Student visa for uk from australia
Finding information about studying in the UK as an Australian abroad can be difficult, but thanks to our experience over here at Touriago.com we’ve compiled this guide to help you be more successful at gaining a student visa.
If you are a citizen of Australia and want to study in the United Kingdom for a limited time, you will need a student visa to enter the country. This is a visa that allows you to study at an authorized educational institution in the UK and remain there for the duration of your studies. If you have questions about studying in this country, visit British Council.
While you may not view Australia as a major player when it comes to education, the whole affair of obtaining a student visa for UK from Australia or studying on a student visa in Australia is an important one. The thing about student visas and study abroad is that most of us are uninformed about how to go about it and what the requirements are. If you are looking into obtaining a student visa for UK, you need to know the right steps to take to get one.
The first step in your adventure is to complete the visa application. The following manual will provide you with the steps you need to take for a successful application. It will walk you through the process of applying for a student visa to study English in the UK as an Australian.
Introduction
The UK is a common destination for Australians looking for a study abroad opportunity. You’ll find world-renowned universities, stunning landscapes and a fascinating history. Australia and the UK share close links in terms of language, culture and heritage. However, there are some important differences that you need to know about before you start planning your academic adventure. This guide will help to get you started on the path to studying in the UK.
The UK is a common destination for Australians looking for a study abroad opportunity. The country offers students many benefits, from its low cost of living and high-quality education to its rich culture and diverse population.
Students who choose to study in the UK can expect diverse academic programs at some of the world’s leading universities. Graduates are highly sought after by employers in many industries, including banking, finance, consulting and law.
In addition to studying at an internationally recognized university or college, students who want to work while they’re in the country may also be able to find employment through an employer sponsorship program like Tier 2 General or Tier 4 Student visa (subclass 594).
Are you an Australian student planning to study in the UK?
- If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, then you do not need a visa to study in the UK.
- If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, then depending on your situation, you might need a visa to study in the UK. Your status will be determined by proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay and proof that there is adequate housing for your stay (more than one night), among other things.
- The UK offers plenty of financial support for international students.
- If you’re from Australia, there are a number of scholarships available to help fund your studies in the UK.
- You can apply for Student Finance England if you want to study at an English university or college. This will cover tuition fees and living costs during your time at university, via a loan that must be repaid after graduation.
- Low income families may be eligible for bursaries and grants through the Education Maintenance Allowance program (EMA), which helps with basic living expenses while you study such as rent, food, travel and books.
You may need a visa to study in the UK, but size of your course will affect this decision.
If you are planning on studying in the UK, then it is important to know that there are a few different visa options available. If your course is shorter than 6 months then you may not need a visa at all, but if it lasts over 6 months then this will affect whether or not you need a student visa.
If you are on an undergraduate degree course, then this means that the whole of your degree will take more than 24 weeks to complete.
You may be able to live and work in the UK after you graduate, which is a fantastic way to start your career.
Your qualifications may help you to live and work in the UK after you graduate, which is a fantastic way to start your career.
If you have a degree from an overseas university you may be able to apply for a work visa if:
- You have been offered a job that qualifies as skilled employment by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Skilled employment requires at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification. Examples of jobs that qualify include accountants and chemists; however there are many other types of skilled employment which are not listed here. To find out if your job qualifies as skilled employment, visit the UKBA website (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov) or contact them directly on 0300 123 2241/2249.* Your employer has submitted an application form on your behalf using their sponsor licence number and supporting documents outlined on Schedule 2A of the Points Based System (PBS) rules.* Your employer has secured sponsorship for Tier 2 General Migrant Workers in line with PBS rules.* The visa application process takes around four months from start to finish so it is worth contacting an immigration adviser before submitting your application
Getting a student visa for the UK from Australia is an incredibly difficult and expensive process. In fact, many students from Australia are discouraged from studying in the UK because of the difficulties they face in obtaining a visa. However, this doesn’t have to be your experience!
Our team at touriago.com can help you navigate this process with ease. We have experience working with students from around the world who are seeking entry into British universities and colleges. Our team can walk you through every step of the process, ensuring that you get what you need to study in Britain successfully and affordably.
Whether you’re looking to attend one of the top universities in London or Edinburgh or one of the smaller schools on the outskirts of major cities like Manchester and Birmingham, we’ll help ensure that your application is successful.
Are you looking for a student visa for the UK? If you are and are from Australia, then you may want to consider applying for a Tier 4 Visa. This visa is designed specifically for international students who wish to study in the UK. It allows them to stay in the country for as long as they are studying at an approved educational institution.
The following documents are required when applying for this type of visa:
-Passport valid at least three months beyond date of entry into the UK;
-Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself while studying (you can find out how much money is required by reading our article on “What is the cost of living in London?”);-Evidence that you have enough money to return home after your studies (the amount varies depending on where you live);-Evidence that your university or college has been approved by the British Home Office;
UK Study Visa Description
There are two student categories under Tier 4 of the points-based system:
- Tier 4 (General) Student Visa – This visa category is for students coming to the UK for higher education. The applicant must be at least 16 years old.
- Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa – This visa category is for children between 4 and 15 years of age coming to the UK for their education. Children between 4 and 15 years can only be educated at independent fee-paying schools.
If you are enrolled in a bachelors degree program or higher at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies’, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week for (Tier 4 General) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays.
Also, read about student visas for study abroad and student visa for prominent international study destinations:
Latest update
The UK Home Office has formally opened its new post-study work visa (graduate route visa) for international students. This will officially allow Indian and other international students to stay in the UK for work after completing their study courses.
The Graduate route is designed in such a way that international students who have earned their degree from a recognized university in the UK to stay here and look for work for at least two years.
Reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa
The UK government has announced the reinstatement of the two-year post-study work visa (Graduate route) for international students. The new immigration rules will benefit those international students who are planning to pursue their higher studies in the UK starting from 2020-21. Candidates who began their education in autumn 2020 or in spring 2021 will need to be in the UK on a student visa by September 27, 2021. Also, students who are going to start their studies later this year or early next year need to be in the UK by April 6, 2022.
Read: UK Post-Study Work Visa (Graduate route) Rules Relaxed for International Students
Cost of Visa
The fee for the Tier 4 General Visa is £348 (Approx. Rs 33,349). The methods of payment are stated below.
- Online using either a MasterCard or Visa card.
- Through demand draft at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
- Through Cash at the visa application center and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
Documents required for a UK Study Visa
UK Student Visa Requirements: Applying for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents in comparison to a tourist visa, by comparison. Aspirants need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. Make sure you refer to the UK Student Visa checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
You should have the following documents before applying:
- A completed student visa application form
- A letter of acceptance on the course – Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS) and a visa letter which are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. The applications where the visa letters are older than six months will be refused.
- Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
- Proof of funds – The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and also whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28 day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.
Want to study in the UK? Find out whether you need to apply for a UK student visa, and how the application process works.
UK visa requirements and general immigration criteria are managed by UK Visas and Immigration, which has an easy-to-navigate site to help you determine whether you need a UK student visa. While Swiss nationals and those from the EU/EEA states do not currently need a visa to study in the UK, all other international students are likely to need one.
The result of the UK’s referendum on membership in the European Union (‘Brexit’) has led to some uncertainty over visa regulations, but the UK government has stated that there will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens until 2021.
Types of UK student visa
If you’re studying a short course and are over 18 years old, you may be eligible for the short-term study visa. This is valid up to six months for most short courses and can be extended for a stay of up to 11 months for English language courses.
If you’re studying a longer course, you’ll need to make sure your chosen institution holds a Tier 4 Sponsor License. You can either apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa (if you’re aged 4-17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK) or a Tier 4 (General) student visa for those aged 16 and over.
UK student visa requirements
Your course provider may be willing to help you to apply for a UK student visa once you have been offered a place on a course; ask to find out if this is the case. You can apply for the visa up to three months in advance of the start date of your course. Check the average visa processing times for your country, and be sure to allow plenty of time.
UK student visas are awarded on a points-based system. In order to meet all the UK student visa requirements, you’ll need to provide:
- Details of your passport
- A recent photograph
- An unconditional offer of a place on a course offered by a licensed Tier 4 Sponsor, evidenced by a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) form from your course provider (worth 30 points)
- Proof of adequate English language skills, demonstrated by passing one of the secure English language tests (SELT). You will not need to provide this if you’re from an English-speaking country such as the United States or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in an English-speaking country.
- Proof you have financial support throughout your stay in the UK (worth 10 points)
- If you’re a non-EU/EEA/Swiss student studying a sensitive subject, you may also need an ATAS certificate
Proof of financial support can take the form of bank statements or a letter from your financial sponsor, showing you can cover your tuition fees, accommodation and living costs. You must prove that you have £1,015 (~US$1,300) per month for living costs if studying in the UK outside of London, and £1,265 (~US$1,600) a month for living costs if studying in London.
You may also be required to produce documents showing your academic qualifications, and to attend an interview or biometric test, which includes a digital scan of your fingerprints. Depending on your country of origin, you may also be required to have certain medical vaccinations or undertake a tuberculosis test.
If you’re 16 or 17 years old and applying for the Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must have written consent from your parents/guardians that you can live and travel independently.
You must apply online for the Tier 4 (General) Student visa, ensuring you’ve read the full guidance here. You can apply up to three months before the start of your course.
UK student visa fees
The current fee for the Tier 4 (General) student visa is £348 (~US$440), with an additional £348 fee per person for any dependents. You’ll also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £150 per year (~US$190) in order to access the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay (this will rise to £300 (~US$380) from late 2018).
The Short Term Study Visa costs £97 (~US$120) for the six month option and £186 (~US$240) for the 11 month visa.
Streamlined visa processes for master’s students at 27 universities
You can now apply for streamlined visa processing to study a master’s degree at one of the 27 eligible universities (listed here), as part of a new Tier 4 Pilot scheme. Your course will need to be 13 months or less and you can apply from inside or outside the UK. The pilot scheme allows you to stay longer after the end of your course (you can stay for six months after you’ve finished your studies) and also means that you won’t need to submit documents showing your academic results or proof of funds. However, you will still need to have these documents to hand in case they are needed, and will still need to follow all the other immigration guidelines.
Using your UK student visa
When you enter the UK, a UK Border Agency officer will put a stamp on your passport that states the duration of your stay in the UK. For example, if your course is 12 months or more, you can stay for the full duration of the course plus an additional four months. You cannot extend your stay beyond this period.
Before you arrive, you must make sure you are fully immunized, remembering to pack your immunization record in your hand luggage in case you are asked to show the Border Agency officer at your UK port of entry. You should also carry the documents relating to your studies (including your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies or CAS number), your proof of finances and your proof of accommodation.
Depending on where you’re from, you may also be required to register with the police within seven days of arrival in the UK.
Working while studying in the UK
All EU, EEA and Swiss students can work while studying in the UK. Students of publicly funded higher education institutions on Tier 4 student visas can work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during Christmas and Easter breaks (unless you are aged 16 or 17, in which case the maximum is 10 hours per week during term time).
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand the process of applying for a student visa in the UK as an Australian citizen. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us for further advice on how to plan your study abroad experience in the UK.