Visa Information

The following conditions must be met for overseas nationals who wish to study English in the UK.

Who needs entry clearance in order to travel to the UK?

Non-EU passport holders now need a visa to study in the UK.

For short courses of less than 6 months you need a Short Stay Visitors visa. You must apply for this at the British Consulate in your country. With this visa, you cannot work in the UK and you cannot extend your visa in the UK. If you decide you want to continue your studies, you will need to return to your country to process a new visa.

For students from visa countries who wish to study 4 weeks or less, you MAY be able to enter the country as a tourist with full school enrolment documentation and a letter from the school to confirm that you are only studying a maximum of 4 weeks. Contact your local British Consulate or education information for more advice.

For long courses, or if you want to work or extend your student visa in the UK, you need to apply for a Full Student Visa.

Student Visas

To obtain a student visa you must be studying for a minimum of 15 hours per week. Please note: our lessons are 50 minutes long. To comply with visa regulations you must study 20 LESSONS per week.

Please note that if you are allowed to enter the UK as a student for up to six months, you will not be allowed to extend your stay unless you arrived with a Full Student or prospective student visa (not a C1 Student Visitors Visa), or are studying on a course at degree level or higher.

If you entered the UK as a visitor, and you are still in the UK as a visitor, then you will not be allowed to change to student status. This is due to the Immigration Rules Change that came into effect on 3 April 2006.

Please contact your local British Consulate for more information, or check the UK Border Agency website. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Your sponsor, if you have one, may want to read the new information for sponsors.

PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT OFFER CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS.

• IF YOU ARE A VISA STUDENT AND FRAUDULENTLY APPLY FOR A COURSE WITH A CERTIFICATE THAT STATES THAT YOU HAVE A LEVEL OF ELEMENTARY OR ABOVE, AND  WE DISCOVER THAT YOU ARE A  BEGINNER WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT SCHOOL, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS AT EXTRA COST UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO JOIN AN ELEMENTARY CLASS.
• PLEASE BE HONEST! IT IS IN YOUR OWN BEST INTEREST. IF YOU MISINFORM US OF YOUR LEVEL WE WILL HAVE TO REPORT YOU TO THE HOME OFFICE.
  

Students can choose between applying for:

• A Short term Student Visitor’s Visa – valid for a maximum of 6 months.
• A Full Student Visa – valid for a minimum of 6 months.

Important Tier 4 Update February 2010. Please read this new visa information carefully.

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

You will need a visa if you:

• Are a national of one of the countries listed on the Visa and DATV nationals page on this website - www.ukvisa.gov.uk.
• Are stateless (you don't have a nationality)
• Hold a non-national travel document, or
• Hold a passport issued by an authority that is not recognised in the UK

Do you need help to apply for a course and a student visa? Enrol with one of our local agents who can help you with your paperwork and get special discounts.