Student Visitor Visa
Student Visitor Visa: the basics
The Student Visitor Visa category allows students who want to
study a short course to enter the UK for up to 6 months.
In order to be eligible to apply for a Student Visitor Visa you
must be 18 years old or more and be able to show that you have been
unconditionally accepted onto a course of study at the Royal Welsh
College of Music & Drama. The course you intend to study does
not need to be full time.
It is important that you must intend to leave the UK at the end
of this course, as it is not possible to extend time granted as a
Student Visitor or to switch into the Tier 4 (General) Student
immigration category to commence further studies. Therefore if,
after studying a short course, you wished to progress onto a longer
course at the college, you would have to return home and apply for
a Tier 4 student visa to return to the UK.
Please note that on a Student Visitor Visa you are entirely
prohibited from working. It is also not possible for your family to
join you in the UK as your dependents on this visa.
Do I need to apply for Entry Clearance (visa) as a Student
Visitor prior to arriving in the UK?
Only if you are a national of a country that is currently on the
Visa National List which forms appendix 1 of the Immigration
Rules.
Applying for Entry Clearance if you are a Visa National
You must apply for entry clearance as a Student Visitor from the
British Embassy or High Commission in your own country prior to
travelling. You must read the detailed information on how to
apply for a Student Visitor visa.
You should make your application on form VAF1D,
for which there is a visa processing fee of £76. It is advisable to
apply for a visa well in advance of the planned date of travel.
There is a list of supporting documents required on page 11 of the
VAF1D application form. These are also listed here:
- A valid passport
- One recent passport sized photograph (no more than 1 month
old)
- The fee of £76
- Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself
throughout your studies without needing to resort to public funds
e.g. bank statements. Normally you should be able to show that you
have enough money to pay your tuition fees in full (if these have
not already been paid) and £800 to cover living expenses per
calendar month that you intend to stay in the UK. Ideally you
should be able to show that this amount of money has been available
to you for at least 28 days before making your application
- Evidence that you have been unconditionally accepted on to a
course of study in the UK i.e. a letter from the Royal Welsh
College of Music & Drama (see below for more information)
- Evidence of any qualifications that are listed on the letter
from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The letter from the Royal Welsh College must confirm the
following details:
- Your full Name, Date of Birth, Nationality, Passport Number,
Contact Address;
- Royal Welsh College contact details (address, telephone number
and email) and sponsor licence number;
- Course Title;
- Academic Level;
- Mode of Study: Full/Part time;
- Course start date and expected end date;
- Location of course;
- Confirmation that you have been unconditionally accepted on to
the course;
- Qualifications used to assess your suitability to commence the
course
- Course Fees due and course fees paid to date
The application process may differ depending on where you intend
to apply. For further details on the application process that is
relevant to you please contact the British Embassy or High
Commission in your own country.
If you are a Non-Visa National
If you are a national of a country that is not on the Visa
Nationals list then there is no requirement to obtain entry
clearance (visa) prior to traveling to the UK. You can make your
application for entry as a Student Visitor to an Immigration
Officer on arrival in the UK. You will need to provide the
Immigration Officer with all the relevant documentation listed
above. Therefore it is important that you carry all these documents
in your hand luggage. There will be no charge for applications made
on arrival in the UK by non-visa nationals.
If you are a non-visa national you are also able to make an
application for entry clearance prior to traveling in the same way
as visa nationals. We strongly advise you to do so for your own
peace of mind and to avoid the possibility of delays or problems
upon arrival in the UK.
Further Information
The UKBA website
The UK Visas website
Disclaimer: The information provided on this
page is given in good faith and has been carefully checked with
The UK Council
for International Student Affairs and the UK Border Agency. However
please note that the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Immigration law
is subject to change; please ensure that you have the most up to
date information by checking the websites listed under the “Useful
resources” subheading above.