Do you need a visa?
It depends on your passport and on how long you study.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| British or Irish citizen | Nothing. Irish citizens need no visa or permit to study or work in the UK.GOV.UK — Common Travel Area guidance |
| EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with settled or pre-settled status | No visa: your status already lets you study.GOV.UK — Student visa: EU Settlement Scheme |
| Any other passport, course longer than 6 months | A Student visa, with a place from a licensed student sponsor. EU citizens without settled status are in this case too.GOV.UK — Student visa |
| Course of 6 months or less | Come as a visitor: a Standard Visitor visa (£135) if your passport needs one, otherwise an ETA (£20).GOV.UK — Standard Visitor: visit to study; GOV.UK — Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) |
| English language course of 6 to 11 months | A Short-term study visa (£228): no work, no extension, no family.GOV.UK — Short-term study visa (English language) |
Getting a place
The place comes first. You cannot apply for the visa without an unconditional offer from a university that holds a student sponsor licence.
Before you pay a deposit, check two official lists: the university must be recognised, and it must be on the register of licensed student sponsors.
GOV.UK — Check if a university is officially recognised; GOV.UK — Register of licensed student sponsors
From offer to visa
- Accept an unconditional offer
- Take a TB test, if it applies to you
- Hold the money for 28 days
- Apply online
- Wait for the decision
- Receive an eVisa
Money to show
On top of your tuition, you prove you can live: a fixed amount per month, for up to 9 months.
- Course in London
- £1,529 a month
- GOV.UK — Student visa: money you need
- the City of London and the 32 London boroughs
Health
Working while you study
| Your course | Work allowed |
|---|---|
| Full time, degree level or above, at a university | 20 hours a week in term time, full time during the holidays.GOV.UK — Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (ST 26) |
| Full time, below degree level | 10 hours a week in term time.GOV.UK — Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (ST 26) |
| Part time | No work.GOV.UK — Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (ST 26) |
Coming with family
For courses starting since 1 January 2024, only two kinds of students can bring a partner or children: those on a PhD or a research-based postgraduate degree, and government-sponsored students on a course longer than 6 months. Each family member pays the £558 fee and the health surcharge.
The companies and registers for your file
For each need of your file: the official rule, the register that lists the approved providers, and the companies that serve students.
After your degree
The Graduate visa lets you stay and work, with no job offer needed. Its length depends on the date you apply.
Tuition fees
The cap on university fees protects home students. International fees are not capped in the same way in England: each university sets its own price, which can be much higher.
Source: House of Commons Library — Higher education student numbers and fees (CBP-7976)
Not verified
The rules for international fees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.