Short-term study visa

1. Overview

You can apply for a Short-term study visa if:

you’re doing a short course of study in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements

What you can and can’t do
You can:

do a short course of study in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course do a short period of research as part of a degree course if you are studying abroad
You can’t:

study at a state school work (including on a work placement or work experience) or carry out any business extend this visa bring family members (‘dependants’) with you – they must apply separately get public funds How long you can stay You can stay in the UK for:

6 months – for any short course (including English language courses), or short period of research if you’re 18 or over 11 months – if you’re 18 or over and taking an English language course

Fees
It costs:

£85 for a 6 month visa (5780 Rs) and Service charges may include *
£162 for an 11 month visa (15870 Rs) and Service charges may include *

How long it takes
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Check the guide processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in the country you’re applying from.

2. Eligibility

You must prove that you:

have been offered a place on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study
have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you
can pay for your return or onward journey

If you’re under 18 you must also:

have made arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK
have permission from your parent or guardian to study in the UK

Where you can study

You must be accepted on a course with an education provider that holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence.

Otherwise your course will need to be held at an educational institution listed by one of the following:

Accreditation Body for Language Services
Accreditation Service for International Colleges
Accreditation UK
Bridge Schools Inspectorate
British Accreditation Council
Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
Estyn (in Wales)
HM Inspectorate of Education (in Scotland)
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
Schools Inspection Service

Learning English as a foreign language

You must be at least 18 years old and accepted on a course to learn English as a foreign language if you’re applying for an 11 month Short-term study visa.

A mixed course, some of which is spent studying English, doesn’t count.

Visiting the UK as part of an overseas course

You can apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re at least 18 years old and studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your course is in the UK.

Your institution must:

hold its own national accreditation
offer only part of its educational programme in the UK
offer programes that are equivalent to a UK degree

Researching in the UK for a short time

You can come to the UK for a short period of research if already enrolled on an overseas degree course.

To be eligible:

your course must be equivalent to a UK degree
you must be carrying out the research at a UK recognised body, or a body that receives public funding as a higher education institution
you must be at least 18 years old

3. Documents you must provide

When you apply you need to provide:

a current passport or other valid travel identification
one passport-sized colour photograph
evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans – you shouldn’t pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country (if you’re under 18 years old)

You need to provide the original documents.

You also need to provide a certified translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.

You need a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa.

Documents about your course

You must provide proof of the course you’re studying, eg a letter of acceptance from the educational institution – on official headed paper, stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, eg evidence of your:

previous study, eg academic certificates, references or transcripts
English language qualifications, eg certificates or awards
accommodation and travel plans
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
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:

you’re travelling on your own
you’re travelling with someone who isn’t your parent or guardian

Travelling on your own

You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or over).

Your parent or guardian needs to provide their:

written consent for you to travel to the UK
full contact details

They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:

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 must provide a letter from the school confirming it has notified the local authority of your visit and your care arrangements if:

you’ll be studying in the UK during your stay
you’re under 16

You must include the reply from the local authority if the school has received one.

Travelling with an adult

When travelling to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or over), 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.

4. Apply

You must apply online for a Short-term study visa.

You need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

You may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in – check with your visa application centre.

North Korea

You can’t apply online if you’re living in North Korea.

To apply from North Korea you must:

download the application form
read the instructions for North Korea on how to apply

Short-term study visa

The UK is a world leader in many areas of education including engineering, science, art and design, business and management, law and finance. The UK’s reputation and legacy as a world centre for scientific research makes it a magnet for some of the very best thinkers in the world.

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa if you’ve been endorsed in your field in science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology or the arts as:

a recognised leader (exceptional talent)
an emerging leader (exceptional promise)
You must also be from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Tier 1 (general) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa if:

you want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements

Tier 1 (Graduate Enterpreneur) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa if you:

are a graduate who has been officially endorsed as having a genuine and credible business idea
are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
meet the other eligibility criteria

Tier 1 (Investor) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa if:

you want to invest £2,000,000 (Rs.19,77,29,784.85) or more in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements

Tier 2 (general) Visa

You can apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa if:

you’ve been offered a skilled job in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland

Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa

You can apply for a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa if:

your overseas employer has offered you a role in a UK branch of the organisation
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland

Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

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Short-term study visa

1. Overview

2. Eligibility

3. Documents you must provide

4. Apply

UK Study Visa