1. Countries who require a Student Visa

First of all, you need to see if you require a visa.. For those who don’t know, students who are non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals must seek permission to study in the UK. The application regulations for all of non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals are the same.

If you find yourself in this criteria,  let’s continue.

 

2. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

After getting accepted by your university, you should receive your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the university.
 

For the CAS, you need to provide all your previous degrees, your IELTS results and confirmation of payment of your current course fees.

In order to make it valid for the application, it should be used within six months of being issued.

 

If the CAS is expired, your application will be refused. Having a valid CAS does not guarantee a successful application. A CAS cannot be used more than once, so if your application is declined, you should request a new CAS.

 

“When I applied for CAS I think I made everything wrong, because I didn’t take it serious. I have applied for it very late and therefore it took me more than two weeks to obtain it.” - Drin Morina, 20, Albania

 

3. Bank documentation

After you sort out your CAS, you should make sure you have your correct bank documentation.

You must provide evidence that you have paid your course fees in full or at least a part of it. There should also be a specific amount of money for living costs, which could be in your or your parents’ bank account.

 

If you are planning to go for a sponsorship letter from one of your parents, then you would have to provide a reference from your parents' work with their income statements, or a letter from your parents confirming you have permission to use their funds. Don’t forget a birth certificate proving your relationship, as well.

 

The money needed for maintenance depends on the length and location of your studies.

 

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).

 

“After I  finished university in Moscow I decided to continue my masters in Regents University. I thought that it won’t take a lot of time and enjoyed my summer holidays, but when I arrived it appeared that I don’t have enough time to organize all the bank documents and I would miss the deadline, so the university had to move my studies until January.” - Umka Mugutdinova, 22, Russia

 

4. Tuberculosis Certificate

If you are planning to study in UK for more than six months and you have been presented in Appendix T of the Immigration Rules you should provide a tuberculosis certificate. The list of clinics where you can get the certificate should be provided by your local UK embassy.

 

5. Application form and the place of staying

Congratulations if you have made it to this stage, because you are more than halfway through!

After doing everything listed above, you should register on gov.uk, fill in the form and select the date of your application. By this time, you have to make sure that you have all the documents listed above:
- copy of your passport
- copy of your  passport photos 35x45 mm

- copy of filled application form
- place of your stay.

Keep in mind that sometimes applicants are required to book a biometrics appointment, or interviewed.

 

“When I was researching how to get a visa, there was barely any information on how to go through the biometrics appointment and in-person submission. I didn’t have all the documents I needed, let alone copies of all of them! So I ended up spending a lot of money using the printer they had at the centre in Jakarta. It was a nightmare.” - Claire Chung, 22, USA

 

6. Biometric Residence Permits (BRP)

After your application form,  there are only a couple steps left.

For applicants applying for entry clearance to come to the UK for more than six months, you will apply for a BRP at the same time as you apply for entry clearance. If your entry clearance application is successful, you will be given a temporary visa in your passport which would be valid for 30 days. This will allow you to enter the UK.

You must then collect your BRP from the Post Office branch you select as part of your application no later than ten days after your arrival in the UK.

 

7. Police Registration

Finally, within the first 28 days of your stay,  some applicants should register at the nearest police station. In order to do this you have to make an appointment either online or at the police station and then come on the required date and time with your passport and BRP card.

 

We hope that these simple rules will make your life easier and your application successful. And just a small tip before you go:  try to do all of this in advance of three months before the start of your studies or you would risk to be late or either miss it.

 

 

 

Words: Anna Samonova | Subbing: Taylor Paatalo