Do you need a visa?
If you do not meet one of the following criteria, then it is likely you will need a visa to come to study in the UK or you will have restrictions on what you can do while studying in the UK:
- hold a British or Irish passport
- have indefinite leave to remain and reside in the UK
- hold Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the European Settlement Scheme
Check whether you need a UK visa
There are several types of visa available. Read on to find out which one you need.
Related links
International Student Support self-referral form
For any queries, please complete our self-referral form. We aim to respond within three working days.
If you are studying on a course of six months or less, you can use a Standard Visitor Visa to enter the UK and study for the entire duration of your course.
If you are from a list of countries who are exempt from requiring a visa to enter the UK (e.g EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea and Japan) you will not be required to apply for a visa in advance, if the duration of your studies and stay in the UK is six months or less. There will, however, be restrictions on what you can do during your stay.
For further information please see our guidance on visitor visas.
If you are studying in the UK for more than six months then you will need to apply for a Student Visa.
For further information please see our web pages on applying for a Student Visa from outside the UK or applying for a Student Visa from within the UK if you are renewing your visa.
Studying a course for six months or less
If you will be studying another degree programme after your pre-sessional course, you should apply for a Student Visa.
Even though it is possible to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa for your course, we recommend that you instead apply for a Student Visa. This is because if you come to the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa for your pre-sessional course, you will not be able to switch to a Student Visa in the UK for your Bachelor, Masters or PhD course. After finishing your pre-sessional course you would have to return to your resident country, to apply for a Student Visa, before starting your Bachelor, Masters or PhD course.
If you are not starting a degree course in the UK immediately after your pre-sessional course, then you can instead apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. It is important to note that you will have to leave the UK once the visa expires.
Studying a course for more than six months
You should apply for a Student Visa.
Studying on a course that is included on the same CAS as your Bachelor or Masters course
Your Student Visa will cover your pre-sessional course as well as your Bachelor, Masters or PhD course. You do not need to apply for an extra visa.
If you hold pre-settled or settled status, via the EU Settlement Scheme, you do not need a visa to study in the UK.
To be eligible for the scheme you need to have been living in the UK before 31 December 2020, or be a close family member of someone living in the UK before 31 December 2020.
The deadline for applications was the 30 June 2021 - see the Government pages linked above for details of any exceptions to this.
Related links
International Student Support self-referral form
For any queries, please complete our self-referral form. We aim to respond within three working days.