Studying in the UK can offer you a rich academic experience, not to mention a worldwide-recognized degree that will open many doors for you. This is why many students opt for studying in the globally recognized institutions in the UK, but the process for getting the visa is not simple – or fast. This is why we created this guide – to help you go through the process faster and easier and make your dream to study abroad in the UK a reality!
What do you plan to study in the UK? You need to decide on this before you apply since your application will depend on your choice. The UK has over 160 universities and over 240 colleges, which include vocational courses of different lengths. They also have conservatoires for students of performing arts, where you can receive practical training and individual tuition.
The other question to ask yourself is how you plan to pay for your education. Is it a scholarship? Is it a study grant? Or will you cover the expenses on your own?
If your plan is to continue your education after college or obtain a PhD in the UK, your best option is to apply for a study grant. Scientists who wish to study in the UK write and defend their own thesis, and then apply to study for their PhD or other form of higher education in the UK. Of course, whether you will receive the grant will depend on your student performance so far, as well as the quality of your thesis. To ensure that you get the best dissertation possible, you might want to consider getting professional dissertation writing help from the best writer online.
If your plan is to get a scholarship to cover your education, you might want to start applying for it ahead of time, so you can use the confirmation from the university to apply for your visa afterward.
Once you have decided what you want to study in the UK, the next step is to determine what type of visa you need to get. Generally speaking, there are three types of visas students get:
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Typically, your UK student visa will permit you to live and study in the UK for a selected period – usually two to five years, depending on what you choose to study. You might be able to bring your children and partner with you as part of the family members’ allowance, but only if you are studying for a research postgraduate degree.
Most of the international students in the UK are permitted to work in selected jobs while they study, but this is limited to 20 hours a week. If you have enrolled in a part-time course, you cannot work in the UK.
Applicants for a UK visa must be 16 years old or over to apply for a visa. A visa does not allow you to:
Now, these are all the general eligibility criteria and rules, and your specific conditions and type of visa might come with other restrictions as well.
The UK visa application process for colleges and universities is very competitive. At an undergraduate level, the applications are processed through UCAS i.e. the University College Application System. On the website, you can find all the deadlines listed for the following year for courses at universities, colleges, and other institutions.
Here is how the student visa application works:
Universities and colleges have their own requirements in terms of how much they cost, when you need to apply, and what grades you need to have to be eligible to study there. Check if the school of your choice recognizes your qualifications, including your degrees, grades, and awards.
They will most likely request that you send them some written content, too, such as a personal statement and an essay. If you want to ensure that yours is flawless and captures your attention in a pool of many applicants, you can always ask for help from an expert essay helper. Remember – many students apply to study in the UK, so you need the best chances you can get!
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Once you receive an unconditional offer from your school, and you accept it, the school will send you a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies or CAS, which costs £25.
Your application process can begin once you have the CAS. You can apply for a UK student visa up to six months before the start of the course. The application fee is around £490 and you’ll need your passport for the application. If you are from an EU country, you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your phone to complete this stage of your application.
As part of the application, if you study in the UK more than six months, you need to pay an HIS, which is £776 a year. The amount depends on how long you’ll be staying in the country.
Unless English is your native language, you need to take a test to prove you have the skills to complete your UK course. Some exams you can take are:
Did you already get a student visa application approved? Now it is time to start planning your travel to the country. Book your flights, start looking for housing, and register with your university to get orientation information. You can also apply for a student bank account online or in-person, and apply for student discounts on transportation.
Have a great time in the UK!
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