UK Student Visas

Thousands of international students study in the UK each year, making studying in the UK the number two choices for international students in the world, second only to the USA. The UK has excellent higher-education system and world-class universities in a country embedded rich in history. The UK Immigration service offers a range of study visas.

UK Student Visa Benefits

Candidates who hold a student visa may be able to switch into another UK visa, such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) or Tier 1 or 2 UK work permit, which may lead to the opportunity to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, and ultimately to apply for UK Citizenship. A UK student visa does not constitute the right to live and work in the UK, however in some circumstances, students may be able to supplement their finances by undertaking limited work. Students may work for up to 20 hours per week and may be able to work longer hours in vacation periods.

UK visas for students are generally granted for an initial period of one year, however there is no set duration and the permit can be renewed as required in order to complete the course of study.

UK Study Visa Eligibility

The key requirement for study visas is that a genuine offer from a UK sponsor must be in place. In the same way that UK work permits require an offer of employment from a UK employer, applicants who wish to apply for a UK study permit must have an offer of a place on a course of study at a recognised UK educational institution.

All applicants must be pursing a full time course and must be able to finance him or herself and any dependents throughout their time in the UK without public funding. Although an applicant may bring his or her spouse to the UK, in the student visas category it is not permissible to be accompanied by a common-law or conjugal partner. A spouse will be granted the same period of leave to remain in the UK as the main applicant and will only be permitted to work in the UK if the main applicant's grant exceeds 12 months.

UK Student Internship Visa

The Student internship visa allows overseas students to perform a short period of paid employment in the UK. Applicants must be already studying a degree course overseas and applications must be submitted by the sponsoring firm. Although a student internship visa is offered for a comparatively brief duration of three months, candidates may be able to switch to a UK work permit if they are offered a full time position.

Application for a UK Student Internship Visa

Like a UK work permit application, internship visas are not valid for work in any other position than that specified or for any other employer than the sponsoring UK Company. However, supplementary work outside normal working hours is permitted so long as it does not exceed 20 hours per week and is not outside the profession for which the permit was issued.

Students may only ever take one internship each and evidence of their student status will be required. The position being offered must be either at or above NVQ level 3 and the remuneration must be equal to that which would be paid to a full time UK permanent resident employee.

Unlike a UK student visa, dependent immigration is permitted not just for a married partner, but for a common-law or conjugal partner. However dependents will not be permitted to work in the UK and must be either able to support themselves or be supported by the main applicant.

International Graduate Scheme

The International graduate Scheme or the IGS is a bridging measure to allow foreign nationals graduating in the UK to remain in the country and pursue careers. Applicants must have successfully obtained a degree or higher qualification since 1st May 2007 and the course must have been completed within the 12 months directly preceding the application. If successful a candidate will be granted a visa for a year to two years to remain in the UK during which they may work in the UK.

Where an IGS applicant's spouse and/or dependents are already present in the UK at the time of the application, they will be permitted to remain for the duration of the IGS visa. Dependents who are not already in the UK must apply for UK entry clearance in their own right in order to join an applicant.

Postgraduate Doctor Visa / Postgraduate Dentist Visa

In the UK there are special visas designed for those as doctors and dentists and also allow students studying at UK institutions to switch directly into postgraduate study. Successful applicants may be able to switch from these into a UK work visa such as the HSMP or a work permit, allowing them to continue living and working in Britain. Please contact Global Visas to find out more about this visa scheme.

Applying for a Doctor or Dentist Visa

Candidates who apply for this visa category are required to firstly register with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council and must be able to give evidence of membership as part of their application. This type of UK visa is issued for three years although it can be extended by a year for specialist training.

You can explore the options for studying in the UK and find out whether you qualify by completing the Global Visas online student visa assessment form today. Our assessment forms take moments to complete and a friendly immigration consultant will respond to your enquiry.