
study if you have an unconditional offer
to do your main course)
● The expected end date
● The latest date you can join the course
(optional)
● The number of hours per week (optional
if studying a full-time degree course
that leads to a United Kingdom
recognised bachelor or postgraduate
degree)
● The address of your main place of
study, if different to the approved
education provider's main address
● The address of any organisation offering
you a work placement, if known and

Money (also known as maintenance)
Documents used to get the visa letter
applicable
● Course fees for the first year, or the
length of the course
● Course fees that you have paid so far (if
applicable)
● Accommodation fees that you have paid
so far (if applicable)
A list of evidence that your approved
education provider used to assess your
academic ability to finish the course, which
may include:
● the level or type of your existing
qualification (if applicable)
● the qualification awarding body and/or
institution (if applicable)
● confirmation that an Academic
Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
clearance certificate is needed (if
applicable)

Course to prepare for study

This quick guide explains how a student can apply to do a course to prepare them for study
(also known as a pre-sessional course) under tier 4 of the points-based system.

On this page

● What is a course to prepare you for study?

● What do I need to apply?
● If I have an unconditional offer from an approved education provider
● If I have a conditional offer from an approved education provider
● How much will my student visa cost?
● Can I work?

What is a course to prepare you for study?

A course to prepare you for study (also known as a pre-sessional course) is:
● an intensive English language course; or
● course to prepare you for your full-time study 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 get points for Proof and documents

needed
30 Doing a course (at an Visa letter from your approved
acceptable level)course with education provider, and the
an approved education documents used to get the
 provider (also known as visa letter
sponsorship)
10 Having enough money toBank statement or letter
cover your course fees andconfirming that you have
monthly living costs (also enough money available to
known as maintenance) cover your course fees and
monthly living costs for up to
one year, at the time you
submit your application

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 can apply to do a course to prepare you for study as an adult or child student.

If I have an unconditional offer from an approved education provider

If you have an unconditional offer, we will give permission for both courses at the same
time if you are doing the course to prepare you for study:
● with the same approved education provider as your full-time course; or
● with a partner institution named of your approved education provider (they are named
on the approval licence).

If I have a conditional offer from an approved education provider

If you only have a conditional offer to do your full-time course, you will need to apply to do
the course to prepare you for study first. If you successfully finish that course, you should
apply for an extension while inside the United Kingdom to continue your studies on your
full-time course.

How much will my 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

Can I work?

You will be able to work:

● part-time work during term-time which is no more than 20 hours a week; and
● full-time work during vacations.