The only students who do not need a student visa, are those nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. If you are from a Commonwealth country, including USA and Canada, you will need to apply for a student visa BEFORE you leave home.

The UKVI webpages will help you determine whether you need to obtain a visa before you travel to the UK. It also contains guidance on the type of visa that you might need.

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If there is not an educational advisor or agent who can help, you need to find out about the visa application process in your country. Contact the British Embassy/High Commission/Consulate closest to where you live to find out if they process visa applications (not all of them do).

There is a list of countries on the UKVI Find a Visa Application Centre webpages with further information on finding your nearest visa application centre.

Visa application centres will be able to tell you how to start the process of applying in your home country. For example, whether you need to make an appointment, or complete an online form, or whether you need a tuberculosis test before you can apply.

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Most international students need to apply for a Tier 4 general student visa.

If you are 16 or 17 years old you must apply for a Tier 4 visa for "adult students" and not a visa for a "child student". Under the "adult" Tier 4 visa you will receive a visa for the full length of your course and also be allowed to extend your visa, (this may not be the case if you apply under the "child" route).

If you are coming to study an English language course that is a maximum of 11 months, or a degree course for a maximum of 6 months, you may hear that you can come to the UK on a "student visitor" instead of a Tier 4 student visa.

If you choose to come as a "student visitor", you will be much more restricted than if you come on a Tier 4 student visa. You will not be allowed to do any paid or voluntary work (even if it is part of a course) and you cannot extend your stay in the UK or bring your family with you. For these reasons, it is not usually appropriate to come to the UK as a "student visitor", we therefore recommend that you apply for a Tier 4 general visa.

The exceptions to this are:

1. Students studying on distance learning courses who need to come to Aberystwyth University for an examination or to attend a short course of less than 6 months and do not want to work in the UK.
2. Students who are coming to the UK to resit an examination.
3. Study Abroad students studying for less than 6 months (one semester) who will definitely be returning home after their course finishes and do not want to work in the UK.

Also see:

The advice on this website is for students applying for a Tier 4 visa. If you want to find out about coming to the UK as a student visitor, see:

       UKVI – Short term Study Visa

       UKCISA – UK Council for International Student Affairs

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You can apply for your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your course.

The time required to process your visa will depend on the country where you are making your application but is likely to take around 2 months, so you must start the process early.

The UKVI webpages lists recent processing times for visa applications from different countries.

You must use the information on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Study – CAS email, sent to you by Aberystwyth University to apply for your Tier 4 student visa. Your CAS must not be more than 6 months old when you apply for your student visa. If you use it after this date, your application will be refused.

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To apply for your Tier 4 student visa you will need the following:

1.  Your CAS number (contained in your CAS email from Aberystwyth University)

This is your unique reference number emailed to you by Aberystwyth University. The CAS email will include your personal details, your qualifications, details of your course, Aberystwyth University address and licence number: CMRYTYMH23.

To get your CAS email you must have:

• Passed all your exams and sent the University copies of your qualifications or transcripts.
• Been accepted for a course at Aberystwyth University.
• Sent financial evidence that you can pay for your tuition fees and support yourself, you will also be required to sign a 'Financial Declaration'.

2.  Two completed visa application forms

To obtain your Tier 4 student visa you will need to complete:

Online application form https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/

Read the guidance notes and download these application forms from UKVI Tier 4 (General) student visa

3.  The transcripts/exam certificates/references listed in the CAS email

For your Tier 4 student visa application you will need to submit your original transcripts/exam certificates/references showing that you have satisfied the entry requirements for your course at Aberystwyth University.

You must submit original qualifications with your visa applications. Scanned copies, faxes or emails are not acceptable. These certificates/transcripts/references will be listed in the CAS email.

4.  Finances – evidence of funds to meet the UKVI maintenance requirements

You need to show that you have a certain amount of money to cover your tuition fees and living costs in order to get a Tier 4 student visa. See: how much money do I need to show for my student visa?

5.  ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

If you are coming to Aberystwyth for a postgraduate research or a taught postgraduate course in certain science, engineering or technology subjects in the areas listed by the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), you will need an ATAS certificate. The ATAS certificate is issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and gives you security clearance to study certain subject areas, where the knowledge gained may have application in the development of weapons of mass destruction.

If your course requires an ATAS clearance certificate, it will state this in your CAS email from Aberystwyth University. Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for a list of courses, which are identified as ATAS applicable: http://www.fco.gov.uk/atas

If you need an ATAS certificate, you must have your ATAS clearance certificate before you apply for your Tier 4 student visa. It can take 2 months to get this, so you must apply early.

6.  Tuberculosis (TB) certificate (if applicable)

If you are a resident of a specified country that has been identified by the UKVI to have a high risk of TB and you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months you must obtain a certificate confirming you are free from infectious TB before applying for a visa.

The test includes having a chest X-ray at an accredited clinic or hospital run by the International Organisation for Migration. To check whether you need to obtain a TB certificate go to https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa

If your country is not on the UKVI TB countries list but you are from the Indian Subcontinent, Africa or countries that have tuberculosis (TB), we recommend that you have an up-to-date chest X-ray certificate and medical report that is less than 3 months old. If you do not have this information you may have to have a chest X-ray and medical examination before you are allowed to pass through immigration at a UK airport.

7.  Valid passport You will need to send your passport with your student visa application. Check that it is not about to expire!

8.  Passport photograph 2 passport-sized colour photograph, not more than 1 month old. The photos you provide with application must be in a specific format otherwise your visa application will be rejected by the immigration officials. For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports

9.  Application fee The application fee is £328. It is non refundable, and must normally be paid in the currency of the country where you are applying.

10.  Your biometric details As part of your visa application you will need to attend the British Embassy or visa application centre to have your finger prints and photograph taken.

Important - Translations

If any of the documents you are submitting are not in English, you must also include a fully certified translation by a professional translator. This includes any references, qualifications, transcripts and bank statements or letters. This translation must include the following:

• confirmation by the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the translator’s full name and signature
• the translator’s contact details
• the translator’s qualifications

For more details on how to find a translator see: http://www.iti.org.uk/

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Credibility Interviews

If you are not from a low risk country*, then as part of your visa application you may be required to attend a short interview at a visa application centre. The interview will focus on your reason for coming to the UK, this is known as a credibility interview. An Immigration staff member may ask you questions about your immigration history, your previous education, the course you are planning to study at Aberystwyth University, your post study plans and your financial circumstances.

If you do not attend this interview without a good reason, your application will be refused.

You should be able to answer the questions at the interview without the assistance of an interpreter and to a standard that matches the English Language requirements that are stated on your CAS.

It is important to prepare for the interview and to help you, here are some examples of the types of questions that you may be asked:

Why you want to study in the UK:

•        if you are going back to education after a long break from studying you should be prepared to explain why you have chosen to do this;
•        how studying this course will help with your future plans;
•        how this course fits in with any previous courses you have done.

You should know the following details of your course at Aberystwyth University:

•        how long your course is;
•        what modules you will be studying;
•        how you will be assessed;
•        what qualification you will receive at the end of your course;
•        whether the course offers any professional qualifications/recognition;
•        why you have chosen not to study this course in your home country.

You should know some details about Aberystwyth University, for example you may be asked:

•        where Aberystwyth is in the UK;
•        how big the University is;
•        why you chose to study at Aberystwyth;
•        what other places you considered.

You should not be asked about your academic ability to follow the course, as Aberystwyth University has already assessed this.

Here are some examples of things you may be asked about your finances:

•        if the money you have shown for your application is genuinely available to you;
•        who is financing your studies;
•        the profession of your financial sponsor and what relationship they are to you;
•        whether you have evidence of the financial status of your financial sponsor; e.g. current bank statements
•        if you have a loan, you may be asked how you plan to pay this back.

You should know some details about the cost of living and studying in the UK, for example, you may be asked:

• how much your tuition fees are and when you are paying them;
•        where you are planning to live and how much it will cost;
•        what your anticipated annual living expenses will be while you are studying at Aberystwyth;
•        if you are planning on working, whether you know how many hours you are allowed to work, and how much you are likely to be paid;
•        how reliant you are on being able to work.

What happens after the credibility interview?

A report of the interview will be sent to the visa officer who will consider it alongside your visa application and supporting documents. You may be called for a further interview if the visa officer needs more information.

What happens if I am refused a visa?

If your application is refused on the basis of your answers to these questions at interview, then you can request that the decision is reviewed by an entry clearance manager.

You have 28 days from the date of the refusal notice to submit a request for an entry clearance manager review. The request should be made in writing and should state why the reasons given in your refusal notice are incorrect.

*As listed on: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa

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You are considered to be a low risk national by UK immigration officials (UKVI) if you are from one of the following countries:

•        Argentina
•        Australia
•        British National Overseas
•        Brunei
•        Canada
•        Chile
•        Croatia
•        Hong Kong
•        Japan
•        New Zealand
•        Singapore
•        South Korea
•        Taiwan (those who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
•        Trinidad and Tobago
•        United States of America

If you are a national of one of these countries you do not always have to provide your qualifications or evidence of your maintenance funds.

However, the Immigration Officials reserve the right to request the full range of documents in all cases. Therefore you MUST have these documents just in case. UKVI change the list of low risk nationals annually, so please check to country is still on the list.  Further advice is avialble from http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Preparing--planning/Visas-and-immigration/Applying-for-a-Tier-4-General-visa/Requirements-and-evidence/Low-risk-students/

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It can take up to 2 months to get your visa. The time it takes will depend on the visa application centre you apply to and the amount of information and documents you need to obtain to submit with your visa application.

To view visa processing times for your local visa application centre see: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/general-info/processing-times/

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You will be able to come to the UK up to 1 month before your course start date if your student visa is for a course of 6 months or more (undergraduate or postgraduate courses), or for a pre-sessional English language course.

You will only be able to come to the UK 7 days before the course start date if you are coming for a course that is less than 6 months, and is not a pre-sessional English language course.

The start date of the course will be stated in the CAS email you receive from Aberystwyth University.

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Recent changes to the immigration rules now mean that students coming to the UK on a Tier 4 student visa are limited to spending 5 years on courses at degree level. If you go onto a Masters course then the time limit is 6 years.  There are at the moment no time limit to the time that can be spent on a PhD level course.

Also see:

UKCISA - Time limit (cap) on study

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Before making the decision about whether to bring your family to Aberystwyth, you will need to consider whether the immigration rules allow them into the UK, your financial position and whether your partner and children will adapt to life in the UK.

UKVI only allow your "dependants" to obtain visas to come and live with you in the UK. A "dependant" is your partner/husband/wife and any dependant children you may have. They can stay with you in the UK if:

       You are government sponsored and your course is over 6 months long
or

       You are doing a postgraduate level course of 12 months or longer.

UKCISA have created a tool to help you find out if your family can come and stay with you in the UK see: www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/t4_family/index.php

You must make your preparations well in advance. It is particularly important that you ensure that your finances are arranged and that you have organised suitable Accommodation

You should refer to the ‘PBS Dependant Policy Guidance’ that is available on the UKVI web pages https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-dependants-of-uk-visa-applicants-tiers-1-2-4-5.

Financial requirements

You must have sufficient funds to pass the maintenance test of £460 a month for each dependant that you bring with you for up to a maximum of 9 months (£4,140 for each dependant).

Thus, if you are coming to the UK with your partner and 1 child to study a 12 month postgraduate course, you must show that you have £8,280 plus the amount of money for your own support of £7,380 plus your 1st year tuition fees. The money can be held by the dependant, or you, or (if the dependant is your child) the child’s other parent (but only if the other parent will come to the UK too).

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Yes, if you are currently based in the UK and do not have an Aberystwyth University Tier 4 student visa then you must apply for a new Tier 4 (General) student visa in order to study here.

If you want to leave your current course prior to completion then you must make your application from within the UK. More information can be found on the UKVI website.

Can I enrol without a new Aberystwyth University Tier 4 student visa?

No, according to UK immigration rules you will not be able to enrol at Aberystwyth University until you can provide evidence that you have a valid Aberystwyth University Tier 4 Student Visa or you have submitted an application to the UK Visas & Immigration.

Your visa will be scanned and checked by University staff when you enrol at Aberystwyth, you will not be able to complete your on-line registration until this has been done.

If you do not have a visa that allows you to study, you will not be able to start your studies and therefore ideally you should have received your visa prior to enrolment.

I plan to go home for the summer holidays.  Can I apply for my Aberystwyth University Tier 4 student visa in my home country?

Many students will be using the summer vacation period as an opportunity to travel home to see family and friends. This is also a perfect opportunity to apply for your Aberystwyth University Tier 4 student visa, at a reduced price of £310.

Can anybody help me with my application?

If you are currently in the UK, we recommend that you use our ‘Check & Send’ service provided by the International Student Adviser. 

The International Student Adviser will be able to check that you have all the correct supporting documents and that your financial evidence will meet the Home Office’s requirements.  The International Student Adviser will also post your supporting documents to the UKVI by special delivery and will keep any documents that are returned by the Home Office in a safe place.

You can download a step by step tutorial from here .  Please remember to start thinking about applying for your new visa at least two months before the end of your current visa expires.   You can contact the International Student Adviser by email immigrationadvice@aber.ac.uk or telephone 01970 621548.

Also see:

> Visa Support & Advice Service

There are a limited number of visa categories which enable international students to study in the UK other than Tier 4 or Student Visitor.

If you currently hold a visa in a different category and would like to know whether it is suitable for study then please contact the International Student Adviser.

Email: immigrationadvice@aber.ac.uk

Telephone: 01970 621548

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We recommend that you use our ‘Check & Send’ service provided by the International Student Adviser. 

The International Student Adviser will be able to check that you have all the correct supporting documents and that your financial evidence will meet the Home Office’s requirements.  The International Student Adviser will also post your supporting documents to the UKVI by special delivery and will keep any documents that are returned by the Home Office in a safe place.

You can download a step by step tutorial from here .  Please remember to start thinking about applying for your new visa at least three months before the end of your current visa expires.   You can contact the International Student Adviser by email immigrationadvice@aber.ac.uk or telephone 01970 621548.

Also see:

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You need to show that you have enough money for your:

Tuition fees for your first period of study. The amount you need to show will be in your CAS email.

and

Living expenses:

•  If you have started, or recently completed, one course in the UK that lasted 6 months or more, you must have at least £1,640 in your bank account.  (Dependants £920 per person).
• If you are a new student, or recently completed, one course in the UK that lasted less than 6 months, you must have at least £7,380 in your bank account.  (Dependants £4140 per person).
• If you live in University accommodation, you can deduct money you have paid to the University from the total amount of living costs. A maximum of £1,020 can be deducted (even if you have paid more than this).

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The immigration rules are very strict about the financial documents you must show to prove you have enough money to support yourself (and your dependants if you have any) whilst you are studying in the UK .

You will need to provide evidence of one, or a combination of the following:

1.  Cash in a bank account.  Cash in your, or a parent or legal guardian’s, bank account for a 28 day period - see more information about bank statements you need to provide.

IMPORTANT:  If you are using your bank account or the bank account of your parents or legal guardian, the money must be held in cash and you must show that you have held the money in your, your parents', or your legal guardians' bank account for at least 28 continuous days.  Your balance must not have dropped below the required amount.  If the balance has dropped below the right amount even for just 1 day, you will not meet the financial requirements and your student visa will be rejected.

The date of the bank statement must not be more than 31 days old on the date that you submit your visa application.

Property, shares, bonds, pension funds, life insurance or similar savings accounts will not be accepted.

The money must not be held in a bank or a financial institution which UKVI view as untrustworthy. To check if your bank is viewed as an unsatisfactory financial institution by UKVI see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-p

2.  Bank loan.  A loan in your name - see more information on using a bank loan to finance.

3.  Letter from an official financial or government sponsor UKVI define an "official sponsor" as:

Your country’s government or the UK government

• British Council
• Any international organisation
• Any international company
• Any University See more information about what documents you need to provide if you have an official sponsor.

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If you are using your own personal bank account, you need to provide your original bank statement in your name covering a 28 day period.

The date of the bank statement must be no more than 1 month old at the time you submit your student visa application.

Your original personal bank statement must show:

• your name
• account number
• the date of statement
• the name and logo of the bank
• that the balance has not fallen below the required amount for the full 28 day period.

If you use electronic statements then as well as including all the standard required information, they must also either be stamped on every page, or be accompanied by a supporting letter from the bank or building society confirming that the statement is authentic. You cannot use mini-statements from automatic teller machines (ATMs).

Cash in a parent or legal guardian's accountIf you are using cash in a bank account in your parent or legal guardian’s then you must include your parents’ or legal guardian’s original bank statement including all the same information as on the personal bank statement.  Your parents must write a letter saying that they will support you financially for the duration of your course.

If your parents or legal guardians are providing your tuition fees and living costs, you must also prove that they are your parents or legal guardians.

You do this by providing one of the following:

       your original birth certificate, showing the name of your parents

       certificate of adoption showing your name

       original court documents stating the name of your legal guardian

Overseas Banks Statements

You can use an overseas bank account. However, if your funds are not in pounds sterling (£), you should convert the closing balance and write this sum on the document that you are using as evidence of your finances. The Home Office uses http://www.oanda.com/ to convert currencies into pounds sterling, so you must use this exchange rate too.

The money must not be held in a bank or a financial institution which UKVI view as untrustworthy. To check if your bank is viewed as an unsatisfactory financial institution by UKVI see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-p

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The loan must be:

•        in your name, not in the name of your parents or legal guardian.
•        from a bank that is regulated by an official regulatory body for your home country.
•        dated no more than 6 months before the date of your student visa application.

To evidence your loan you must provide a letter from the bank confirming the loan. The letter must show:

•        Your name
•        The date of the letter
•        The financial institution’s name and logo
•        The money available as a loan
•        The start date of the loan

The loan funds must be available to you before you travel to the UK, unless the loan is an academic or student loan from your country’s national government and will be given to you or Aberystwyth University when you arrive in the UK.

US Federal loans

If you are an American student who is applying for a US Federal loan, you will need to submit a "Notification of Student Loan" letter with your visa application.

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UKVI define an official sponsor as one of the following:

•        The UK Government or your government in your home country
•        The British Council
•        An international organisation
•        An international company
•        Aberystwyth University

If your official financial sponsor is paying all your tuition fees and living expenses, you do not have to provide separate evidence of your savings. However, you must provide a letter from your official financial sponsor confirming that your sponsor will pay all your tuition fees and living expenses. This letter must be on official letterhead paper showing:

•        Your name
•        The name and contact details of the official financial sponsor
•        The date of the letter
•        The length of the sponsorship – start and end date
•        The amount of money the sponsor is giving you or confirmation that they will pay all your tuition fees and living expenses
•        The official stamp of the organisation

If your sponsor only pays some of your costs, you will need a letter from them and proof that you have enough money yourself to meet the rest of the maintenance requirements (e.g. personal bank statements).

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Yes, but only in very limited circumstances. You only have to prove you have 1 year’s tuition fees and £1,640 (i.e. living costs for 2 months) if:

       You have a current Tier 4 student visa that has not yet expired and

       Your new course at Aberystwyth University starts within 1 month of the expiry date of your current visa and

       The course you have just finished was 6 months or longer.

Please note that if your visa has expired on the date of your new visa application you will not benefit from this reduction.

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Yes, you can deduct the following from the total amount of money you need:

the amount you have paid towards course fees

and

up to a maximum of £1020 you have paid towards your Aberystwyth University accommodation fees

You cannot deduct anything for accommodation fees if you arranged the accommodation yourself (in other words, private accommodation).

If you pay all or some of your tuition fees to Aberystwyth University Finance Office before we send you the CAS email, then the amount you have paid for your tuition fees will be notified directly to the UKVI and recorded in this CAS email.

We do not recommend that you pay any fees between receiving your CAS email and applying for your visa.

If any money you have paid for tuition fees or University accommodation fees is not shown on the CAS email, then you must provide official receipts from the University when you submit your student visa application. You can obtain receipts by emailing fees@aber.ac.uk.

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