APPLYING FOR STUDENT VISAS

As soon as you receive your acceptance letter form us, you must contact your nearest British Embassy or Consulate to apply for a study visa.  A fee is payable to the Embassy for the visa, approximately 85GBP, payable in your own currency.

Preparing for your visa interview
When applying for a study visa at a British Embassy or Consulate, you must prove to the Immigration Officer/Entry Clearance Officer that:

You have a definite offer for a full time course (minimum 5 hours per week study) at a genuine education institution.  Take your acceptance letter with you.

You must explain why you have the ability to follow the course, take your educational certificates with you; you must show that you intend to follow the course.

The chosen course must represent a logical progression from your previous course and there must be a relationship between this course and any proposed further courses you take in the UK and with your chosen career or your current employment*.

You have enough money to stay in the UK, ie. for tuition fees and living expenses.  Living expenses are calculated to be around 6000GBP per year.  You need to take with you to the interview bank statements or a sponsor’s letter and bank statements if you are not paying for your own study..

You may not ask for public funds when in the UK (but if your course is for 6 months or more you can register with the National Health Service).

You must not have to work to pay for your stay, although you may be permitted to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week, provided it does not interfere with your studies.

You must calculate the cost of tuition fees, accommodation (between £50-=£95 per week, depending on meals), travel (a rail and bus ticket is about £60 per month), food, entertainment etc and prove you can afford it.

You must convince the Entry Clearance Officer that you will leave the UK at the end of your studies that you will either return to your home country to take up work, or go to another country for further study or work.

General Advice:
Your interview will be thorough, prepare well.  If you come through an agent, they will help you prepare.

Have your answers to the following questions ready:

Take all your documentation with you, if you forget something you may have to make another appointment or the decision may go against you because of missing papers.

Accommodation:
It is not essential when you go to get your visa to have accommodation planned in the UK, but it is in your interest to consider this before your interview, ie. do you have friends to offer you accommodation (bring a letter form them confirming this) or do you want the college to find this (we can confirm we will find you accommodation once you have your visa)?  Think about the cost of accommodation a room with a family about 50GBP, with meals 95GBP; shared flats with your friends about 35-45GBP, depending on whether electricity and other bills are included or not.  The cost of accommodation is not included in the tuition fee.

Visa Refusal
If you are refused a visa, you will be given written notice of the reasons for the refusal, together with instructions on how to appeal – note there will be a time limit to this.  If you have applied for a prospective students visa, or your course is for less than 6 months, you have no right to appeal, but can expect written explanation and you can make a further application.