Visas and guidance for international students

The visa and immigration process can be complicated but it is important that you follow the rules correctly, otherwise you may not be allowed to study at your chosen college or could be refused entry to the UK.

For detailed advice you should contact the college you wish to study at or the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your country of residence. The following is intended for guidance only.

If you are not a national of the EEA or Switzerland (see below if you are not sure) you must meet certain requirements if you wish to travel to the UK to study:

If you are a visa national (see the UK visas link below) you will be required to produce evidence that you meet these requirements before you travel to the UK in order to gain “entry clearance” (or “visa”) from the British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission in your country.

If you are a non-visa national you will be required to produce evidence that you meet these requirements at passport control upon arrival in the UK. However, you may wish to apply for an “entry certificate” prior to your arrival. This document may be advantageous in certain circumstances (see below for more details) but there is a charge and you may have to visit the British Embassy or their representative to get it.

If you are a non-visa national, a visa is not compulsory. We recommend that you get optional entry clearance (known as an “entry certificate” rather than a “visa”) in the following circumstances:

What is the EEA?

The EEA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, in addition to the member states of the EU (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK).