UK Student Visas

The UK has been a popular destination for students for many years and the number of students choosing to study in the UK continues to rise. The United Kingdom offers a wealth of high class educational institutions many of which date back hundreds of years, and British degrees are recognised around the world as high quality prestigious qualifications. Whether you’ll be studying at the oldest and most recognisable institutions in the UK, Oxford and Cambridge among them or one of the UK’s many newer universities, a UK degree can provide a powerful selling point on any CV.

The United Kingdom offers a vibrant multi-cultural society and students benefit from the ability to work limited hours to supplement their income. To find out more about UK study visas and to begin your application, visit the Global Visas online assessment area today.

The Benefits of a UK Study Visa

UK student visas offer a range of benefits, not least the possibility of working up to 20 hours per week alongside study, and the chance to work longer hours in vacation periods. Although a student visa does not grant the right to live and work in the UK on a permanent basis, candidates may switch to a longer term route to permanent residency in the UK, known as Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR). Successful graduates may switch into an immigration service such as the International Graduate Scheme (IGS) which in turn may allow them to remain in the UK on a skilled visa application, or to obtain a work permit if they secure a job offer.

In the first instance a student visa is granted for 12 months, however a UK visa extension can be obtained as necessary in order to cover the duration of the applicant’s course.

Applying for a UK Study Visa – Eligibility Requirements

The UK student visa is based upon a sponsoring institution and like a UK work permit, student visa applications require a UK based organisation to sponsor the candidate. All student visa applicants must have an offer of a place on a course of study in order to apply. The course must be a full time course of study and the sponsoring body must be an internationally recognised UK educational institution.

All student visa applicants must be able to support themselves in the UK and must also be able to financially support any dependents joining them in the country. An applicant’s spouse may join them in the UK for the same duration however, this does not extend to common-law or conjugal partners, and dependents will only be allow to work in the UK where the main applicant’s course duration is more than one year.

The Student Internship Visa

Student Internship visas are a short term initiative which allow non-UK students to temporarily relocate to the UK in order to undergo a short period of employment. The internship visa requires sponsorship in the same manner as a UK work permit, and although its duration is only three months, it does permit an applicant to switch into a longer term UK visa category once in the UK if they meet the requirements of that category. The internship visa allows the spouse or partner of an applicant to join them in the UK although they will not be permitted to work.

Students must be studying for a degree outside the UK and must be sponsored by a UK firm. Internship visas are valid only for the sponsoring employer and may only be obtained once. It is not possible for a single applicant to obtain more than one internship visa. Qualifying positions must offer equal remuneration to that which would be offered to a UK citizen or UK permanent resident and must be at or above NVQ level 3.

The International Graduate Scheme (IGS)

The IGS Scheme for international graduates allows non-UK nationals to remain in the UK for a period of one year after graduating from a UK educational institution. To apply, a graduate must have completed their course within the 12 months before submitting their application and the IGS applies only to candidates graduating with a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification.

The IGS is intended to give the candidate a period of one year in which they may live and work in the UK and secure a longer-term UK visa such as a Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Visa (HSMP) or a work permit by obtaining a job offer in the UK. The IGS makes provision for spouse and dependent immigration however this only applies where these dependents are already present in Great Britain on a UK dependency visa. Where dependents are outside the UK at the time of the IGS application, they must apply for separate UK entry clearance.

Postgraduate Doctor Visas and Postgraduate Dentist Visas

The UK offers specialist visas for postgraduate doctors and dentists which allow medical students to move directly into postgraduate study. Once in possession of a postgraduate doctor visa or postgraduate dentist visa, granted for three years, a candidate may ultimately be able to switch into a permanent UK immigration visa category. Applicants must be registered with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council and must be able to demonstrate this during the application process.

The Global Visas online assessment area makes it easy to find out whether you qualify for a UK student visa and to begin your application. Just take a few moments to complete one of our online student visa forms and a specialist UK immigration consultant will respond to your enquiry.