What types of UK Student Visa’s are available?

There are five different types of UK Student Visa’s available for international students…

• Child student
• Child visitor
• Adult student
• Student visitor
• Prospective student

A Child Student is 4 and 17 years old. If you are between 4 and 15 years old, you must be coming to the United Kingdom to be educated at an independent fee-paying school.

A Child Visitor is 17 years old or under and wants to come to the United Kingdom to do a course of study for up to six months. You will not be able to switch and apply for a child student visa while you are in the United Kingdom as a child visitor. If you want to apply for a child student visa, you must apply from the country you live in.

An Adult student is a student who wants to come to the United Kingdom for their post-16 education.

A Student visitor is 18 years old or over, wants to come to the United Kingdom to do a course for up to six months, and doesn’t want to work while they are here. You will not be able to switch and apply for an adult student visa while you are in the United Kingdom as a student visitor. If you want to apply for an adult student visa, you must apply from the country you live in.

A Prospective student is someone who wants to come to the United Kingdom to help determine which course to study or plans to start a course of study within six months. As a Prospective Student you will be able to switch and apply for an adult or child student visa while you are in the United Kingdom.

16 and 17 year old students applying to come for more than six months

If you are applying to come for more than six months and you are between 16 and 17 years old, you and your approved education provider should agree whether you need to apply for an adult or child student visa. If you will be studying a course below National Qualification Framework level 3, you must apply as a child student. If your course is at National Qualification Framework level 3 (or equivalent) or above and is longer than two years, we recommend you apply as an adult student. If you want to study for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above, you must apply as an adult student.

Applying for an adult student visa

You can apply for an adult student visa if you are coming to the United Kingdom for your post-16 education.

If you are applying for an adult student visa to get a Degree level education or above you may stay for 12 months or more; the full length of the course plus four months after the end of your course. You can also apply for an adult student visa for a degree level education or above that is six months or more but less than 12 months; the full length of the course and two months after the end of your course.
12 months or more
You can apply for an adult visa to study a course to prepare you for study (known as pre-sessional). This is for less than six months; full length of course plus one month after the end of your course.

Short course (not one to prepare you for study) is less than six months and includes the full length of your course plus seven days after the end of your course.

If you are apply for an adult visa to get a below degree level education you are allowed to stay 12 months or more; full length of the course (up to a maximum of three years if you are 18 years old or above) plus four months after the end of your course. You can also get a below degree level education in six months or more, but less than 12 months; full length of the course plus two months after the end of your course.

An adult visa can be obtained to get a Postgraduate doctors and dentists degree on a recognised Foundation programme. This has a maximum of three years; full length of the course (up to a maximum of three years) plus one month after the end of your course.

What do I need to apply?

You need 40 points to be able to apply for a student visa and must provide the proof needed with your application form.

You can obtain points for the proof and documents needed (30 points). Prove you are going to be doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as sponsorship). Visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies issued by your approved education provider, before February 2010 (if you are applying within the United Kingdom) and the documents used to get the visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies. From February 2010 the UK Border Agency will only accept a confirmation of acceptance for studies and will no longer accept a visa letter.

Having enough money to cover your course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance) (10 points). Bank statement or letter confirming that you have enough money available to cover your course fees and monthly living costs for up to one year, at the time you submit your application. If you apply before 1 October you will only need to show proof that you have the money needed, on the day that you apply. However, from 1 October 2009, you must be able to prove that the money you need to apply has been in your account for 28 days before you submit your application. You must also arrange to have your photograph taken and give your fingerprints, which are known as biometric information.

More information about apply for a student visa and the different types of visas can be found at the UK Border Agency website or at free UK placement services such as UKStudy.com and BournemouthEnglishSchools.com.

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