Source:Applying for a student visa
'Before you begin your UK education, you may need to apply for a visa. There are different types of visa, depending on your age, and on the length and level of the course that you want to study.'
**UPDATE**
All UK visa applications will need to be paid online as of the 16th January 2012. Customers can continue to pay for their visa in Hong Kong dollars but only online payments using Visa card or Mastercard will be accepted from this date. Other means of payment, including payment at the visa application centre, will no longer be accepted.
Full update here.
Changes to Tier 4 – Adult Students (General) updated on 22 March 2011
On 22 March 2011 the UK Home Secretary announced the Government’s plans to make changes to Tier 4 Student visas.
From 21 April 2011, the following changes will apply:
1. SPONSORS
• All sponsors must be on the Tier 4 Highly Trusted Sponsors register in order to be issued a Tier 4 Licence. Please check http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points/sponsoringmigrants/registerofsponsors/
• From April 2012 all prospective sponsors must have been vetted by statutory education inspection bodies and all must become Highly Trusted Sponsors. All current sponsors will have 12 months to meet these requirements. Independent schools will automatically receive Highly Trusted Sponsor status.
2. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• Students coming to the UK to study will need English language proficiency at the following levels:
• Higher Education Institutions (including universities) can make their own assessment of how students qualify but students coming to study at all other institutions at degree level or above will need to sit a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
• Those coming to study below degree level will need to be proficient in English at CEFR B1 level and will need a SELT test at level B1 to prove their ability.
• Those coming to study English language courses will also require a Secure English Language test at minimum B1 level.
• Please see link below for the list of approved Secure English language Tests (SELT):
•http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/new-approved-english-tests.pdf
• English language requirements do not apply to Tier 4 Child students.
• UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who are unable to communicate in English without an interpreter.
3. STUDENTS OF LOW-RISK NATIONALITIES
• Hong Kong SAR and BNO passport holders (and those of other select nationalities) attending course at Highly Trusted Sponsors will no longer need to show documentary evidence of maintenance funds and educational qualifications at the time of applying for Tier 4 visa or visa extension. They will still need to submit their application form, appendix, letter of parental consent for students aged under 18, and the passport/identity document. This will apply for applications in the UK and in a student’s home country, but not for applications made in third countries.
• The Immigration Rules remain the same for all Tier 4 student visa holders, including the requirement to have held maintenance funds for 28 days prior to the date of application, and students must be able to provide the documents if requested to do so.
4. WORKING IN THE UK AFTER THE COURSE FINISHES
• The Post Study Work route will close from April 2012.
• Only students with a graduate level job offer (with annual salary of ￡20,000 or higher) from a registered sponsor will be able to apply to switch into the Tier 2 route to work in the UK.
• A new visa route specifically to attract student entrepreneurs will be introduced at a later date.
From July 2011, the following changes to entitlements will apply:
• Only students sponsored by higher education institutions or publicly-funded further education colleges will be allowed to work during their studies.
• Only postgraduate students, at universities, on courses longer than 12 months and Government sponsored students on courses longer than 6 months will be able to bring their dependants.
*Please note there will be further changes to the Immigration Rules in the summer of 2011 and in April 2012. We will keep you informed immediately of the implementation details as soon as they are known. Please check The Education UK Hong Kong website regularly for the latest updates
**Also, please note that the UK Border Agency website has published a ‘Student Visas Statement of Intent’ which provides full details of the recent changes to the Tier 4 Student visa changes.
Secure English language testing announced for student Tier 4 (General) applicants. The British Government announced today that it will be introducing mandatory secure English language testing for adult students studying below degree level under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system. The new requirement will come to effect on 12 August 2010. The test will not apply to those studying at or above degree level, foundation degrees and English language courses.
For further details of these changes please visit the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website.
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Child student
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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 |
| Child visitor | You can apply as a child visitor if you are 17 years old or under and you want to come to the |
| Adult student | You can apply as an adult student if you are coming to the |
| Student visitor | You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over, you want to come to the |
| Prospective student | You can apply as a prospective student if you want to come to the |
To find out about applying for a student visitor, child visitor or prospective student visa, please visit the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website.
For adult and child student visas, the UK has a points-based visa system which is designed to be objective and transparent. To apply, you need to gain 40 points. This includes 30 points for a “confirmation of acceptance for studies” from the university, college or school where you want to study.
Your chosen place of study must be on the “register of sponsors” kept by the UKBA. This register is designed to give you peace of mind that you are applying to join a bona fide institution. Find out more at the UKBA website.
The remaining 10 points comes from demonstrating that you can afford to cover all or part of your fees and living costs to study in the UK. This has been put in place to help you avoid any financial difficulties that might affect your ability to complete your studies.
To find out if you need a visa and how to apply for one, please visit the UKBA website.
Recent changes to the UK student visa system: for adult students applying to study in the UK for over 6 months.
The UK Government has announced some changes to Tier 4 which come into effect on 3 March 2010. Most of these changes do not affect you if you make your Tier 4 immigration application in order to study a course at degree level or above, or a foundation degree. However, the changes do apply to you if you make a Tier 4 immigration application on or after 3 March in order to study a course which is below degree level and which is not a foundation degree course.
The changes do not apply to Child or Student Visitor Visas.
You can find further information at the UK Border Agency website.
The British Council will endeavour to provide support and advice for students at the earliest opportunity through our offices throughout the world.
