Gain a world-class education: UK higher education offers you inspiring teaching, excellent facilities and a world-class research environment. The benefits of a UK higher education will stay with you forever. With outstanding research and teaching facilities, plus globally recognised qualifications on offer, UK education sets you on the path to success. There are thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to choose from and there is lots of support while you study in UK.
Do I need to fulfil English eg. IELTS to study in the UK?
If English is not your first language, an IELTS for UKVI score of 5.5 or equivalent is normally required. Again, if you don’t have the required English language skills, most of the University offer several short English for Academic Purposes pre-sessional courses.
How much money do I need to keep in my bank account and for how many months?
To apply for Tier 4 student visa you must show that you have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs.
Course fees
If you are starting a new course, you must show that you have enough money to pay for your course fees for the first year of your course or for the entire course, if it is less than a year long.
Living costs
You must have enough money to support yourself whilst studying in the UK. The monthly living costs that you will need to show will depend on where you will be studying in the UK.
You must show that you have:
• £1,265 per month for living costs if you are studying in London for the majority of your study (more than 50% of your study time);
• £1,015 per month for living costs if you are studying outside London or anywhere else in the UK for the majority of your study (more than 50% of your study time).
How many months’ money must I have?
At least 28 consecutive days from the latest date of the bank statement.
You must show that you have money for your living costs for each month of your course, up to a maximum of 9 months.
For example:
If you are studying outside London or elsewhere in the UK on a course for more than 12 months and have paid your course fees in full. The amount of maintenance you would need to show would be £9,135 (£1,015 for 9 months).
If you are studying in side London on a course for more than 12 months and have paid your course fees in full. The amount of maintenance you would need to show would be £11,385 (£1,265 for 9 months).
Do they accept 3rd party sponsor?
You can use money held in an account owned by you or by your parents or legal guardian.
The evidence of money that you use must be:
• Cash funds in the bank (this includes savings accounts and current accounts even
when notice must be given); or
• A loan letter (the loan must be provided by your national government, state or regional
government, or by a government sponsored student loan company or be part of an
academic or educational loans scheme); or official financial or government sponsorship
available to you.
Can I work while I study in the UK?
Yes. The main purpose of the Tier 4 visa route is for you to come to the UK to study.
Where you are permitted to work, the intention is that this should be to supplement your income whilst studying.
There are limits on your working hours that depend on the type of course you study and what type of sponsor you are studying with.
A course at degree level (QCF or NQF level 6 (and equivalents)) or above sponsored by a UK recognised body or a body in receipt of public funding as a higher education institution are allowed to work 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations.
A course below degree level (QCF or NQF level 6 (and equivalents)) sponsored by a UK recognised body or a body in receipt of public funding as a higher education institution are allowed to 10 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations.
Courses at any level at a publicly funded further education college or private provider are not allowed to work.
Can I bring my partner and/or children with me?
Only new students sponsored by an HEI on a course at NQF level 7 or above lasting 12 months or more, new government sponsored students following a course that is longer than six months and Doctorate Extension Scheme students will be able to bring their partners and/or children (also known as dependants) to the UK with them.
Is my dependent allowed to work while I study in the UK?
Yes. Your dependants will be able to work if you are either: a government-sponsored student taking a course that is longer than six months or taking a postgraduate course of 12 months or longer at a publicly funded Higher Education Institution or a 'UK recognised body'.
If you do not fall into one of the categories described above, your dependants will be able to work only if you are applying for leave for 12 months or more and your course is at degree level or above.
Dependants who are allowed to work can take any type of employment or self-employment, except:
• They must not work as a professional sportsperson, which includes being a sports coach (this only applies to a partner if the application for their current immigration permission was made on or after 6 April 2014, and it only applies to a child if their application for their current immigration permission was made on or after 19 November 2015)
• A partner must not work as a doctor or dentist in training (although there are some special exemptions to this, described in paragraph 319D(b)(iii) of the Immigration Rules).
Can I extend my visa for a new course or further study while I am in the UK?
Yes. You will be able to stay longer to continue your course or study a new course (ie. After completion of bachelor moving to masters or masters to DBA, MPhil/Phd) but you must:
• Meet the eligibility requirements of this visa
• Be in the UK
• Have a sponsor
Who can sponsor you?
You can only apply to extend your leave to study if your current or new sponsor is:
• a higher education institute (HEI)
• an overseas HEI
• an embedded college offering pathway courses
• an independent school
You must include your dependants in your application if they’re on your current visa, including children who have turned 18 during your stay.
Do I need any health/travel insurance for Tier 4 visa application?
For visa applications made outside or from within the UK, you’ll have to pay Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) if:
• you’re a national of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA)
• you’re applying for a visa to work, study or join your family in the UK for more than 6 months (but you’re not applying to remain in the UK permanently)
• you’re making an immigration application for any length of time, including applications for 6 months or less (but you’re not applying to remain in the UK permanently)
Travel or medical insurance is not mandatory for Tier 4 visa application. Even if you have a private medical insurance you will still need to pay the IHS fee.
Can I get my visa fee refund in case of visa refusal?
Simple answer is NO.
The reason for this is the fact that the fee is a processing fee. This means once your application has been processed, the fee is not refundable, irrespective of the outcome of your application.
Can I get my IHS fee refund in case of visa refusal?
Yes. You don’t need to do anything to get an IHS refund- it’s automatically paid to the account or card you paid with. You’ll get a full IHS refund if:
• you paid twice
• your visa application is refused
• you withdraw your visa application
You’ll get a partial IHS refund if your visa application’s successful but:
• you get less time on your visa than you asked for
• any dependants on your visa application are refused
You won’t get a refund if your visa application’s successful but you don’t come to the UK or you leave before your visa ends.
