The UK welcomes students from all over the world. If you want to study at school or university in the UK and are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you need a Student Visa.
There are two types of Tier 4 Student Visas.
You must be at least 16 years old and:
First degrees, Masters Degrees and Postgraduate study all qualify as courses for the Student Visa. Â
Once you have been offered a place, you will be issued with a 'Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies' (CAS) with a number. You will use the CAS number to make your application for a Student Visa.
Or you can start a new course and get a new CAS if the course is one of the following:
You can bring your dependants - partner and children - with you while you study.
Like the Student Visa, you must be from outside the EEA, have a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies from an independent school that holds a Licence to sponsor Child Students. You must have enough funds to support yourself and pay for your course. The course must be taught in line with the National Curriculum in the UK.
Parents can come with you to the UK but they are only granted up to 12 months' leave at a time and they must not make their main home in the UK.
If you are under 16 years old, you can stay in the UK to study for a maximum of 6 years and 4 months. If you are over 16 years old, you can stay for 3 years and 4 months. Where necessary, you can extend your leave up to these maximum periods.
If you wish to accompany your child while they study in the UK, you must apply separately as the Parent of a Child Student.
At Immigration Legal Services, we have experience of many successful Child Student Applications. We know what the Home Office want to see, and we can advise on whether the educational institution where you wish to study will comply with Home Office rules. We are methodical in gathering evidence and putting together the best possible application so that you can move on to studying in the UK.
If there are hitches or problems with your educational progress in the UK that might affect your immigration status, or if your immigration status is preventing you from studying, come and see if we can help. We like to look for solutions that will work.
We offer a 20 minute free advice session to assess your situation. It's your choice then whether to use our services. If you instruct us, we will tell you what we need from you, draft the application form and legal representations and ensure the evidence for your application is complete and correct. We then submit the application on your behalf and ensure the evidence is safely delivered to the Home Office. Our friendly team are on the end of a phone or email if you need advice along the way.
We work on a fixed fee basis so there is a price for the job - there are no hourly charges.
You can only apply for your Student or Child Student Visa three months before you wish to travel. You cannot apply earlier. The Home Office will give you a decision on your application within 3 weeks or less if you pay for the Priority Service.
You can arrive in the UK any time during the month before the start of your course if the course lasts over 6 months, or 1 week before if your course lasts less than 6 months.
A Student Visa does not lead to permanent settlement in the UK but you can 'switch' into a different immigration category if your circumstances change, for instance if you marry a British Citizen or you get a Skilled Worker job here. A Child Student can switch to a Student Visa.
Yes, you can work in most types of job while in the UK as a student. You cannot be self-employed, you must be employed and you cannot work more than 20 hours per week during term time. There are some restrictions on the type of work you cannot do.
Yes, if you here as a Skilled Worker, you can 'switch' to a Student Visa while inside the UK.
No. The Child Student Visa only applies to independent, fee paying schools.
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