Students

This is intended as a guide to people wishing to come to the UK to study.

How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom to study?

You must show that you have been accepted on a course of study at:

• a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education (for example, a university)
• a private-education institution or
• an independent fee-paying school;

and that you are going to follow:

• a recognised full-time degree course;
• a course run during the week that involves at least 15 hours of organised daytime study a week; or
• a full-time course of study at an independent fee-paying school

You must also:

• be able to pay for your course and support and accommodate yourself and any dependents or help from public funds; and
• plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your studies

If you are a visa national, you will need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. If you are not a visa national, you will find it helpful to carry documents with you which will show immigration officers that you meet the requirements for entering the United Kingdom as a student.

What are public funds?

If you come to live or stay in the United Kingdom, you must be able to support and accommodate yourself without claiming certain state benefits. These are:

• Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Housing and homelessness assistance
• Housing Benefit and Council tax benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• a social fund payment
• Child Benefit
• Attendance Allowance.
• Disability Living Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Child Tax Credit

Can I extend my stay as a student?

If you are already studying here, you can apply to extend your stay as a student subject to meeting the requirements of the Rules.

If you are a visa national, you will need a student or prospective student visa in order to stay on in the UK as a student.

If you are a non-visa national you will need a student or prospective student entry clearance in order to stay on in the UK as a student to study a course below degree level if you wish to study a course at degree level or above then you will not need an entry clearance.

Extensions for short courses

From 1 October 2004, the maximum overall permitted period of stay for a student on successive short courses below degree level is 2 years. A short course is now defined in the Rules as 'a course of less than 1 year's duration or longer courses broken off before completion'. This applies to visa nationals and non-visa nationals. There are no transitional arrangements for this provision.

How do I apply?

You will need to complete an application form. Applications will not be valid unless they are made on the appropriate application form.

To apply for further leave to remain you should use form FLRL(S).

The application form will give you details of all the documents you will need to send with your application and where you should send it. You must apply before your current leave expires.

All documents should be originals unless you have a good reason as to why you cannot produce them with your application. The Home Office will not normally accept photocopies.

Am I allowed to work?

You may take part-time or holiday work but you must not:

• work for more than 20 hours a week during term time, unless your work placement is part of your studies and your education institution agrees
• do business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer
• work full time in a permanent job.

Can I bring my husband or wife and children with me?

Your husband or wife and any of your children under 18 can come to the United Kingdom with you during your studies as long as you can support and accommodate them without help from public funds.

Is my husband or wife allowed to work?

Your husband or wife will be allowed to work if you were given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for 12 months or more.

Can I stay to work after graduating?

Graduating students can now formally switch into work permit employment within the UK. UK businesses can now obtain a work permit on behalf of an international student graduating from a UK educational institution without the need for the student to first return home. Graduate students, student nurses and postgraduate doctors and dentists can benefit from this policy.

The conditions for in-country switching into work permit employment are:

• Students:
  • has completed a recognised degree course at either a UK publicly funded further or higher education institution which maintains satisfactory records of enrolment and attendance; and
  • holds a valid work permit for employment; and
  • has the written consent of any government or international scholarship agency sponsor.
• Student nurses and postgraduate doctors and dentists:
  • holds a valid work permit for employment as a nurse, doctor or dentist; and
  • has the written consent of any government or international scholarship agency sponsor.

Although every effort is made to ensure the information in this page is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law and does not constitute legal advice - we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences. The information in this page is written for people resident in, or affected by, the laws of the United Kingdom only.