To apply under this visa route, you need to be aged 18 or over when you submit your visa application and you accepted a course by a licensed student sponsor. 

You must have enough money to support yourself and afford the course fees and meet the English level for the course you wish to study.

Note: If you are aged under 18 when you submit your visa, you need to apply under Child Student instead.

To explore more about this visa route click here.

A CAS is a virtual certificate that must be issued by a UK licensed student sponsor. CAS mean Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

Once issued the CAS will have vital information required to be added to your Leave to Enter or Remain visa application form.

To study in the UK as an adult, you will need to be accepted onto a course. 

Below are the options open to you:

• A full-time course leading to a qualification that’s below degree level (RQF level 3, 4 or 5) with at least 15 hours a week of organised daytime study.
• A full-time course leading to a qualification that’s degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8).
• A full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8) that’s equivalent to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas.
• A part-time course leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RQF level 7 or above).
• A recognised foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists.
• An English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European. Framework of Reference for Languages

Note: You can also apply for this visa if you are taking up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

You may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you’re studying or researching sensitive topics at RQF level 7 or above.

To help you understand how the Home Office evaluates this visa route, click here to learn more.

How long you can stay in the UK will depend on the length of your course and what studies you will do once in the UK. The licensed sponsor will confirm your course details in your CAS and this will govern your visa permission to enter or remain in the UK.

Yes, you can extend your student if you meet the eligibility requirements.

How long you can remain in the UK will depend on the length of your course.

You are permitted to switch to this visa type if you hold a valid UK visa.

If you hold one of these visa types, you cannot switch within the UK on:

• A visit visa
• A short-term student visa
• A Parent of a Child Student visa
• A seasonal worker visa
• A domestic worker in a private household visa
• Leave outside the immigration rules.

You can:

• Study
• Work as a student union sabbatical officer
• You may be able to work and this will depend on what you are studying and whether you are working in or out of term-time.
• Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they are eligible.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

You cannot:

• Work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• Be self-employed
• Work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach.
• Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school).
• Apply for public funds.

Below are the areas where immigration rules apply to this visa type. You have:

• Validity requirements for a Student
• Suitability requirements for a Student
• Eligibility requirements for a Student
• Information on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies requirement
• Decision on application for a Student
• Period and conditions of grant for a Student
• Work Conditions for a Student
• Study Conditions
• Dependants of a Student

To explore these rules click here.

To read the generic guidance for short-term visas click here.

To read the casworker visa guidance click here.

To apply under this visa route, you need to be aged under 18 when you submit your visa application and you accepted a course by a licensed child student sponsor. 

You must have enough money to support yourself and afford the course fees and meet the course you wish to study.

Note: If you are aged 18 or over when you submit your visa, you need to apply under Student instead.

To explore more about this visa route click here.

A CAS is a virtual certificate that must be issued by a UK licensed child student sponsor. CAS mean Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

Once issued the CAS will have vital information required to be added to your Leave to Enter or Remain visa application form.

To study in the UK as a child, you will need to be accepted onto a course. 

Below are the options open to you:

• The national curriculum
• The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at level 3 or below
• Independent school education inspection standards.

You can also do a course that’s accepted as being at the same academic level by:

• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Education Scotland
• Estyn (in Wales)
• Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)

Note: You can do a short ‘pre-sessional’ course to prepare you for your main course.

To help you understand how the Home Office evaluates this visa route, click here to learn more.

How long you can stay in the UK will depend on the length of your course and what studies you will do once in the UK. The licensed sponsor will confirm your course details in your CAS and this will govern your visa permission to enter or remain in the UK.

Yes, you can extend your student if you meet the eligibility requirements.

How long you can remain in the UK will depend on the length of your course.

Note: If you in the UK as a child student and you turn 18 years of age and then need to extend your UK studies, you must aply under the Student route for adults.

You are permitted to switch to this visa type if you hold a valid UK visa and yuo are aged between 4-17 years of age when you submit your child student Leave to Remain visa application.

If you hold one of these visa types, you cannot switch within the UK on:

• A visit visa
• A short-term student visa
• Leave outside the immigration rules.

You can do the following if aged 16 and over:

• Work part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
• Work full-time during vacations
• Work on a work placement as part of your course (but not for more than 50% of your course).
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

You cannot:

• Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further or higher education institution
• Take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
• Work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
• Apply for settlement
• Bring family members (‘dependants’) - if a parent wants to accompany you, they will need to apply for a Parent of a Child Student visa visa.
• Apply for public funds.

Below are the areas where immigration rules apply to this visa type. You have:

• Validity requirements for a Child Student
• Suitability requirements for a Child Student
• Eligibility requirements for a Child Student
• Decision for a Child Student
• Period and conditions of grant for a Child Student
• Work Conditions for a Child Student
• Study Conditions for a Child Student.

To explore these rules click here.

To read the generic guidance for short-term visas click here.

To read the casworker visa guidance click here.

To apply under this visa route, you need to be aged under 16 and over, comply under an accredited UK institution or, from an eligible overseas provider, if you are studying in the UK as part of an overseas course and, be approved by an accredited UK institutions.

To explore more about this visa route click here.

A CAS is not required fro this type of visa.

To study in the UK as a English student, you will need to be accepted by an accredited UK institution either have a student sponsor licence or have a valid accreditation and be listed by one of the following: 

• Accreditation Service for International Colleges
• Accreditation UK
• British Accreditation Council
• Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
• Estyn (in Wales)
• Education Scotland
• Independent Schools Inspectorate
• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Office for Students
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Note: You can also apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your English language course is in the UK. Your institution must:

• Hold its own national accreditation
• Offer no more than half of its educational programme in the UK
• Offer programmes that are equivalent to a UK degree.

To help you understand how the Home Office evaluates this visa route, click here to learn more.

This visa can be issued up to 11 months.

No, you cannot extend this visa.

No, you cannot switch to this visa.

You cannot:

• Study on any other course or change your course while in the UK
• Study at a state-funded school
• Work or carry out any business (this includes paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements)
• Extend this visa
• Bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on this visa
• Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension.

Below are the areas where immigration rules apply to this visa type. You have:

• Validity requirements for a Short-term Student
• Suitability requirements for a Short-term Student
• Eligibility requirements for a Short-term Student
• Decision for a Short-term Student
• Period and conditions of grant for a Short-term Student.

To explore these rules click here.

To read the casworker visa guidance click here.