INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED A VISA
TO STUDY ENGLISH IN ENGLAND.
This information is for students who need a visa to enter the UK to study English.
English Language House is an accredited institution and can accept students who need to apply for a visa to study for up to 11 months. When we accept a student we will send them visa support documents so they can apply for their visa to enter the UK to study English.
English Language House is an accredited institution and can accept students who need to apply for a visa to study for up to 11 months. When we accept a student we will send them visa support documents so they can apply for their visa to enter the UK to study English.
Most international students will need a visa to study English in the UK. You can find information about visas that will allow you to study English in the UK on the UK government website, on the EnglishUK website study.englishuk.com/travel-and-visas/short-term-study-visa/ and on the UK Council for International Student Affairs www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Student-route-eligibility-and-requirements#layer-5347
A short term study visa will allow you to live and study in the UK for up to 11 months at an accredited course provider like English Language House.
A short term study visa will allow you to live and study in the UK for up to 11 months at an accredited course provider like English Language House.
Standard Visitor Visa
If you want to study an English language course in the UK for less than six months, you can do this with a standard visitor visa
Short Term Study Visa
If you want to study an English language course for up to 11 months you can do this with a short term study visa.
It is very important that you follow the rules of your visa so please check what you can and cannot do before you apply eg
If you want to study an English language course in the UK for less than six months, you can do this with a standard visitor visa
Short Term Study Visa
If you want to study an English language course for up to 11 months you can do this with a short term study visa.
It is very important that you follow the rules of your visa so please check what you can and cannot do before you apply eg
- you must study at an accredited institution such as English Language House
English Language House can provide you with visa support documentation you will need so that you can apply for your visa to enter the UK to study English.
If you want to join one of our English courses please read the information about how to join our English courses and complete:
If you want to join one of our English courses please read the information about how to join our English courses and complete:
- the Registration form
- the level test and
- the visa form
We may contact you and arrange to speak to you via Zoom. We may also ask to see one or more of the following:
ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE HOUSE
English Language House has Accreditation UK and can therefore accept students who need a short term study visa to study English Language for up to 11 months in the UK.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE HOME OFFICE WEBSITE:
“The burden of proof lies with the applicant. This is implicit in the various sections of the Rules which state that entry clearance may be granted ‘… provided the Immigration Officer (read ECO) is satisfied that each of the requirements (of the relevant Rules) is met’.
If the applicant does not produce evidence, or the evidence produced is inadequate to show that he / she fulfils the qualifying requirements of a category in the Rules, then a refusal will usually be appropriate.
If however the ECO supports a decision to refuse with evidence or allegations which cannot be substantiated or clearly accepted as reliable, a court / adjudicator could decide that the burden of proof fell on the ECO to justify the refusal.
Provided that the evidence used by the ECO to justify a refusal is factual and clear and it is relevant to the Rules applying to the application, the burden of proof will remain with an applicant. For example, if an applicant in the past had had to rely on public funds in the UK or had a poor immigration record, the evidence would be based on facts. The burden of proof would not be on the ECO.”
This means that you must provide proof or evidence to support your application otherwise the ECO may reject your visa application.
WE RECOMMEND THAT:
- A copy of your passport showing your photograph, your name, your nationality, your date of birth and your passport number clearly.
- Evidence that you have enough money to pay for your accommodation and living costs while you are studying in the UK. We may need to see recent bank statements showing that you have enough money to pay for your studies and all your living expenses while you are in the UK. If someone else is paying for you, we may ask to see evidence that they have money to pay for you, evidence of their relationship to you and we may also ask them to send us a signed document saying why and how they intend to support you financially during your studies.
- Evidence that you are a genuine student. You may need to explain to us why you want to travel to the UK to study English. If you studied English before, where you studied, how long you studied for, why you think it is better to come to the UK to improve your English, what you intend to do after you finish your English course etc If you are studying at the moment, where you are studying, what course you are studying, how long the course is that you are studying for, what year you are in, (1st year, 2nd year etc) when you will complete the course you are studying at the moment, how an English course will help etc. If you are working at the moment, where are you working, what is your job, how long have you been working there, does your boss think it is a good idea for you to learn English and why, when will you complete your English course in the UK will you return to your job, how do you think an English course help you in your job.
- Evidence to show that you are studying/working at the moment and that you have a job or course in your country to return to after you finish your English course in the UK. This evidence may be eg a document from your University to say that you are studying and that they will allow you to return to continue to study after you finish your English course or a document from your boss to say that you are working at the moment and that he will allow you time away from your work to study English in the UK and that he is expecting you to return to your job when you finish your English course in the UK or something else that you can scan and email us as evidence.
- If you do not have a job or a course in your country to return to when you finish your English course in the UK we may need to see evidence to show why you will need to return to your country at the end of your English course. This evidence may be a scanned and emailed document showing you have family that you will need to return to, a job that is waiting for you when you return to your country or something else that you can scan and email us as evidence.
ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE HOUSE
English Language House has Accreditation UK and can therefore accept students who need a short term study visa to study English Language for up to 11 months in the UK.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE HOME OFFICE WEBSITE:
“The burden of proof lies with the applicant. This is implicit in the various sections of the Rules which state that entry clearance may be granted ‘… provided the Immigration Officer (read ECO) is satisfied that each of the requirements (of the relevant Rules) is met’.
If the applicant does not produce evidence, or the evidence produced is inadequate to show that he / she fulfils the qualifying requirements of a category in the Rules, then a refusal will usually be appropriate.
If however the ECO supports a decision to refuse with evidence or allegations which cannot be substantiated or clearly accepted as reliable, a court / adjudicator could decide that the burden of proof fell on the ECO to justify the refusal.
Provided that the evidence used by the ECO to justify a refusal is factual and clear and it is relevant to the Rules applying to the application, the burden of proof will remain with an applicant. For example, if an applicant in the past had had to rely on public funds in the UK or had a poor immigration record, the evidence would be based on facts. The burden of proof would not be on the ECO.”
This means that you must provide proof or evidence to support your application otherwise the ECO may reject your visa application.
WE RECOMMEND THAT:
- You take out travel and/or study insurance to cover yourself during your trip and stay in UK.
- You have medical insurance that will cover your medical bills if you need medical attention while in UK.
- You read through the British Council Guide before you travel to the UK. It gives you very valuable information about how you can “stay safe in the UK” and much more.
Useful sites:
2025 Government announcement on the Short-term study visa route and English UK's response:
| 2025 Spring Rules_Student Policy Changes.pdf |
Earlier this week the Home Office announced that it is concerned about abuses of the Short-term study visa route. The concerns are around students' genuine intention to study and leaving the UK at the end of their course.
The Home Office is introducing changes from 9 April 2025 that will allow caseworkers to refuse visa applications where they suspect the intention of the student is not genuine.
We know this news will be concerning to the sector.
English UK’s response
English UK is pleased that the route will continue to provide opportunities to students wishing to come to the UK for periods of up to 11 months.
English UK is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office to ensure all genuine students are able to come and study in the UK and that visa procedures contribute to this objective.
What are the new rules?
As part of the new immigration rules laid in Parliament on Wednesday 12 March 2025 a ‘genuine short-term student rule’ has been added. This allows caseworkers to refuse visas where they suspect an applicant is not a genuine student.
The wording states caseworkers can 'refuse applications where they are not satisfied the applicant has a genuine intention to study the course listed on their application and/or to leave the UK at the end of their course.'
No additional documents are required but students ‘should provide sufficient evidence of their personal circumstances for caseworkers to be able to assess the credibility and genuineness of their application.’
View the 2025 Spring Rules: Student Policy Changes
When will the change come into effect?
The change will come into effect from Wednesday 9 April 2025.
What actions can students take?
The Home Office is introducing changes from 9 April 2025 that will allow caseworkers to refuse visa applications where they suspect the intention of the student is not genuine.
We know this news will be concerning to the sector.
English UK’s response
English UK is pleased that the route will continue to provide opportunities to students wishing to come to the UK for periods of up to 11 months.
English UK is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office to ensure all genuine students are able to come and study in the UK and that visa procedures contribute to this objective.
What are the new rules?
As part of the new immigration rules laid in Parliament on Wednesday 12 March 2025 a ‘genuine short-term student rule’ has been added. This allows caseworkers to refuse visas where they suspect an applicant is not a genuine student.
The wording states caseworkers can 'refuse applications where they are not satisfied the applicant has a genuine intention to study the course listed on their application and/or to leave the UK at the end of their course.'
No additional documents are required but students ‘should provide sufficient evidence of their personal circumstances for caseworkers to be able to assess the credibility and genuineness of their application.’
View the 2025 Spring Rules: Student Policy Changes
When will the change come into effect?
The change will come into effect from Wednesday 9 April 2025.
What actions can students take?
- English UK recommend students apply for their Short-term study visa three months in advance of their date of travel given that case workers are likely to be scrutinising applications in more detail in future.
- Students should complete their applications thoroughly and accurately to avoid a refusal, paying particular attention to evidence that they have a genuine intention to study and to leave the UK.
- English UK strongly recommend students engage the services of an immigration advisor to help them complete their applications and reduce the likelihood of refusals.
Copyright ELHUK part of ELH Limited. Updated - Mar 2025
