Study at Cardiff | International

Visa information

If you are coming to the UK to study, you will need a visa. The visa you need depends on several factors including the length of your stay and what you wish to do when you are here.

While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, immigration regulations are subject to (often sudden) changes and the information provided here is therefore a guide only. You should check the UKBA website for up-to-date information and please contact us should you have any questions.

Most study abroad students can apply for one of the following two types of visa. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Student visitor visa

It is slightly easier for study abroad students to apply for a student visitor visa, because there are more restrictions on this visa and conditions attached to your stay in the UK. For example, you:

• cannot stay for more than 6 months - therefore if your study abroad programme is longer than 6 months you will need a Tier 4 visa (below)
• cannot work or volunteer
• cannot extend your stay in the UK under any circumstances
• cannot bring your family with you to the UK

If you are a visa national, you must obtain your student visitor visa from a British Embassy in your home country before you travel to the UK. To view the list of visa nationals see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/.

It is possible for non visa nationals to apply for their student visitor visa when they arrive at Heathrow or Cardiff airports. However we strongly recommended that you apply for the visa in advance of travel in case of any problems/missing paperwork at the airport, as this could result in you being refused entry into the UK.

You are a non visa national if you do not fall within the list of visa nationals.

Students who enter the UK via the Republic of Ireland without previously obtaining a student visitor visa from their home country will not be given a student visitor visa on arrival. This is because you will not encounter any UK Border Force officers, which means that you will not be able to apply on entry for a student visitor visa or under any other visa.

However, even though there is no record of this in your passport, you will automatically be given permission to enter and study in the UK, but for 3 months only from the date of entry. The conditions of entry into the UK are that you do not undertake any work (paid or unpaid) and that you leave the UK after 3 months.

To find out more about applying for a Student Visitor visa and the full list of conditions, see the information on the Student Support Centre webpages.

Tier 4 student visa

You need to submit more documents and financial evidence to obtain a Tier 4 visa, but there are less conditions attached to your stay in the UK. For example, you can:

• stay for the entire length of your study abroad programme whatever the duration.
• undertake part-time work and volunteer.
• extend your visa under some circumstances but not into a visitor or student visitor visa.

You have to apply for a Tier 4 visa before you leave your home country.

To find out more about applying for a Tier 4 visa and the full list of conditions, see the information on the general international students webpages.