Introduction
If you would like to enter the UK to study then this section will provide you with the basics of the Student Visa for the UK.
Introduction
When coming to the UK, the main points on which the immigration officer needs to be satisfied are:
- That the passenger has been accepted on a course of study and that the school or college and the proposed course are acceptable under the Immigration Rules;
- That the documents which have been presented to him, relating to enrolment and funds, are genuine;
- That there is no information which suggests that the passenger is unable or does not intend to follow the course or leave the United Kingdom on completion of his studies;
- That funding is adequate (guaranteed part-time work at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education in the United Kingdom at which the student is enrolled, can be taken into account when an Immigration Officer assesses their financial means)
- That the passenger does not intend taking up business or employment except part-time or vacation work, or a work placement or internship which is part of the course.
Student visas may be extended in order for the applicant to continue studying, but the applicant must be able to provide evidence that they have made suitable progress in their studies, and that they have regularly attended their course.
Those students whose student visa is issued for longer than six months, may then engage in casual work for up to 20hrs per week, and for unlimited hours per week, during college holidays. The permission to work is not intended in order to provide monies on which to subsist.
Students in further or higher education
Students on courses of one year or more that finish in the summer will usually be granted permission to stay until 31 October, following the end of the course. For courses that do not follow the standard autumn to summer pattern an additional two months permission to stay may be added to the end of course date.
As postgraduate courses don't always finish at the end of the normal academic year, postgraduate students will usually be granted a similar extension (effectively 4 months) beyond the end of the course irrespective of when it finishes. The extra period is often necessary for the processes which follow the submission of the thesis or dissertation, including any correction or rewriting that may have to be done.
Students who have been accepted for a course of study at a publicly funded institution of further or higher education may be granted leave to remain* (*permission to stay) to cover the whole of the course.
A student working towards GCSEs or 'A' levels at a college of further education or a reputable private education establishment may be granted leave to remain to cover the course, if requested.
In cases where the length of the course is not specified but where all the requirements of the Immigration Rules are met leave of 12 months will usually be granted.
School Pupils
Students between the ages of 11-18 working towards GCSEs or 'A' levels at an independent school may be granted leave to remain to cover the whole of the course if the school letter requests this. In other cases the practice is usually to grant 12 months at a time. Children under the age of 11 are normally only granted leave of 12 months at a time.
Students on Short Courses
Students studying English, or those enrolled on any other short course of 6 months duration or less will normally be granted leave to remain for 6 months at a time. If the course is for over six months, the practice is usually to grant leave to cover the period in question up to a maximum of 12 months.
Prospective Students
A prospective student is a person who intends to undertake studies in the United Kingdom but does not have complete arrangements for their course of study. This category includes prospective student nurses but not postgraduate doctors or dentists, as there is no requirement under the Immigration Rules for such persons to be accepted for postgraduate training. Six months is the maximum permitted period allowed for this purpose.
Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists
It is a requirement of the Immigration Rules that doctors and dentists coming here to take up salaried professional appointments, including research and teaching appointments, require work permits. An important exception to this is that overseas doctors and dentists may come here for postgraduate training in hospitals or the Community Health Services without permits. Such persons are not in permit free employment but are essentially trainees who have no avenue to settlement and who are expected to return to their countries at the end of their training period. Postgraduate training is often referred to as permit free training.
The new training structure for postgraduate doctors and dentists makes a clearer distinction between those doing basic specialist training (Senior House Officer or equivalent grades) and those doing higher specialist training (specialist registrar or equivalent grades). The Immigration Rules have been changed so that they reflect more closely the type of training involved.
Those persons affected by this part of the Immigration Rules fall into 2 categories:
The above categories do not include persons who come here to study at medical or dental schools (such persons are to be treated under the Student Rules), or qualified doctors coming here as visiting doctors of distinction (such persons are treated as academic visitors), or doctors and dentists pursuing training in general practice who would need to qualify under the Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES)
