Tier 4 General Student Visa
Tier 4 General Student Visa
The Tier 4 General Student visa category is for non-EEA nationals who are over the age of 16 and wish to study in the UK. If you are between 4 and 17 years old, you should apply for a Tier 4 Child Student visa instead.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to qualify for a Tier 4 General Student visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:
- You are over the age of 16;
- You have been offered an unconditional place on a course with an educational institution holding a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence;
- You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking);
- You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course without relying on public funds.
Course Requirements
Tier 4 General Students can study the following courses:
- A full-time course leading to at least a level 6 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (equivalent to bachelor degree level);
- An overseas course of degree level study equivalent to a UK higher education course being run by an overseas higher education institution;
- A full-time course with at least 15 hours of daytime study leading to a level 3 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (equivalent to AS/A Level);
- A recognised foundation programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist (if you have finished a recognised degree in medicine or dentistry, received your degree from a registered Tier 4 sponsor and spent your final year and at least 1 other year of studies leading to that degree in the UK).
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Once you have been offered an unconditional place on a course of study, your education provider will send you a CAS reference number. You must apply for your Tier 4 General Student visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS, and within 3 months of the start date of the course.
If you have previously studied in the UK, your new CAS must confirm that either:
- You will be studying for a new qualification at a higher academic level;
- You will be studying for a new qualification that is at the same level as previous studies but relates to, and adds to, your previous qualification;
- You will be re-sitting exams or repeating modules; or
- You are applying for the first time to a new institution in order to complete a course that you commenced elsewhere.
Maintenance Funds
In order to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you will be able to support yourself financially without recourse to public funds, you will need to show that you have enough cash funds to cover:
- Any course fees remaining due for the first year of your course, or the entire course if it is less than one year long (the exact amount required will be stated on your CAS); and
- Your living costs (If you will be studying in inner London, you will need £1,265 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. If you will be studying elsewhere in the UK, you will need £1,015 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months).
If the length of your course includes part of a month, the time will be rounded up to the next full month for maintenance purposes.