Student visa

Find out more about eligibility, required documents and everything you need to do before and after receiving your Student Route visa.

A Student Route visa allows international students, including those from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, to study in the UK.

Who should apply?

Students aged 16 years or over who meet both financial and English language requirements, who are coming to UAL to study:

• A full-time degree or degree-level course (e.g. BA, MA, PhD).
• A part-time postgraduate course at RQF level 7 or above (e.g. MA or Postgraduate Diploma).
• A further education course (e.g. Foundation Diploma).
• A pre-sessional course.
• An English language course (at level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Conditions

• How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK. Full-time students can work a limited number of hours. Part-time students can't work.
• Full-time postgraduate research students may be able to bring dependants (family members).
• The University must report to the UK Government if you do not enrol or do not attend your course.

Apply

You can apply from a country in which you are legally resident (e.g. your home country), or from the UK if you are eligible.

To be able to apply, you’ll need your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from the university.

You should prepare your application carefully and ensure you understand all of the requirements to a successful visa application. Misunderstanding the financial requirements is the main reason for student visa refusals.

Read our visa guides

If you're applying from outside the UK:

• Understanding the process and requirements (PDF 1.37MB)
• Student visa guide to the online application (PDF 3.97MB)

If you're an EEA or Swiss national, you will not need to submit biometric information at a Visa Application Centre as described in our guide. You will use the UK immigration: ID Check app on your phone to scan your biometric passport. Your visa will be issued as a digital immigration status which you can view online. Please contact us if you need further advice.

If you're applying from inside the UK:

• Understanding the process and requirements (PDF 1.31MB)
• Student visa guide to the online application (PDF 3.68MB)

Document check service

The Student Advice Service can check that your visa-supporting documents meet the Home Office requirements. If a mistake is found in your document, this must be corrected before you pay for your application. At peak periods it will take up to 5 working days to receive feedback on your documents.

Please email student.advisers@arts.ac.uk with all the following documents and wait for our feedback before submitting your visa application online.

1. A copy of your CAS statement
2. A copy of your passport and current UK visa (if applicable)
3. Financial documents including any necessary parental evidence
4. A copy of your qualifications listed on your CAS
5. Please state the country where you will submit your visa application
6. A copy of your part completed visa application (up to the 'Declaration' section)
7. Your Student ID number

Getting a CAS

Attend your classes and inform UAL about absences

Let us know if you can't attend classes. UAL must report continued unauthorised absences to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

If this happens, your visa will be cancelled and you'll have to leave the UK.

Keep your passport safe

If you lose your passport, you must contact your embassy to apply for replacement.

Changes to your studies

You must leave the UK on or before the date that your visa expires. It is a criminal offence to stay in the UK after your visa expires. See the UKCISA website for more information.

Please note that if you left the country after the end date of your course as shown on your CAS, Border Force officials will need to be satisfied when you are re-entering the UK that you will either complete the activity you intend to carry out and leave the UK before your visa expires, or that you will submit an in-time application to extend your leave in the UK. You should carry any documentation relevant with you when you travel to show to the Border Force officer if required.

If you have a CAS to start another course and you wish to return to the UK to apply for a Student visa for that course, you should seek advice from the Student Advice Service.

If you submit a valid, on time application, you can stay in the UK while a decision is made on your application. This happens if you completed a BA course and applied for an MA course, or if you are about to start a job. Learn more about visa options after completing your course.