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Home How to apply for a visa?

How do I apply for a VISA?

The UK has a new Points Based immigration system (PBS). The system has 5 Tiers under which individuals can apply for a VISA. All international (non European Economic Area — EEA) students need to apply for a student VISA under Tier 4. For further information, please visit the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk

Tier 4: What Does the Points Based System Mean for Our International Students?

To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a student you must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points before being given a VISA. You score:

  • 30 points for a VISA letter from an immigration sponsor; and
  • 10 points by showing you have enough finances to cover your course fees and monthly living expenses (known as maintenance).


You need to apply to an institution that has been given a Licence to sponsor students by the UK Border Agency. A list of qualifying institutions can be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

What is a VISA Letter?

The University you have applied to will issue you with a VISA letter (entitled Certificate of Acceptance/VISA Letter) once you have completed the following:

  • Met any conditions attached to your offer (as detailed in your offer letter)
  • Returned your financial guarantee form
  • Returned your acceptance form
  • Paid any deposit if applicable (this will be detailed in your offer letter)


The finances you need to pass the points-based assessment if you are coming to study at in the UK are:

Maintainance (Funds) Needed
9 months or less
Outside London Course fees + £600 for each calendar month of the course
In London Course fees + £800 for each calendar month of the course


More than 9 months
Outside London
First year of fees + £5400 to cover nine months of living costs in the United Kingdom
In London
First year of fees + £7,200 to cover nine months of living costs in the United Kingdom

How Long Can I Apply to Stay For?

If you are studying at degree level or above, you can stay for the full duration of your course

What Do I Need to Apply?

You will need to complete the application form, pay your fee and include:

  • a current passport or travel document;
  • a VISA letter from an immigration sponsor (this would be the University you are planning to study at);
  • documents to show you have the finances required (tuition fees and maintenance) available;
  • original documents used by your immigration sponsor (the University you are planning to study at) when they accepted you on to the course;
  • your biometric identity card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom (please note not all students will have this);
  • your biometric details if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom.

How much will it cost?

The VISA application fee is currently £145 if you are applying from outside of the UK . Please note the cost for a VISA extension will be higher.

Can I Work?

Generally speaking you should be granted permission to work part-time (no more than 20 hours a week) during term-time while studying and full-time during vacations, in line with previous VISA rules. (Note: postgraduate students are not permitted to work full-time during the summer vacation if they have not completed their writing-up or submitted their dissertation or any aspect of their course of study).

Key Differences for Students

  • All international students will require an immigration sponsor under the new Points Based System. A student’s immigration sponsor is the institution they are studying at.
  • Your VISA will be linked to your immigration sponsor. If you decide to switch institution your VISA would no longer be valid and you would be required to apply for a new VISA.
  • The maintenance required for students wishing to bring dependants with them has changed. Please see the UKBA website for the latest guidance.
  • All UK universities will be required to monitor students’ attendance under the new Points Based Systems. It is therefore very important that you ensure you arrive and register at the University on the dates as written in your VISA letter and attend classes in accordance with University regulations. Failure to register by the given deadline or attend classes may result in you being reported to the UKBA.

Study Abroad and Exchange Students

All international (non European Economic Area — EEA) students will be required to apply for a VISA. If you are studying for less than 6 months you can either apply for ‘Student Visitors’ entry clearance, which is aimed at those short term students who wish to undertake a short course of up to six months and have no interest in full student VISA entitlements (i.e. the ability to work part-time, extend their stay whilst in the UK, or provide the opportunity for multiple entry) or for a full student VISA under Tier 4. For more details including eligibility and restrictions please see the Student Visitor pages of the UKBA website.

The University would recommend any international student coming on a Study Abroad or Exchange programme to apply for the full student VISA under Tier 4.

Language Students

  • If you have an unconditional offer: If you have an unconditional offer, you will be given a VISA for both your pre-sessional English course provided it is no longer than 1 month before the start of your degree and your degree course if you are studying at the same institution for both courses.
  • If you have a conditional offer: If you only have a conditional offer to do your full-time course, you will need to apply for a VISA to do the pre-sessional course first. If you successfully finish that course, as long as you had a student VISA under Tier 4, you can apply for a VISA extension from within the UK to continue with your full-time degree course.

Foundation English Course

You are advised to apply for a full student VISA under Tier 4. When you have successfully completed your Foundation English Course, you can then apply for a VISA from within the UK to do a full-time degree course.

How Will PBS Affect Me When I Arrive in the UK?

When you arrive, it is important that you register with the University at the designated time. Registration staff will ensure that you have undertaken electronic registration (eRegistration), including that you have entered a term time address (i.e. a local address in Coventry), that you have met with your academic Adviser, or equivalent person, and you will also be asked to provide photocopies of your passport pages. Each page will be checked against your original passport. If all is in order the copies of your passport pages will be stamped, dated, signed by the Registry official and retained on file. You will then be issued with a University ID card (as long as you have previously mailed in your photograph). Under the new Points Based immigration system, the University is obliged to keep copies of your passport and you must ensure that your contact details in the UK are up-to-date at all times. After you have registered as a student you will be able to change your address through your Student Portal.

If you fail to register with the University during the normal registration period, or if you are found not to be at an address you have provided, we are obliged to report you to the UK immigration authorities - the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

You should expect to register in this way at the beginning of each academic year of your studies (in September each year). It is important that you register promptly each year so that the University knows that you are present and attending and will not report you to the UK Border Agency.