The University of Westminster is a global university and has a strong and historic commitment to promoting equality and embracing diversity. As a place to work or to study, we strive to strengthen our reputation as a welcoming and inclusive organisation. We are committed to our European partners and to supporting our European staff and students.

The information below is correct at the time of writing. For detailed information about Brexit and the EU Settlement Scheme visit UKCISA EU Settlement Scheme.

EU nationals and family members who were resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 must apply to the EU Settlement scheme in order to retain their rights to reside in the UK. 

The rights of Irish nationals living in the UK are protected under the UK-Ireland Common Travel Area arrangements. This means that Irish citizens do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme.

EU Settlement Scheme

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national or relevant family member who was resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be entitled to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. You are required to apply to this scheme in order to retain your rights to remain in the UK. The deadline for applying to the scheme was 30 June 2021.

There is some provision to make an application after this deadline, if you can show that you have 'reasonable grounds' for making a late application. For further information on making a late application please see the GOV.UK website.

For more information about the EU Settlement Scheme visit the UKCISA EU Settlement Scheme or the GOV.UK EU Settlement Scheme pages.

Fee status and student funding

The UK Government has confirmed that EU nationals and their family members who started their course prior to the September 2021 academic year, remain eligible to pay ‘Home’ rate fees and remain eligible for financial support for the duration of their course. You can find more information about fee status and funding options on our Funding pages.

If you are an EU/EEA national and have Pre-Settled Status or Settled Status under the EU settlement Scheme, you may qualify for the 'Home' rate fee and student finance if you're starting a course in September 2023 or later, and the type of support you will receive will depend on how long you have lived in the UK or EEA, and/or whether you or a family member have been working in the UK.

Please see more information on our Funding for EU, EEA and Swiss students page.

For the latest information on which EU/EEA nationals may qualify for the ‘Home’ fee rate and Student Finance, please read up-to-date information on the GOV.UK and UKCISA websites.

EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme

If you are an international student and you have been accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2023 or September 2024 on the basis of having an eligible EU qualification, you'll be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to that of UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.

Do I need a visa to come to the UK?

If you do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme (see above), and you are coming to the UK to study on a degree course which is longer than 6 months, you must apply for the Student Visa. For further information about this visa please see our visa pages.

Should I open a bank account?

We recommend that you open a UK bank account soon after you arrive in the UK. It's the safest and most effective way of managing your money, and can also be used to show evidence of your residence in the UK. For more information on how to open a bank account please visit UKCISA website.

What documents will I need for enrolment?

You’ll need to provide:

  • Your online status. You can show/share this by providing your share code (you can get a share code via Gov.uk)
  • Original copies of your academic qualifications
  • Proof of any fee payments made or scholarship/funding letters
  • Evidence of your Student Finance Tuition Fee Loan, if you’ve applied for this

You’ll also need to provide evidence of the date you entered the UK:

  • If you received a visa entry stamp in your passport on entry to the UK, you’ll need to provide a copy of this stamp

  • If you did not receive a visa entry stamp, you’ll need to show other evidence of your arrival date, such as your boarding pass or flight tickets

You’ll need to provide:

  • Your vignette (visa sticker in your passport – see examples on Gov.uk)
  • Your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) card
    • If you need help with your BRP, please contact Student Advice
    • If you have not been able to collect your BRP in time for enrolment, you can enrol temporarily with your vignette and provide your BRP at a later date
  • Original copies of your academic qualifications
  • Proof of any fee payments made or scholarship/funding letters
  • Evidence of your Student Finance Tuition Fee Loan, if you’ve applied for this

You’ll also need to provide evidence of the date you entered the UK:

  • If you received a visa entry stamp in your passport on entry to the UK, you’ll need to provide a copy of this stamp

  • If you did not receive a visa entry stamp, you’ll need to show other evidence of your arrival date, such as your boarding pass or flight tickets

You’ll need to provide:

  • Your online status. You can show/share this by providing your share code (you can get a share code via Gov.uk)
  • Original copies of your academic qualifications
  • Proof of any fee payments made or scholarship/funding letters
  • Evidence of your Student Finance Tuition Fee Loan, if you’ve applied for this

If you made a late application to the EU Settlement Scheme or you are still waiting for a decision, and you are unable to obtain a share code, you can provide your COA (Certificate Of Application) to enrol. If you have not received a COA, please contact Student Advice.

If you’re studying on a course lasting more than six months, you will not be able to enrol with a Standard Visitor Visa. You should contact Student Advice as soon as possible as you may be required to leave the UK to apply for an appropriate visa for your studies.

Full details about enrolment, including the deadline you need to enrol by, can be found on our Enrolment for new students page.

You can also find additional information on our Enrolment for new international students page

Can I work in the UK?

All EU, EEA and Swiss nationals resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 could work in the UK without restriction. To retain these rights, EU nationals must apply for UK immigration status under the EU Settlement Scheme (see above).

If you do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme and you are in the UK on a different study or work visa, you'll be subject to the work rules attached to your visa.

If you enter the UK as a Standard Visitor, you are not permitted to work.

If you have not worked in the UK previously, you must apply for a National Insurance number, if you want to start work. Students pay income tax in the same way as other workers, but often do not earn enough to pay tax. The tax-free allowance for a single person in 2023–24 is £12,570 (April to April). You can find out more on the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group website.

If you work in the UK, you may qualify for additional Student Finance England funding if you are working enough hours and if you are resident in the UK and meet all the eligibility requirements to be considered as an EEA migrant worker. Please see the above information about fee status and student funding.

Can I get medical treatment in the UK?

For information on your rights to free healthcare visit the GOV.UK healthcare page or the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.

What do I need to know if I am travelling to the UK?

If you are travelling to the UK, you may not be able to use your ID card to enter the UK and will be required to present your passport.

If you are on a course of more than 6 months you will need to obtain the correct Study visa or hold another immigration status that allows you to study in the UK. You cannot study on a course that lasts longer than 6 months on a Standard Visitor visa. You will not be able to apply for a Student visa in the UK if you arrive here as a visitor. In such case, you will normally need to apply for the required Study visa in your home country and only travel to the UK once your visa has been granted.

For up to date information on entering the UK, please see the links below: