Apply For Study Visa In Uk

The UK is a great place for international students. In the country, there are many universities of excellent and outstanding quality. A lot of foreign students choose to study in the UK because of the high standards which exist in most competitive courses in the country. With years of accreditation and education excellence, the UK is one of the best training destinations in Europe. 

I am writing this on 21st March, 2017. As you know, UK is leaving EU (Brexit). After Brexit all the rules/law of Britain are going to change. Britain will become a new country after Brexit and there will be lots of changes in the system.  

EU/EEA and Swiss students

• If you arrive in the UK before 31 December 2020, you don’t need a visa.
• If you arrive in the UK on or after 1 January 2021, you might need a visa.
• If you start studying before 31 December 2020 and want to continue studying after 1 January 2021, you will need to apply for a settlement scheme before 30 June 2021.
• Citizens from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein might benefit from the same rules, but they should always check what visa regulations apply to them.

Non-EU/EEA students

Depending on the length of their studies, non-EU/EEA students need to apply either for a Short-Term Study Visa or a General Student Visa (also called Tier 4 Student Visa).

The easiest way to find out if you need a student visa in the UK is to use the online tool on the UK Government website.

3. Find out what type of visa you need to study in the UK

These are the 2 types of visas for which you might need to apply to become a UK student:

• Short-Term Study Visa (available for 6 or 11 months) – for students who plan to study a short language course or take up a short period of research as part of a degree programme.
• Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – for students who enrol in an academic degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD). The Tier 4 Student Visa doesn’t have a fixed period of availability; the length of your studies determines the length of the visa.

4. When and where to apply for the student visa in the UK?

There are two options for getting your student visa in the UK. You can apply at the UK embassy in your country or you can do it online, on the official UK Government website.

Depending on your nationality, you might need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.

Tips about the UK student visa application

• To view the latest up-to-date information about the UK student visa, always visit the official UK Government website.
• Do not postpone your visa application until the last moment. Usually, it takes about 3 weeks to receive the Tier 4 Student Visa. But depending on the place from where you are applying, you should start the visa application process 3 months in advance.
• Make sure you have the certificate of acceptance for studies (CAS) from your university before applying for the student visa.
• Make sure you get all the information before you start the application process.
• Make sure the institution you are applying to is licensed.
• Universities usually have trained visa advisors who are able to answer your questions about the Tier 4 student visa and guide you through the application process.