What visa do you need?
If you're an EU national or a national of Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or Switzerland, see our Information for EU nationals page.
If you are an EU/EEA national arriving in the UK and you do not hold Pre Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may need to apply for a Student Visa to join your studies in the UK unless you hold an alternative visa/leave to remain in the UK that allows you to study.
The type of visa you will need, and the process for applying for it will differ based on the type of course you plan to study, the length of your course and several other criteria.
You can get more information on how to apply for your visa and which visa to apply for on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.
If you cannot find the answer to your question on the Home Office or UKCISA website, please contact Student Advice. You can call or email us or make an appointment with us.
What type of course will you be studying? | Visa type | Does it give you the right to work while studying? | Can you extend this visa inside the UK? |
---|---|---|---|
A full-time degree course (not a part-time degree course) | Yes (student working conditions apply) see UKCISA's information | Yes, as long as you meet the conditions | |
A short course (six months or less) or single semester study abroad* programme | Standard Visitor Visa (students from Qatar can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead of a visitor visa, and students from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver instead of a visitor visa) | No | No |
A study abroad programme* with a work placement, internship and/or is longer than six months | Yes (student working conditions apply) | Yes as long as you meet the conditions | |
A Pre-sessional English course leading to a degree course | Yes (student working conditions apply) | Yes, as long as you meet the conditions | |
Student returning to the UK to re-take an exam | Standard Visitor Visa (students from Qatar can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead of a visitor visa, and students from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates can apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver instead of a visitor visa) | No | No |
Student retaking part of a course without any timetabled attendance | Standard Visitor Visa (students from Qatar can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead of a visitor visa) | No | No |
Student retaking part of a course with timetabled attendance | Yes (student working conditions apply) | Please seek advice | |
Family of a Tier 4 Student or Student Visa | Different rules apply, see UKCISA information | Different rules apply, see UKCISA information | |
Visa (not all students can bring dependants)** |
*A study abroad programme is one or two semesters’ study which is part of your degree course in your home country.
**The rules have recently changed, and Master's students starting a new course on or after 1 January 2024, are no longer able to bring their dependents unless they are in receipt of a Government Scholarship/award, possibly covering their full living costs and fees. There are transitional arrangements for dependents who already hold a dependent visa if the student (main applicant) is moving to another course. PhD students remain eligible to bring dependents.
All students considering bringing their dependants should carefully read the UKCISA guidance ‘Which students can have dependants’.
Remember: if you have a Tier 4 visa or Student Visa for another college, school or university, you cannot enrol unless you can show us evidence that you have applied for a new Student Visa for the University of Westminster.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Find out about the CAS and how to get one.