ADVICE FOR VISA STUDENTS
English Language House is happy to accept genuine students who are interested in coming to England to improve their English. Students who want to study face2face at English Language House
- will need to either have a visitor visa or
- will need to apply for a short term study visa to enter the UK.
*English UK is the national association of British Council accredited English language teaching centres. English UK offers information and recognition to agents who are partners of its member centres.
The Government are changing to the Short Term Visa route from April 2025:
They are introducing the genuine Short-term Student rule:
Are additional documents required to support a Short-term Student visa application in order to pass the genuine Short-term Student requirement?
They are introducing the genuine Short-term Student rule:
- A genuine Short-term Student rule will be added to enable caseworkers to 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.
Are additional documents required to support a Short-term Student visa application in order to pass the genuine Short-term Student requirement?
- There are no additional mandatory documents required for the route in light of the changes. However, the onus continues to remain on the applicant to show they meet the eligibility requirements of the Short-term Student route, including the genuine Short-term Student requirement. Short-term Students should provide sufficient evidence of their personal circumstances for caseworkers to be able to assess the credibility and genuineness of their application. Updated Short-term Student guidance will be published in line with the new immigration rules detailing how Short-term Student applications will be considered against the new genuine Short-term Student requirement.
Documents you'll need (source: Gov website)
When you apply you must provide:
You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:
You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).
You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:
Travelling with an adult
If you travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to identify them in your visa application.
Their name will appear on your visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK without them.
You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel with at least one of them.
The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.
When you apply you must provide:
- a current passport (with a blank page for your visa) or other valid travel document
- evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
- details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
- evidence that you’ve paid your course fees or have enough money to pay them
- your tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test
- contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country, if you’re under 18 years old
- a certified translation if any documents are not in English or Welsh
You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:
- permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)
- financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:
- you’re travelling on your own
- you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian
You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).
You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:
- your visa application
- your living arrangements and care in the UK
- your travel to the UK
- the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with
- an address where you will be living
- details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you
- consent in writing so they can look after you during your stay in the UK
- you’re under 18 and have a disability
- you’re going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)
Travelling with an adult
If you travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to identify them in your visa application.
Their name will appear on your visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK without them.
You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel with at least one of them.
The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.
Key facts: Short-term study visa (source: study.englishuk.com/travel-and-visas/short-term-study-visa/#facts)
- No minimum level of English is required.
- Students must be 16 years old or above when they arrive in the UK.
- Students must have a plan to study at a UK institution with a government-approved accreditation. All British Council accredited language centres are suitable.
- The visa is only valid for study at the institution that is named on the application form.
- Students cannot work with this visa, but they can volunteer.
- The application costs GBP200, plus GBP470 fee for the immigration health surcharge (see below).
- Extensions: students can extend their original course booking up to the end of their visa validity period (maximum of 11 months).
Application process: Short-term study visa (source: study.englishuk.com/travel-and-visas/short-term-study-visa/#facts)
When and where to apply:
All students who apply for a visa for longer than six months must pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the online visa application. They will then be able to access national health services in the UK during their stay. This includes free doctors appointments and hospital services. For a visa that is valid for between six and 12 months, the cost is GBP470. The cost increases with the length of the visa. Use the government’s immigration health surcharge calculator.
Required documents:
Attending a visa application centre
After submitting the application form and required documents, most students need to book an appointment at their nearest UK visa application centre to provider biometric data: their photo and fingerprints. EEA nationals do not need to attend an application centre if they have a biometric chip in their passport. Instead, they scan their passport through an app.
Check if local application centres are openMost visa application centres are now open. Find a visa application centre to check. If local visa application centres are closed due to Covid-19, it is still possible to start the process online. See the UKCISA website for details.
Attending a visa application interview
Students may be required to attend an interview. Students should check their emails regularly, including the ‘junk’ folder to ensure they do not miss the invitation. Students can contact their Sponsor institution for advice if they are preparing for an interview.
Response times
Students can usually expect a response within three weeks. Some visa application centres offer a priority service for an additional fee, though service times are not guaranteed. Students should apply for their visa at the earliest possible opportunity, up to three months before their planned travel date.
When and where to apply:
- Students can apply for a Short-term study visa up to three months before they travel.
- The application form is online on GOV.UK.
All students who apply for a visa for longer than six months must pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the online visa application. They will then be able to access national health services in the UK during their stay. This includes free doctors appointments and hospital services. For a visa that is valid for between six and 12 months, the cost is GBP470. The cost increases with the length of the visa. Use the government’s immigration health surcharge calculator.
Required documents:
- A current valid passport with a full blank page available for the visa.
- A letter of confirmation from a UK government-approved accredited institution. This needs to include the course name, duration and cost, including accommodation. Students do not need to pay the full cost before making a visa application.
- Details of where the student plans to stay in the UK. If accommodation is booked through the school, details including cost should be included in the confirmation letter.
- Evidence of enough money to pay for course fees, accommodation and living costs. Learn more about providing evidence. Students do not need to pay the full course fees, travel or accommodation costs before applying.
- Certified translations are required for any documents that are not in English. See the guide to supporting documents on GOV.UK.
- Students from some countries need to show evidence of a valid tuberculosis screening. Check the list of countries on GOV.UK
- Students must be 16 years old when they arrive in the UK to be eligible for the Short-term study visa.
- Students who are under 18 years old must provide contact details for at least one parent or guardian in their home country.
- If they are travelling on their own they must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or their legal guardian. Ask the language centre for a template letter to ensure this meets the requirements.
- If they are travelling with an adult over 18 years old who is not their parent or guardian, they need to name the adult on the visa application. This name will appear on the student’s visa. Two adults can be named on the application and the student must arrive with at least one of them.
- Find full details on GOV.UK.
Attending a visa application centre
After submitting the application form and required documents, most students need to book an appointment at their nearest UK visa application centre to provider biometric data: their photo and fingerprints. EEA nationals do not need to attend an application centre if they have a biometric chip in their passport. Instead, they scan their passport through an app.
Check if local application centres are openMost visa application centres are now open. Find a visa application centre to check. If local visa application centres are closed due to Covid-19, it is still possible to start the process online. See the UKCISA website for details.
Attending a visa application interview
Students may be required to attend an interview. Students should check their emails regularly, including the ‘junk’ folder to ensure they do not miss the invitation. Students can contact their Sponsor institution for advice if they are preparing for an interview.
Response times
Students can usually expect a response within three weeks. Some visa application centres offer a priority service for an additional fee, though service times are not guaranteed. Students should apply for their visa at the earliest possible opportunity, up to three months before their planned travel date.
Short-term student visa information:
(source: www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Short-term-student-visa )
This route is only for students who apply for entry clearance to do an English language course between six and 11 months long. For study of up to six months, you may instead be able to undertake this under the visitor route.
(source: www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Short-term-student-visa )
This route is only for students who apply for entry clearance to do an English language course between six and 11 months long. For study of up to six months, you may instead be able to undertake this under the visitor route.
Am I eligible to apply for immigration permission as a short-term student?
You must have immigration permission in this category before you come to the UK (entry clearance). You can apply for entry clearance from any country outside the UK, but you must have permission to be in the country from which you apply.
Page 11 of the short-term students caseworker guidance also outlines the criteria for accredited institutions.
If the course is up to six months, you cannot use this route and should instead check to see if you are eligible to study the course as a visitor.
This information is for you if you are currently outside the UK and you want to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student' because either:
This information explains what you need to do to get immigration permission in order to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student', what you must do if you have it and what to do if you are refused permission.
If you you are granted immigration permission
If you are successful, you will get immigration permission for 11 months.
You will get a vignette (stamp in your passport) for 90 days, and then when you arrive in the UK you will need to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) from a post office or from your institution (if they have arranged with the Home Office for the BRPs to be sent to them. You will be given entry clearance showing a 90-day window in which to enter the UK. You will need to follow the instructions on the accompanying letter about how to collect your Biometric Residence Permit. This usually needs to be collected before the date on your vignette expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.
Requirements you must meet while you are in the UK
See 'Applying for entry clearance' for information about the requirements you need to meet when making your immigration application.
While in the UK, you must only study on the course for which you were granted permission.
You must intend to leave the UK within 30 days of the end of your study (if it is before the date your immigration permission ends). If you do not leave the UK within this time, it could affect any future immigration applications to the UK (such applications could be refused and a time-bar applied if the Home Office believes you exercised deception about your intention in your short-term student immigration application). If your study (as stated in the letter you presented to the Home Office as part of your short-term student immigration application) continues until the date that your immigration permission ends, you must leave the UK no later than the date your immigration permission ends.
The condition to register with the police (known as 'police registration') was given to people of certain nationalities who come to the UK for more than six months. On 5 August 2022, the Home Office announced to UKCISA and other education sector stakeholders that it was abolishing the requirement to register with police with immediate effect. The Immigration Rules were updated to reflect this on 9 November 2022. Any police registration condition imposed before 9 November 2022 ceases to have effect on that date. This includes registration, reporting changes of address and any other related matters.
As a short-term student, you cannot do any kind of work, work placement or work experience during your studies in the UK. In addition, you cannot engage in any business or professional activities in the UK. If you want to be allowed to work in the UK during your studies, you will need to apply to enter the UK as a Student or in another appropriate immigration category instead.
Short-term students are not allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while still in the UK, or extend their permission as a short-term student. If you wish to continue studying in the UK after your entitlement to remain in the UK as a short-term student has ended, you will need to return home and apply for entry clearance as a Student, or in another appropriate immigration category. However, there is a requirement that you should not intend to make the UK your main home. Frequent and successive use of this route may suggest that you are.
You have no recourse to 'public funds'.
'Public funds' are defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules as a list of specific benefits available. When applying for immigration permission to enter the UK, you must provide evidence that there is sufficient money available for your maintenance and accommodation, without having to claim any of these benefits - see applying for entry clearance.
What to do if your application is refused
There is a right to a apply for an administrative review of a refused application under the short-term student route. If you are refused, you will need to decide between one of the following two options:
You must have immigration permission in this category before you come to the UK (entry clearance). You can apply for entry clearance from any country outside the UK, but you must have permission to be in the country from which you apply.
- You must be 16 or older when you apply (which is when you pay the immigration application fee).
- You must be accepted onto an English language course which is at least six months and no longer than 11 months in duration at an accredited provider. An accredited provider is one which:
- is a licensed Student sponsor listed on the Student sponsor register; or
- holds valid accreditation from a Home Office approved accreditation body;
- holds a valid and satisfactory full institutional inspection from a Home Office approved inspection body; or
- is an overseas higher education institution which offers only part of its programmes in the UK
Page 11 of the short-term students caseworker guidance also outlines the criteria for accredited institutions.
If the course is up to six months, you cannot use this route and should instead check to see if you are eligible to study the course as a visitor.
- The course must be an English language only (which means it is a course that consists only of English language study and cannot be combined with other subjects). In addition:
- The English language course does not need to lead to a specific qualification.
- There are no minimum academic requirements for immigration purposes, the course can be at any level, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria.
- You are not required to have a minimum English language ability, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria.
- There are no minimum hours which you must be studying during your time in the UK.
This information is for you if you are currently outside the UK and you want to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student' because either:
- you are not eligible to apply for Student permission; or
- you have chosen not to apply for a Student permission as you meet the requirements for a 'short-term student' visa
This information explains what you need to do to get immigration permission in order to come to study in the UK as a 'short-term student', what you must do if you have it and what to do if you are refused permission.
If you you are granted immigration permission
If you are successful, you will get immigration permission for 11 months.
You will get a vignette (stamp in your passport) for 90 days, and then when you arrive in the UK you will need to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) from a post office or from your institution (if they have arranged with the Home Office for the BRPs to be sent to them. You will be given entry clearance showing a 90-day window in which to enter the UK. You will need to follow the instructions on the accompanying letter about how to collect your Biometric Residence Permit. This usually needs to be collected before the date on your vignette expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.
Requirements you must meet while you are in the UK
See 'Applying for entry clearance' for information about the requirements you need to meet when making your immigration application.
While in the UK, you must only study on the course for which you were granted permission.
You must intend to leave the UK within 30 days of the end of your study (if it is before the date your immigration permission ends). If you do not leave the UK within this time, it could affect any future immigration applications to the UK (such applications could be refused and a time-bar applied if the Home Office believes you exercised deception about your intention in your short-term student immigration application). If your study (as stated in the letter you presented to the Home Office as part of your short-term student immigration application) continues until the date that your immigration permission ends, you must leave the UK no later than the date your immigration permission ends.
The condition to register with the police (known as 'police registration') was given to people of certain nationalities who come to the UK for more than six months. On 5 August 2022, the Home Office announced to UKCISA and other education sector stakeholders that it was abolishing the requirement to register with police with immediate effect. The Immigration Rules were updated to reflect this on 9 November 2022. Any police registration condition imposed before 9 November 2022 ceases to have effect on that date. This includes registration, reporting changes of address and any other related matters.
As a short-term student, you cannot do any kind of work, work placement or work experience during your studies in the UK. In addition, you cannot engage in any business or professional activities in the UK. If you want to be allowed to work in the UK during your studies, you will need to apply to enter the UK as a Student or in another appropriate immigration category instead.
Short-term students are not allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while still in the UK, or extend their permission as a short-term student. If you wish to continue studying in the UK after your entitlement to remain in the UK as a short-term student has ended, you will need to return home and apply for entry clearance as a Student, or in another appropriate immigration category. However, there is a requirement that you should not intend to make the UK your main home. Frequent and successive use of this route may suggest that you are.
You have no recourse to 'public funds'.
'Public funds' are defined in paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules as a list of specific benefits available. When applying for immigration permission to enter the UK, you must provide evidence that there is sufficient money available for your maintenance and accommodation, without having to claim any of these benefits - see applying for entry clearance.
What to do if your application is refused
There is a right to a apply for an administrative review of a refused application under the short-term student route. If you are refused, you will need to decide between one of the following two options:
- 1) You can apply for an administrative review. You will need to do this within 28 days of the date you are refused and it costs £80.
- 2) You can apply for immigration permission again, but this will mean that you will have an unchallenged refusal that you must declare if you are asked in future immigration applications.
