admin@beet.co.ukVisa Information
Do you need a visa to study English in the UK?
If you are planning to study English in the UK, you may need to apply for a student visa. This page will help you understand if you need a visa and what you need to do. If you need help, you can contact the English UK team for advice.
| Are you an EU/EEA/Swiss national? You do not need a visa to study for up to six months. You need to apply for a visa if you want to study in the UK for more than six months. |
Some other nationalities do not need a visa to study for up to six months. If you have a passport from a country on the non-visa national list you can visit the UK and study for up to six months without a visa.
What would you like to do?
- Take a short English language course: study for up to six months
- Take a longer English language courses: six to eleven months | more than 11 months
- Find an accredited English language course for your student visa application
- Understand the UK immigration changes that affect EEA and Swiss students
Study English in the UK for six months or less
- EEA, Swiss nationals and other nationalities on the non-visa national list do not need a visa
- Other international students need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa
Choose an accredited course: From 2021, international students are only allowed to study at an institution that is accredited by one the government-recognised accreditation bodies. You can choose any English UK member centre – all English UK member centres are accredited by the British Council’s government-recognised quality assurance scheme, Accreditation UK.
How to apply for a Standard Visitor visa
You need a Standard Visitor visa if:
- you plan to study English in the UK for less than six months
- you need a visa to visit the UK – check if you need a visa
- EEA, Swiss nationals and other nationalities on the non-visa national list will not need a visa if their course is six months or less
Key facts about Standard Visitor visas:
- Visitors can study as much as they like on this visa. It is possible to take different courses with different providers, as long as the courses have an approved accreditation.
- Application cost: £95
- When to apply: up to three months in advance
- in your application you will need to show that you have enough money to pay for your course fees, accommodation and living costs
- If you are under 18, there are additional requirements
- Apply online for a Standard Visitor visa.
Study English in the UK for more than six months
If you are over 16 years old you can apply online for a visa to study English in the UK for more than six months.
Short-term study visa – for English language courses between six and eleven months
If you want to study English in the UK for between six and eleven months, you should apply for a Short-term study visa before you travel (for other course types you need a Student visa).
Are you an EU/EEA/Swiss national? From 2021, you need a visa to study for longer than six months.
Key facts about Short-term study visas:
- You must be at least 16 years old
- Visa length: 11 months maximum
- Suitable for beginners – there is no minimum level of English required
- Before applying, you need to choose a course and have a letter of confirmation from your institution
- You are only allowed to study at an institution with an approved accreditation
- You cannot study with any other institution other than the one named on the application form
- In your application you will need to show that you have enough money to pay for your course fees, accommodation and living costs
- You will not be able to work in the UK
- Application cost: £186, plus £470 fee for the immigration health surcharge which gives access to national health services in the UK
- When to apply: up to three months in advance
- Apply online for a Short term study visa.
