UK’s system of education is considered unique due to its Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) which is an independent body that assesses and compares universities and colleges in the country through regular audits and reviews. It also identifies the best education practices and provides feedback for areas of improvement. This ensures that the students have access to the best quality of education with no compromise.
Many Indian students prefer to study in the UK because the teaching system goes beyond textbooks and focuses on practical learning which students can apply in their real lives. This increases engagement and helps the students learn concepts in depth.
Required Documents:
When you apply for your student visa you must provide:
- A current passport or other valid travel documentation
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
You may also need to provide:
- proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – this will vary depending on your circumstances
- a valid ATAS certificate if your course requires it
- proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18
- proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18
- your tuberculosis test results
- written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. Read the guidance for the full list of documents you’ll need to provide.
You need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application center. You’ll be told if you need to do this when you apply.
If you’re under 18:
If you’re under 18 you’ll need written consent from both parents or legal guardians (or one parent if they have sole responsibility).
This must include their consent for:
- your visa application
- your living and care arrangements in the UK
- your travel to the UK
You’ll also need to provide a copy of your birth certificate (or another government-issued document) that shows the names of your parents.
For the interview, student needs to take valid documents along with the CAS with them. They will be asked questions like a reason for joining the university, financial plans as well as why they chose the UK.
Students are advised to answer honestly in their application as well as in the interview to avoid any rejection.
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 a short-term study visa. This is valid for 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. 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) 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.
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).
The United Kingdom includes four countries. First let’s start by explaining the distinctions between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Britain.
- UK: United Kingdom is a European country that includes four separate countries on the British Isles: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
- Great Britain is the name for three nations on the main isle: England, Scotland, and Wales
- Britain is used only for including the mainland countries England and Wales
UK Geography
- The United Kingdom is a country in northwestern Europe.
- The UK consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- The UK is located mainly on two large islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
- No location in the UK is further away from the sea than 125 km/ 77 miles!
- The only land border to a non-UK country is in Northern Ireland the border with Ireland.
- The United Kingdom is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon/USA and slightly bigger than Ghana.
- The UK lies on the prime meridian which marks the Greenwich meridian time zone (GMT).
- The landscape is dominated by rolling plains and rugged hillsides.
- The UK has 13 British Overseas Territories, among them are the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula, and Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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