Travelling outside the UK
If you are travelling abroad, for example on holiday, and you are planning to return to the UK to continue your studies, you will again have to satisfy the Immigration Officer at the port of entry that you meet the requirements for entry to the UK as a student.
Before you travel abroad you should:
- check that your passport is not going to expire while you
are away. If it is, you should apply for a new one in good
time before your date of travel.
- check that you have evidence that you are a student enrolled
on a full-time course (the International Office can provide
you with a letter); and evidence that you have enough money
to support yourself.
- check your remaining period of Leave to Enter/ Remain.
If you are on a course which is less than six months and
your Leave to Enter is for six months, you will require a
multiple entry visa from your country of origin. If your
Leave to Enter/Remain is for a period of more than six months,
you do not require a new visa to re-enter the UK.
- Check whether you need a visa to enter the country you intend to visit or any country through which you will be passing. You should consult the Embassy or High Commission of the country concerned.
Visiting Europe
A Schengen Visa will allow certain visa nationals to travel freely for up to three months between a number of EU states as long as they obtain a visa to enter one of the countries and actually enter via that country. Countries currently included in the agreement are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Embassy or Consulate of that particular country. You apply at the Embassy or Consulate responsible for the state where you live. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country which is your main destination. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country which is your first point of entry.
For advice on visa issues, please contact Student Support Services at student-supp@gold.ac.uk.
This information can also be found by downloading our Guide for Guide for new international students [PDF format].