Visa letter:Adult student

The visa letter is an official offer letter which the education provider gives you. You must provide the visa letter with your application form as part of your documents and proof. It shows that you are studying a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider and are able to get 30 points.

The visa letter should contain the following information:

• This should say 'general student' or 'adult student'
• Your name (as shown on your passport if applicable)
• Your nationality
• Your passport or travel document number (optional)
• The approved education provider's also known as sponsor's sponsor licence number
• The education provider's address (if different from the letterhead)
• Contact details for the education provider (if different from the letterhead)
• The name and address of any partner institution where you will be studying as part of the course
• The name and address of the overseas higher education institution, if the time you spend in the United Kingdom studying is part of an overseas higher education course
  The course titleThe academic level of course or qualification you will get when you complete the course
• The start date (the date you start your main studies, or the date you start an induction or course to prepare you for study if you have an unconditional offer to do your main course)
  The expected end date
• The latest date you can join the course (optional)
• The number of hours per week (optional if studying a full-time degree course that leads to a United Kingdom recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree)
• The address of your main place of study, if different to the approved education provider's main address
• The address of any organisation offering you a work placement, if known and applicable
• Course fees for the first year, or the length of the course
• Course fees that you have paid so far (if applicable)
• Accommodation fees that you have paid so far (if applicable)

Documents used to get the visa letter :

A list of evidence that your approved education provider used to assess your academic ability to finish the course, which may include:

• The level or type of your existing qualification (if applicable)
• The qualification awarding body and/or institution (if applicable)
• Confirmation that an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate is needed (if applicable)

Student Visa: Tier 4- Child

This section explains how an child student can apply for a student visa under tier 4 of the points-based system:
You can apply as an child student if you are coming to the United Kingdom to study a course at National Qualification Framework level 3 or above, Here you will find information on visa cost, application form, study visa extension and eligibilty for Tier 4 student visa.

check out related information on:

• UK VISA: Complete procedure
• Sponsoring a Student
• Student Visitor

Child student:
If a child is 16 or 17 years old and wants to study a course at National Qualification Framework level 3 or above, they can agree with their approved education provider that they will apply either as an adult or as a child student. A 16 or 17 year old wanting to study for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above must apply as an adult student. See Applying for an adult student visa for more information on how to apply as an adult student.

Who can apply?

The child student visa is for children between four and 17 years old who are coming to the United Kingdom. Children between four and 15 years old can only apply if they are going to study at an independent fee-paying school.

How much does a student visa cost?

The student visa application fee depends on where you apply from:
Inside the United Kingdom by post - £357
Inside the United Kingdom at a public enquiry office (PEO) - £565
Outside the United Kingdom - £145

What application form should I use?

If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom, you should use the Tier 4 (general) application form, If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, go to our Application form page

How long can the child come for?

The length of time a child will be allowed to come for depends on how much time they are asking for and the length of their course. The length of time needed should be agreed with the child's approved education provider and stated in their visa letter.

The maximum time we allow is as follows:
Age of child at the time of application --Maximum time a child can come for
Under 16 years old -------------------------- The full length of the course, upto 6 yrs+4 months
16 or 17 years old --------------------------- The full length of the course, upto 2 yrs+4 months


What does the child need to apply?

Points for Visa letter and Maintanace fund:

A child needs 40 points to be able to apply for a child student visa, and must provide the proof needed with their application form.

Points --- 30
What you gets points for --- Doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as sponsorship)
Proof and documents needed --- Visa letter from your approved education provider, and if the child is aged 16 or 17, the documents they used to get the visa letter (if applicable)

Points ---10
What you gets points for --- Having enough money to cover child course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance)
Proof and documents needed --- Bank statement or letter confirming that there is enough money available to cover child's course fees and monthly living costs for up to one year, at the time you submit your application.

The child's parent or legal guardian must be able to prove that the money needed has been in their account, or in the child's account, for 28 days before the application is sent to embassy.
The child's parent or legal guardian must also make suitable care arrangements for where the child will stay while they are in the United Kingdom, and must be able to send documents and proof to show this. A child can:

• stay at a residential boarding school;
• stay with a private foster carer or close relative;
• stay with a parent, if the parent is coming with a child under 12 years old; or
• live independently if they are 16 or 17 years old.

Visa letter for child students:

The visa letter for child student is an official offer letter which the education provider (sponosor) gives you. You must provide the visa letter with your application form as part of your documents and proof. It shows that you are studying a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider and are able to get 30 points.

How much money does the child need?

The money that the child will need includes course fees and monthly living costs. The amount of money needed will depend on the length of the course and the child's living arrangements while they are in the United Kingdom.

1. Care arrengement: Studying and boarding at a residential independent school

Money needed: Boarding and course fees for 1st yr

2. Care arrengement: Private foster care arrangement or staying with a close relative

Money needed: School fees for one year and confirmation from the intended carer that they have £500 a month for up to nine months to look after and accommodate the child

3. Care arrengement:One child coming with a parent or legal guardian

Money needed: Course fees for the first year and £1,333 a month for upto 9 months to cover gardian cost and child living cost

4. Care arrengement: Two children coming with a parent or legal guardian.

Money needed:All course fees for the first year and and £800 a month for upto 9 months to cover the guardian's living costs and £533 a month for each child, for up to nine months, to cover the children's living cost

5. Care arrengement: A 16 or 17 year old studying in London:

Money needed: Course fees for the first year (or for the length of the course, if it will last nine months or less) and £800 a month for up to nine months to cover living costs.

6. Care arrengement: A 16 or 17 year old studying outside London

Money needed: Course fees for the first year (or for the length of the course, if it will last nine months or less) and £600 a month for up to nine months to cover living costs

ID cards and biometrics:

Your identity card is proof of your permission to stay in the United Kingdom and shows any conditions you must meet while you are here. It helps your approved education provider see what you are entitled to.

The card enables you to confirm your identity, what rights you have to study or work here and to access public services.

If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom, you will have to apply for an identity card for foreign nationals.You must have your photograph taken and give your fingerprints, which are known as your biometric information.

If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, you will have to check with local visa application centre to see what biometrics you need to give.

Acceptable course the child can do courses that:

• are taught in line with the National Curriculum; or
• are taught in line with the National Qualification Framework (NQF); or
• follow a curriculum that is recognised by Ofsted (England), the Education and Training
  Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (Scotland) or Estyn (Wales); or
• are taught in line with current (prevailing) independent school education inspection standards.

Student Visa: Tier 4-Adult

This section explains how an adult student can apply for a student visa under tier 4 of the points-based system:

You can apply as an adult student if you are coming to the United Kingdom for your post-16 education. Here you will find information on visa cost, application form, study visa extension and eligibilty for Tier 4 student visa.

check out related information on:

• UK VISA: Complete procedure
• Sponsoring a Student
• Student Visitor

Adult student:
If you are 16 or 17 years old and want to study a course at National Qualification Framework level 3 or above, you can agree with your approved education provider either to apply as an adult or child. Those studying for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above must apply as an adult student. See Studying as a child for more information on how to apply as a child student.

How long can I come for and how long will it be extended?

Type of course --------Length of course ----- Length of stay allowed

Degree level or above --- 12 months or more ------The full length of the course + 4 months
Degree level or above ----6 -12months ------------The full length of the course +2 months
Pre-sessionalCourse -----Less than 6 months ----- The full length of the course + 1 month. Short course ------------ Less than 6 months ----- The full length of the course + 7 days.

Below degree level ------ 1 - 3 years -------------- The full length of the course +4 months Below degree level ------ 6 - 12 months ----------- The full length of the course +2 months Postgraduate doctors ----Upto of 3 years ----------The full length of the course +1 months and dentists

How much does a student visa cost?
The student visa application fee depends on where you apply from:

Inside the United Kingdom by post - £357

Inside the United Kingdom at a Public Enquiry Office (PEO) - £565

Outside the United Kingdom - £145

What application form should I use?
If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom, you should use the Tier 4 (general) application form, which you can find on the right side of this page.
If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, go to our Application form page

What do I need to apply?

Points for Visa letter and Maintanace fund:

You need 40 points to be able to apply for a student visa and must provide the proof needed with your application form.

Points --- 30

What you gets points for --- Doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as sponsorship)

Proof and documents needed --- Visa letter from your approved education provider, and the documents used to get the visa letter

Points ---10
What you gets points for --- Having enough money to cover your course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance)
Proof and documents needed --- Bank statement or letter confirming that you have enough money available to cover your course fees and monthly living costs for up to one year, at the time you submit your application.

Money needed:
The money that you need includes course fees and monthly living costs. The monthly living costs needed depends on where you are studying.

Length of course----Where will study -------------- Money needed

9 months or less ------In London -------Course fees + £800 for each month of the course

9 months or less------Outside London --Course fees + £600 for each month of the course

More than 9 months --In London -------First year of fees+£7,200 to cover the first year in UK

More than 9 months --Outside London--First year of fees +£5,400 to cover the first year in UK

Visa letter for adult students:

The visa letter for adult student is an official offer letter which the education provider gives you. You must provide the visa letter with your application form as part of your documents and proof. It shows that you are studying a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider and are able to get 30 points.

ID cards and biometrics:

Your identity card is proof of your permission to stay in the United Kingdom and shows any conditions you must meet while you are here. It helps your approved education provider see what you are entitled to. The card enables you to confirm your identity, what rights you have to study or work here and to access public services.

If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom, you will have to apply for an identity card for foreign nationals.

You must have your photograph taken and give your fingerprints, which are known as your biometric information.

If you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, you will have to check with local visa application centre to see what biometrics you need to give.

What do I need to apply for extension?
You need 40 points to be able to apply for a student visa for your extension and must provide the proof needed with your application form. and your extension will be depending on length of your current course as it is mentioned in the above table.

Points ---30

What you gets points for --- Doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as sponsorship)

Proof and documents needed --- Visa letter from your approved education provider, and the documents used to get the visa letter

Points ---10

What you gets points for --- Having enough money to cover your course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance)

Proof and documents needed --- Bank statement or letter confirming that you have enough money available to cover your course fees and monthly living costs for up to one year, at the time you submit your application

You must be able to prove that the money you need to apply has been in your account for 28 days before you submit your application.

Sponsored students extension
If you are in the United Kingdom as a postgraduate doctor or dentist or as a student and are being sponsored, or if your sponsorship ended in the last 12 months, we must receive consent from your sponsor to give you permission to stay. If your sponsor does not give this permission, we will refuse your application. If you received private sponsorship during your studies, we do not need your sponsor's consent. You should send an original letter from your sponsor giving us their consent for us to allow to you stay in the United Kingdom.

Studying in the UK

This section includes a number of quick guides for students applying for a visa to come to the United Kingdom to study:

16 and 17 year old students applying to come for more than six months You and your approved education provider should agree whether you need to apply for an adult or child student visa. If you will be studying a course below National Qualification Framework level 3, you must apply as a child student. If your course is at National Qualification Framework level 3 (or equivalent) or above and is longer than two years, we recommend you apply as an adult student. If you want to study for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above, you must apply as an adult student.

Check out related information on:

• Sponsoring a student.
• Visa letter for adult student
• Visa letter for child student
• Student Visa: Tier 4-Adult
• Student Visa: Tier 4- Child
• UK VISA: Complete procedure

Types of student visa:

Child student : You can apply as a child student if you are between 4 and 17 years old. If you are between 4 and 15 years old, you must be coming to the United Kingdom to be educated at an independent fee-paying school.

Child visitor: You can apply as a child visitor if you are 17 years old or under and you want to come to the United Kingdom to do a course of study for up to six months. You will not be able to switch and apply for a child student visa while you are in the United Kingdom as a child visitor. If you want to apply for a child student visa, you must apply from the country you live in.

Adult student: You can apply as an adult student if you are coming to the United Kingdom for your post-16 education.

Student visitor: You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over, you want to come to the United Kingdom to do a course for up to six months, and you do not want to work while you are here.You will not be able to switch and apply for an adult student visa while you are in the United Kingdom as a student visitor. If you want to apply for an adult student visa, you must apply from the country you live in.

Prospective student: You can apply as a prospective student if you want to come to the United Kingdom to help you decide which course to study or if you plan to start a course of study within six months.You will be able to switch and apply for an adult or child student visa while you are in the United Kingdom.

This is for an adult student and child student who wants to apply for a student visa under tier 4 of the points-based system:
Adult students
Child students