Visas & Immigration
Which Type of Visa Do I Need?
European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals
You can enter the UK freely by showing your Passport or National
Identity Card, and do not need to get a visa before travelling to
the UK. Remember that your dependants may need to obtain entry
clearance if they are not EEA nationals.
Non EEA Nationals
Non EEA Nationals can potentially apply for one of two types of
visa in order to study in the UK. The main differences between
these two visa categories are outlined in the table at the bottom
of this page.
You will have to show your passport to College staff upon
enrolment to provide evidence of your immigration status. If you do
not have a valid visa that enables you to study then you will not
be able to enrol.
As well as the two detailed below, there are a limited number of
other visa categories which enable international students to study
in the UK. 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 Admissions Team: admissions@rwcmd.ac.uk
Student Visitor Visa
If you are coming to study a course of six months or less, you
should consider whether it would be appropriate for you to apply
for a Student Visitor Visa. If you think you may
be eligible to apply for a Student Visitor Visa we recommend that
you contact the Admissions Team: admissions@rwcmd.ac.uk to
confirm that this is the correct visa for you.
Tier 4 Student Visa
If you are coming to study a course of more than six months or a
pre-sessional course to prepare you for further study in the UK,
you should apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa. The majority of
students coming to study at RWCMD will need to apply for this
visa.
| Student Visitor Visa |
Tier 4 Student Visa |
|
To study a course of 6 months or less.
|
To study a course of more than 6 months or a
pre-sessional course to prepare you for further study in the
UK. |
| No work allowed. |
Part time work allowed in term time and full time work in
holidays. Part time means:
- 20 hours per week for courses which are at degree level and
above;
- 10 hours per week for courses which are below degree level
(Pre-sessional).
|
| You cannot extend this visa in the UK or switch into any other
visa category. You must leave before your visa expires. |
You can apply to extend for more time in the UK providing you
meet the requirements of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. |
- Visa Nationals must apply for entry clearance
(a visa) before travelling.
- Non Visa Nationals can apply for a visa at an
airport upon arrival in the UK, although this is not
recommended.
|
Everyone must apply for entry clearance (a
visa) before travelling. You cannot apply for a visa at an airport
upon arrival in the UK. |
| You must be at least 18 years of age to apply
for this visa. |
You must be at least 16 years of age to apply
for this visa. |
| You cannot bring family members with you as your
dependants. |
You may be able to bring family members with you as your
dependants depending on your course length and level. |
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.