Information for applicants on obtaining your student visa
DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE UK IF YOU WISH TO STUDY WITHOUT OBTAINING A STUDENT VISA. IF YOU ENTER THE UK UNDER A VISITOR VISA OR A STUDENT VISITOR VISA, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SWITCH THIS TO A STUDENT VISA WITHOUT RETURNING TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY.
Introduction
All international students from outside the EEA need to obtain immigration permission to enter the UK, (commonly called a student visa). The UK government has introduced a new Points Based System for Immigration which has several ‘Tiers’. The Student Tier (Tier 4) came into force on 31 March 2009.
The UK Border Agency has produced a video to explain how to apply for a General Student visa. This video is available in the following languages: English, Arabic, Cantonese, Korean, Madarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Click here for the Your Guide to the New Student Visa Video.
The Points Based System for Immigration aims to simplify the process and make it more transparent for those who use it. As with any major new system, the first operational year may present some minor problems, as both the Government and users navigate the new system and release more information and clarification.
This briefing aims to explain the process in a straightforward manner. Ultimately it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with all the requirements of the Immigration Rules for Tier 4, The Immigration Rules and Policy Guidance for Tier 4 are available on the UK Border Agency website. You can also download the Tier 4 Policy Guidance here.
In the meantime we will be updating our guidance here - so make sure you check back here as we will update these pages with new information as it becomes available.
Further advice and guidance is also available from:
International Group (formally UKVisas)
Your Local British Council Office
What is Tier 4?
Tier 4 has two categories of student visas:
Tier 4 (General) Student
For people coming to the United Kingdom for their post-16 education.
Tier 4 (Child) Student
For children between the ages of 4 and 17 to come to the United Kingdom for their education. (NB those aged between 4 and 15 may only be educated at independent fee-paying schools).
The information on this page is relevant for those coming to the UK under Tier 4 (General Student). If you will be aged under 18 when you make your immigration application please contact the Advice Team at Student Support Services for advice.
Are you eligible to come to the UK under Tier 4?
Under Tier 4 you must score 30 points for a valid Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and 10 points for maintenance (funds). More information on CAS and maintenance fund requirements can be found below.
Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (30 Points)
Under Tier 4 you must have a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), issued by a licensed sponsor, before making an application. This sponsor is the university where you will be studying as your visa is linked to your sponsor. The CAS is a unique identifier which will usually be sent to you in an email by Goldsmiths once you have an Unconditional Firm place on the programme of study you've applied for.
In order to receive a CAS from Goldsmiths you must have satisfied all of the conditions of your offer and have accepted your offer as your first [firm] choice.
We often say that you have achieved Unconditional Firm [UF] status.
Your CAS must be issued no more than six months before the date of your visa application. An application with a CAS older than six months will be refused.
Remember, having a CAS does not guarantee a successful visa application. You will still have to show that you meet all the requirements of the Immigration Rules, including the maintenance requirement, when you apply.
Maintenance funds (10 points)
Under Tier 4 you must evidence that you have sufficient funds to pay for your tuition fees and living costs.
The money you need to show must cover your tuition fees for your first year of study and your living costs (for up to a maximum of nine months).
Students studying in London must show that they have sufficient funds to pay for their first year of tuition fees in full, plus £800 per month for living costs.
If you wish to bring your dependants with you to the UK you will need to evidence an additional £533 per dependant per month.
Maintenance (funds) can be demonstrated by you showing:
- you have official financial sponsorship or Government sponsorship, and/or
- you have the cash in a bank that they can draw on, or a loan in your name
If you are being sponsored in full (tuition fees and living costs) by an ‘official sponsor’ you will need to provide written evidence from your sponsor to confirm this.
If you are being sponsored by an ‘official sponsor’ but only in part, your official sponsor must state exactly what is being paid and you must evidence that you have sufficient funds to meet the remaining costs.
The Tier 4 Policy Guidance defines an ‘official sponsor’ as
- “Her Majesty’s Government,
- your home government,
- the British Council or any international organisation, company or university”.
If you have already paid all or part of your fees, when you make your Tier 4 application, you must evidence how much you have paid already and that you have sufficient funds to pay any outstanding balance.
There are very specific rules concerning the type of supporting evidence you can provide as evidence that you meet the maintenance requirements for Tier 4. Please see the Tier 4 Policy Guidance for details.
How do you make your application?
From outside the UK
If you are outside the UK you will need to apply for entry clearance under Tier 4 to come to the UK as a student. Please go to the International Group website (formerly known as UK Visas) where you can find the Points Based System application form (VAF9) and relevant appendix self assessment form and more information on how to fill them in.
To apply as a General Student you will need to complete the Points Based System application form (VAF9) and PBS Appendix 8 General Student Self Assessment Form
If you will be aged under 18 when you make your immigration application please contact the Advice team at Student Support Services for advice.
You should not travel to the UK without entry clearance under Tier 4 if you wish to study. You may be refused entry and it will not be possible for you to switch into Tier 4 from within the UK.
Applying from inside the UK
If you are already inside the UK please contact Student Support for advice on applying to extend your current student immigration permission under Tier 4 or ‘switching’ into Tier 4 from a different immigration category.
Please be aware that you can only switch into Tier 4, from within the UK, from the following immigration categories:
- Student, including student immigration permission granted before and after 31 March 2009
- Prospective student
- Student re-sitting an examination
- Student writing up a thesis
- Student nurse
- Students' Union sabbatical officer
- Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) migrant
- International Graduates Scheme, Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme or Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme participant
- Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) migrant.
- Work permit holder.
If your current immigration permission to be in the UK is not one of the above categories then you will not be able to switch into Tier 4 from within the UK. You will have to leave the UK and apply for entry clearance under Tier 4.
If you will be aged under 18 when you make your immigration application please contact the Advice team at Student Support Services for advice.
What documents will you be required to submit?
You must ensure that you provide all of the necessary supporting documents at the time you make your application. Only the documents specified in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance will be accepted.
If you do not provide the specified documents, UKBA will not contact you to ask for them and your application may be refused. However, if the UKBA do ask you for clarification or further information on any issue, you must respond within their deadline or you risk having your application refused.
Any documentary evidence that you provide must be the original (not a copy). Please see the Tier 4 Policy guidance for more information:
Where a document is not in English, the original must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator. This translation must include details of the translator’s credentials and confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document. It must also be dated and include the original signature of the translator.
UKBA will only need evidence that is directly relevant to the application, as set out in their guidance. Unrelated evidence is not considered when calculating the points score.
UKBA will undertake a series of verification checks on all documents to make sure that they are genuine and to identify fraudulent applications.
Changes to Approved Course of Study or Sponsor whilst in the United Kingdom
A student visa under Tier 4 is linked to a specific university and course. So, if you come to Goldsmiths under with immigration permission under Tier 4 and then want to take up a different course of study with a new sponsor; or to stay with Goldsmiths but change your approved course of study, you may need to make a new immigration application. If you fall in to this category you should contact the Advice Team at Student Support for advice.
What if I am doing a pre-sessional course?
A pre-sessional course is an intensive English language course or any other short course which prepares you for your main course of study at Goldsmiths.
You may wish to, or be required to, undertake a pre-sessional course immediately prior to starting your substantive full-time course of study at Goldsmiths.
The Goldsmiths pre-sessional courses all meet the requirements of Tier 4.
It is likely that you will only be granted entry clearance for the pre-sessional course. Once you have successfully completed your pre-sessional course you will need to complete a new immigration application under Tier 4, from within the UK and submit a new visa letter for your substantive course.
You should be aware that this is no guarantee of the subsequent application being successful. You will need to evidence that you meet all the requirements for an extension of stay under Tier 4. Please contact the Advice Team at Student Support for information and advice on applying to extend your Tier 4 Immigration Permission.
You will only be granted immigration permission to cover both the pre-sessional and substantive course if Goldsmiths are delivering both the pre-sessional course and the substantive course and your offer for the substantive course is unconditional.
Routes outside the points based system
Prospective Students
Applicants who have not yet finalised their plans for study may apply for immigration permission as a ‘prospective student’ (prospective student visa). Applications for prospective student visas must be made from outside the United Kingdom.
This visa allows a prospective student to come to the United Kingdom to visit a number of education providers from whom they have received offers of a place to study and to decide, whilst here, which offer they intend to take up.
Once they have made their decision, prospective students can switch into Tier 4, from within the UK, provided they obtain a visa letter from their chosen sponsor, submit all the specified documentation required, and meet all the requirements of the Immigration Rules for Tier 4.
Entry clearance as a prospective student can be granted for a maximum of six months and you will not be given conditions which allow you to work.
Please see the International Group website for details on the relevant application form and guidance to use when applying for entry clearance as a 'prospective student'.
Student Visitor
I am coming to Goldsmiths for less than six months – should I use the Student Visitors route?
The student visitor route is aimed at students, aged 18 or over, who wish to undertake a short-term course of study of up to six months in the United Kingdom and who have no interest in the full student visa entitlements.
You may still choose to apply under Tier 4 (General) Student for a course that is less than six months if you would like to be entitled to the full student visa entitlements.
At Goldsmiths we would suggest that even if you are eligible to come to the UK as a student visitor, you actively come under the Tier 4 (General) Student route. We make this suggestion because as a Student Visitor you will be given permission to enter the UK for a maximum of six months and you will not be able to extend your stay. Also, as a Student Visitor, you will not be allowed to do any work (paid or unpaid). Please be aware that it is not possible to switch from ‘Student Visitor’ to ‘Tier 4 (General) Student’ from within the UK.