Student Visa

How to Come to the UK to Study

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.

Student Visa

You must be at least 16 years old and:

  • have been offered an unconditional place on a course with an educational body that holds a Licence to sponsor students from overseas
  • can read, speak and understand English to a sufficiently high level
  • have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances

First degrees, Masters Degrees and Postgraduate study all qualify as courses for the Student Visa.  

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.

If you apply from within the UK, you can only get a new CAS if you are:

  • resitting exams or repeating modules
  • applying for the first time to a new institution to complete a course you started at an institution that lost its Student sponsorship licence
  • applying to extend your stay to complete your studies because you’ve done (or want to do) a work placement or study abroad programme
  • completing a PhD or other doctorate that you started studying under your last Student visa
  • applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer to complete a qualification you started studying under your last Student visa
  • continuing your medical, dentistry or medical science degree after completing an intercalated course

Or you can start a new course and get a new CAS if the course is one of the following:

  • at a higher academic level than your previous course
  • at the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations - it must be degree level or above at a Higher Education Institution (HEI)
  • intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under a Student visa

You can bring your dependants - partner and children - with you while you study.

Child Student

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.

Parent of a Child Student 

If you wish to accompany your child while they study in the UK, you must apply separately as the Parent of a Child Student.

Working with us

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.

How does the process of making a Child Student Visa application work?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a place at Exeter University for a three year degree course. If I apply for a Student Visa, can I work while I am in the UK?

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.

I have been in the UK as a Skilled Worker for two years but I am about to lose my job. Can I switch to a Student Visa?

Yes, if you here as a Skilled Worker, you can 'switch' to a Student Visa while inside the UK.

Can I come to study at a state school in the UK?

No. The Child Student Visa only applies to independent, fee paying schools.

Get in touch
How to Come to the UK to Study
Find out more about Tier 4 Student Visas. Call or email us and we can discuss your intentions and find the right options for you.
Contact us
  • Sallie was an amazing help and supported us through the full process. It was extremely difficult for us, and she helped make the whole thing very simple and ensured our application was successful. Thank you to Sallie and the team for the work you did tirelessly to help us.
    TB
  • For almost a year I had tried to get my wife's spousal visa. Two tries, two fails due to technical reasons. I contacted Immigration Legal Services, and Sallie & Angela took control of my wife's visa application. They were very supportive, told us exactly which documents were needed, and just over a month later, the visa was issued. We can't thank them enough.
    RG
  • We couldn't praise Sallie and her team high enough. Extremely professional and acted very fast to meet our deadline. 100% recommended!
    Mr E
  • Always thorough and highly professional throughout the application process for both my children, and I would definitely recommend! They also had a welcome sense of humour when it came to dealing with the bureaucracy involved in the process.
    Mr B
  • Great experience working with Sallie. Professional and understanding! Will work with her again, with no doubt.
    Ms L
  • We have been very impressed with the service we have received over the years of dealing with Angela. She went above and beyond to solve our specialised problem with very pleasing results. We would strongly recommend her work and knowledge in the field. A true professional.
    Mr Aldalis
  • I highly recommend Sallie for her professionalism and lovable, kind approach. I am very happy to get her as my immigration lawyer for processing my kids Visa.
    Shiva K
  • I highly recommend both Angela and Karen. They both have been amazingly helpful throughout the visa application process of my wife. They do truly care for their clients. They look at the case in reasonable time periods and return with any missing information rapidly. Consulting them during this exciting yet stressful process was the best decision that I made. Today my wife got granted the visa just after 5 weeks of her biometric scans.
    Mr Yazici
  • They are so honest and professional . Clear answers and guidance to all my questions đź‘Ťđź‘Ť. Thanks a lot .
    Mr Khalil
  • Just received a decision from the Home office that I would’ve NEVER thought was possible. So happy and over the moon! I would definitely recommend your services to friends & family if required in the future. Huge thanks to Sallie and the team, best immigration solicitor in the business!!
    Mr Bamba
  • Angela Cole is a wonderful, hardworking, honest, kind and reliable Solicitor. Her work is very high standard, very professional and her team is friendly. Me and my husband have no hesitation in recommending Angela Cole's excellent services.
    Ms Small
  • "Simply a team of experienced people who gave us excellent and honest advice. Having now taken an appeal through to a successful conclusion for the (very reasonable) price promised, I have no hesitation in recommending this firm."
    Jon Chrimes - Google Review
  • "The team went an extra mile and fought my case much more and much better than I would have expected. In the end, my case was successful and I cannot thank them enough for all they have done. If I ever need legal help in the future I will definitely use their services again and recommend them for their reasonable prices, supportive advice and first rate legal services."
    ANONYMOUS - Google Review
  • "Excellent people, excellent service. They made the process of bringing my husband to the UK painless. Couldn’t have done it without them, highly recommend!"
    Lindy Pine - Google Review
  • "I am ecstatic, thanks to you all. My life is complete now and anything else is a bonus. Even if it seemed impossible I knew we were going to win this and that is why I never gave up. Thank you for your work, support and encouragement."
    MRS. Last
  • A BIG THANK YOU , for your help in helping me acquire my British settlement and British citizenship application successfully done. Your professionalism and kind warm attitude and nature made this process very easy and stress free. You took all my concerns away. 

    My Lawyer, Sallie Davies, is very knowledgeable and competent and I have implicit trust in her. The fees are also reasonable compared to other law firms. I highly recommend Sallie and her team.
    MRS. H
  • Thanks to Sallie, my wife is finally in the UK after a horrible year and long delays with Home Office. Highly recommended Immigration Legal Services! 
    MR. B
  • Angela Cole and everyone at Immigration Legal Services will work to produce the best outcome for you and, from our experience, they only concern themselves with your goal and not your wallet. Immigration Legal Services' charge was a very good price for all the help and security they provided
    MR. C
  • Despite the high professionalism practiced within the firm, there is always a strong sense of compassion , and care, from both Angela, and lovely Karen, which has really helped to set our minds at ease. Absolutely recommended & Eternally grateful
    Ms. f
  • I would like to thank both of you, Sallie and Karen for your assistance in the way you handled my wife's Spouse Visa Extension to remain here with me in the United Kingdom. We will recommend The Immigration Legal Services here in Ipswich to anybody who wants to apply for a visa to come or remain here in the United Kingdom because the service they provided proved to be most reliable, simple and quick process. Much appreciated Sallie and Karen. Thanking you once again. We will be back again.
    Robert
  • Excellent service, Sallie is very professional and lovely. Thanks to you what we thought it will be a long and exhausting experience, was so smooth and fast we couldn't believe it. Thank you very much.
    Mrs T
  • We engaged this firm based on a recommendation made by a friend who had used their services before. We required their assistance for my wife's first renewal of her spousal visa. The process was quite painless, they got in touch to collect documents and go over details but most communication was done by email. We received the renewal without any issues.
    BL
  • Sallie was the best solicitor I've met for immigration matters. She was straight to the job, focused on the matter and had an excellent transparent work process, a reasonable fee and no hidden charges. She is very helpful, confident and had the best communication. We got our parents' visa in one go! Thank you very much for the excellent job.
    email

Useful Information

The Great Immigration System Digital Switch: Act Now!

September 11, 2024
Read More

EU Settlement Scheme: Updates To Pre-Settled Status

June 10, 2024
Read More

Immigration Fraud Advice: Tricks & Scams To Watch Out For

June 3, 2024
Read More
Let us help you
Take a look at our services and get in touch with us today for more information.
Contact us today
© 2020 Immigration Legal Services. All rights reserved.

A Mackman Group collaboration - market research by Mackman Research | website design by Mackman

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram