Immigration and visas

Which type of visa do I need?

1. Tier 4 (General) student – For non EEA students intending to study a course of 6 months duration or more. Students on shorter courses who may need to extend their visa and/or intend to work should also apply for Tier 4 (General) student.

2. Student Visitor – For visa nationals intending to study a course of 6 months duration or less, full or part time. Think carefully whether the student visitor visa is suitable for you or not; remember that as a student visitor there will be no option to extend your stay beyond 6 months and you will not be able to work. If you do decide to stay in the UK beyond 6 months you will have to return to your home country to make a new entry clearance application.

3. No visa required - If you are an EEA or Swiss national and have been accepted on a course of study, you are free to enter the UK and you have the right to reside in the UK for the duration of your study. Your spouse and dependent children will usually be able to join you in the UK.

Applying as a Tier 4 (General) Student

If you have decided that the Tier 4 (General) student visa is suitable for you then we can guide your through the application process.

If you are currently outside the UK you will need to apply in your home country.

Making a Tier 4 (General) entry clearance application

If you are currently in the UK and your current visa does not expire more than one month before your new course starts then you can make a Tier 4 (General) extension application in the UK.

Making a Tier 4 extension application

Immigration advice and services regulated by the Immigration Services Commissioner

international.advice@plymouth.ac.uk

Your family's immigration

If you are currently outside the UK

If you are coming to study on a course of 6 months or less then your family dependants will not be able to accompany you.

If you are coming to study a postgraduate degree course of 12 months or more then your family dependants will be able to accompany you.

If you are government sponsored on a course of 6 months or more then your family dependants will be able to accompany you.

You and your family dependants will have to apply for entry clearance in your home country before traveling to the UK.

Making a PBS Dependant entry clearance application

If you are currently in the UK and your family members are already with you, you will need to seek guidance on whether they can extend their visas as your student dependants.

EEA students

Registration certificates
A registration certificate is a document, issued to EEA or Swiss nationals, that confirms their right of residence under European law. You do not need to have a registration certificate to enter, live in or work in the United Kingdom but you can apply for one if you feel it would be useful to be able to demonstrate your right or residence.

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals If you are a Bulgarian or Romanian National and have been accepted on a course of study, you are free to enter the UK and you have the right to reside in the UK for the duration of your study. However you have to apply for a registration certificate if you want to work in the UK. You should make sure that you apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving your home country.

UKBA applying for a registration certificate

Exchange students

All non-EEA students who want to study as an exchange student or on a short course of less than 6 months at Plymouth University, will need to obtain either Tier 4 (General) student entry clearance, student visitor entry clearance or leave to enter as a student visitor.

Exchange students on a programme of 6 months duration or less may be recommended by UK Visas to apply for a student visitor visa. However if there is a chance that you may need to extend your course for more than 6 months or you would like to do some part time work whilst studying or you will need to apply for a visa for another European country then you must apply for Tier 4 (General) student entry clearance.

Pre-sessional students

All non-EEA students who want to study on a pre-sessional English programme and then progress to a degree programme in the UK, will need to obtain a Tier 4 (General) student entry clearance visa before travelling. Use the link in the right menu to access further information.

As a pre-sessional programme student you will need to use your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) and your conditional degree course offer letter to apply for your Tier 4 (General) student entry clearance visa. You will usually be granted an initial student visa for the duration of the pre-sessional programme. At the point when you have completed the pre-sessional programme and have met any other conditions, such as academic requirements, you will be issued a new CAS for your degree course.

ISAS can fully assist you in extending your Tier 4 student visa in the UK so that you can begin your degree programme.

Student visitor visa

If you have decided that the student visitor visa is suitable for you then you will need to collect the following documents:

Plymouth University will issue you with a dated letter confirming your course details.
Your passport.
A recent passport-sized colour photograph of yourself.
Bank statements, payslips or other evidence to show that you can pay for your visit and your course of study in the UK OR evidence of sponsorship.
Evidence that you intend to leave at the end of your visit.

If you are a visa national you will need to make your student visitor application before leaving your home country.

UKBA applying for a student visitor visa

If you are a non-visa national you can present the documents on arrival in the UK.

Switching to Plymouth

If you are already in the UK and you currently hold a student visa for a different institution then you will most likely need to apply for UKBA approval in order to enrol on your new course. If your visa is due to expire more than one month before your new course is starting, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 application.

If you applied for your current student visa after 5th October 2009
You must make a new Tier 4 application using the Plymouth University sponsor details and supported by a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) which will be issued with your unconditional offer. ISAS can assist you with your application.

If you applied for your current student visa before 5th October 2009
You can choose to apply for Permission to Switch which will amend your visa with Plymouth University as your sponsor OR if your current visa is not long enough for you to complete your course, we would recommend that you make a new Tier 4 application. ISAS can assist you with your application.

If you applied for your current student visa before 31st March 2009
You can enrol without approval from UKBA.