This visa category is designed for non-British and non-Irish international students who want to take up a short-term course in the UK.
Speak to our immigration advisers about how we can support you with your application today. Call us now or use the online contact form to request a callback.
Since 1 December 2020, Student Visitor Visa holders are only permitted to study on English language courses lasting between six and eleven months.
For other courses lasting up to six months, it may be possible for non-visa nationals to come to the UK on the Standard Visitor Visa.
The Student Visitor Visa is also known as the Short-term Study Visa.
It should be confused with the Student Visa which is a separate visa category.
If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, or you have taken advantage of the EU Settlement Scheme, what you can do on the Student Visitor Visa may vary depending on when you arrived in the UK.
You can only study on an approved course that meets eligibility requirements.
You are permitted to stay in the UK for the duration of your stay plus 30 days, if you can prove that your course lasts less than eleven months.
As well as the visa application fee and the cost of your course, you may also have to pay additional fees (including the healthcare surcharge).
Contact us now or make an enquiry online for more information about your specific queries or application for a Short-Term Study Visa. You can contact us at our London, or Blackburn immigration lawyers, or use the office finder to find the closest branch to you.
To apply for this short-term student visa, you must meet the following requirements:
As well as this, if you are aged under 18 years old, you must ensure that:
To be granted this visa, you must show that you intend to study solely on the course you were granted permission for.
As well as this, you must leave the UK within 30 days after the end of your course. If you fail to do so, you could be at risk of breaching immigration rules which may jeopardise future applications.
You are not permitted to work, undertake a work placement or any form of work experience.
Similarly, you are prohibited from taking on any business or professional activities for the duration of your visa.
To study in the UK on this visa, your course provider must be either an accredited UK institution, or an eligible overseas course provider (if studying in the UK as part of an international course).
It is your responsibility to ensure that your course provider is an eligible accredited institution.
Your accredited institution must hold a valid student sponsor licence or accreditation and be listed by one of the following bodies:
If your course is with an overseas institution, it must meet the following points:
To fulfil the criteria of the Home Office, if you apply for a this visa, your chosen course must meet the following points:
Please note that alongside the Home Office rules, your course provider may require that you meet certain criteria before being accepted on a course.
To apply for this visa, you must apply outside the UK (you cannot switch to this visa) and receive a positive decision before travelling to the UK.
Follow these steps to apply for your visa:
As with all visa applications, you will be required to submit supporting documents with your application to provide proof of your eligibility.
If you are aged under 18 years, you must submit evidence of travel, reception, and care arrangements when you enter the UK.
It may be recommended to take out private medical insurance if you have specialist medical needs.
You must also submit legal written confirmation from both parents or guardians (as well as their contact details) confirming their consent to allow you to come study in the UK.
Some of the most common reasons for a Student Visitor Visa refusal include:
Since the 6 October 2021, it has become possible to apply for an administrative review if your Student Visitor Visa application was refused.
If you wish to apply for an administrative review, you must do so within 28 days of the date of receiving your refusal letter.
If you subsequently receive a positive decision on this, you will not have a refusal recorded on your immigration record, but you are required to declare it on any future applications.
Alternatively, you can re-submit your application, but this means there will be an unchallenged refusal on your application that you are required to declare.
It is not permitted to switch to another immigration category if you are granted a Student Visitor Visa.
Similarly, it is not possible to switch into this category if you are in the UK on another visa.
Another requirement of the Student Visitor Visa is that the UK is not your primary home.
You may be able to return to your home country and apply for a Student Visa is you wish to continue studying in the UK.
The Student Visitor Visa application costs are outlined in the table below:
| Item | Cost |
| Application fee | £200 |
| Healthcare surcharge | £470 |
| Average cost of studying English including course fees and maintenance cost (weekly) | £490 |
| Cost of administrative review application after refusal | £80 |
| Approximate total | £1,240 |
Depending on where your course is, or the type of course, your exact costs may be higher.
The application fee is more expensive than a Standard Visitor Visa lasting six months (which costs £100).
Reach out to us for more information or to see how we can help you?
To apply for this visa category you must:
You cannot switch to this visa in the UK, however, if you want to study in the UK for more than six months you must apply under the new Student Visa system from your home country.
You can leave the UK and apply outside the country.
No, you will not be able to bring dependants with you to the UK on this visa.
However, if you study in the UK using the Student Visa rather than the Short-Term Study Visa, you may be eligible to bring dependants to the UK with you.
At We Manage Your Visas, we can simplify the process of applying for a Study Visa. If you are unsure about which visa type is best for you, or which Study Visa you qualify for, one of our expert immigration specialists can advise you on your best option. They can also guide you through the application process for a Student Visitor Visa and ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Our services include:
Get in touch with We Manage Your Visas by using our online contact form or calling to arrange a consultation with one of our experienced immigration lawyers.
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