Applying for a Tier 4 Student Visa

Visas & Immigration

Tier 4 Student Visa

If you are coming to the UK to study a course of more than six months or a pre-sessional course to prepare you for further study then you will need to apply for a student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System (PBS). To get permission to enter the UK as a student you must have applied for entry clearance (your visa) in your home country before travelling to the UK. You can do so up to three months before the start of your course.

Applying for a Tier 4 Student Visa

We strongly recommend that you download our step by step guide to applying for entry clearance as a Tier 4 Student and utilise this alongside the additional information provided on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

When your entry clearance is issued/ before travelling to the UK

Check it carefully to make sure:

  • Your name and date of birth are correct;
  • It says that you are a Tier 4 student;
  • The sponsor licence number/ CAS number (whichever is stated) is identical to the one listed on your CAS statement;
  • It starts on or before the date that you want to travel to the UK;
  • It does not end sooner than you expect. When considering your application for entry clearance (a visa) the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your country should comply with the UKBA guidance on visa lengths, which you can access on our correct visa lengths page.

If there is anything wrong with your visa, ask to have it changed immediately, before you travel. It is very difficult to make changes after you travel.

Useful resources

Before making your application for entry clearance as a student there are various information resources available to help you. It is advised that you read the Making an immigration application as a Tier 4 (General) student in your home country guidance leaflet which has been produced by UKCISA: the UK Council of International Student Affairs.

You should also read the UK Visa Services application guidance.

It contains links to a number of documents that you also need to refer to:

If you do not have access to the internet, ask the British Embassy or High Commission in your country for printed copies of these documents.

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.