Home to one of the best universities in the world and apart from being an ideal tourist destination, the UK is on the charts of providing the best education to its national and international crowd. Every year, students from almost every part of the world choose the UK as their educational stop. With eras passing now, UK education has only grown to be one of the most talked about.
The interest among international students to study in the UK is visible with the number of students enrolling every year. More than 90 universities in the Kingdom fall under the best universities in the world for higher education and the results are quite obvious too.
With such an emerging crowd, it is important to know how this process works as well. There are two types of visas provided to study in the UK for international students. Here is the description of both:
1. Tier 4 (General) UK Visa: This visa is for those who are visiting the UK for a long-term course, like for a bachelors, masters, or a PhD degree, and for students who belong outside the EU. Anyone over 16 years can apply for a tier 4 visa.
Documents required to apply for a tier 4 UK student visa are:
- Proof of offer letter at a place or course in the UK
- Proof of enough bank balance with the help of bank receipts, slips, and recent statements
- A current and valid passport
- Additional documents like medical reports and other proofs of funding may be required
Those applying for a tier 4 visa and are under 18 will need to provide valid documents and details of a parent or guardian.
Cost of tier 4 general visa
- For an individual, a tier 4 visa can cost about £335 (approx. INR 34820)
- An additional £335 may be required for dependents
In tier 4 general visas, students are given the flexibility to work part-time, extend their stay, and bring family members. In case a student wishes to extend their visa, it can be done while staying in the UK itself.
2. Short-term study visa: A short-term visa is of either 6 or 11 months, depending upon the course a student decides to take.
· A 6-month term is for non-English language courses
· An 11-month term is for English language courses
To apply for a short-term visa, the following are the necessary requirements:
- Proof of acceptance in the UK at a recognized institution or place of study
- Proof of enough bank balance to suffice the entire stay and tuition fee
- A valid and current passport
- Details of the study and stay location
- A letter of acceptance from your institution stating the course name, the study duration, and consolidated cost
- Medical reports may be asked but this varies from country-to-country requirements
The short-term study visa is applicable for students under and above 18. However, if you are under 18, you will need to show valid documents depicting the arrangements for your travel and stay, and valid permission from a parent/guardian along with their valid contact details.
Cost of a short-term visa
- A 6-month visa costs £93 (approx. INR 9530)
- An 11-month visa costs £179 (approx. INR 18339)
Another rule to abide by is that a student cannot work part-time, bring family members, or extend the visa duration on a short-term visa.
Another major requirement of studying in the UK, despite the type of visa applied, is the proof of an English proficiency test for students hailing from non-English speaking countries. Valid scores of an IELTS or a TOEFL exam are required while applying for a UK visa.
Students can apply for their visa 3 months prior to the intended date of visit and can move to the country 1 month before the commencement of their course, provided the course must be for more than 6 months.
A UK student visa can be applied online (here - https://www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk). This process may be a little difficult for freshers. Hence, it is recommended to seek expertise. We are one of the leading overseas education consultants and can help you reach your destination safely. Book a call with us and clear out your queries, if any.
