Coming to the UK-VISA Guide

VISAS

If you are travelling to the UK to study from outside of the European Union you will need to apply for a VISA.

If you 18 or over, applying for a study period of 11 months or less and your course is an English Language course, then you can apply for a short term study VISA. You can also apply for a short term study VISA if you are 18 or over and your course lasts for 6 months or less.

For longer study periods you will need to apply for a TIER 4 VISA.

These can be applied for as soon as your place in college is confirmed – up to 3 months before you travel to the UK.

They usually take 3 weeks to be approved.

This link will allow to access all the information you need about applying for a Tier 4 VISA

Please note that from 12th November 2015, changes come into effect that ban college students from extending their Tier 4 visas in the UK unless they are studying at an ‘embedded college’, one which has a formal, direct link to a university that is recognised by the Home Office.  This will require them to leave and apply for a new visa from outside the UK if they wish to study another course.

You may also wish to look at the pages on the site advising about English language requirements and how proof of English competence may be needed as part of a VISA application process (link to Eng lang pages-new pages)