Most international students need to apply for a student visa to enter the UK for their studies. To find out if you need a student visa you can complete the short questionnaire on the UK Visas website at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/. It is very important that you check the immigration requirements necessary for you. If you arrive in the UK without having done so, you may be sent back to your home country. If you have any questions or concerns about a visa, please contact the International Student Support Office (ISSO) where staff will be delighted to help you: internationalstudentsupport@qub.ac.uk.
First of all, you need to determine whether, in UK immigration terms, you are known as a ‘Visa National’ or a ‘Non-Visa National’. Please see the following website. If your passport is issued by a country listed there then you are a ‘Visa National’. If your country is not listed, you are known as a ‘Non-Visa National’. See
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendix1/.
Some examples of Non-Visa National countries are Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United States of America.
Once you have determined if you are a Visa National or a Non-Visa National, then please see the relevant section below.
If you are a Visa National, you will need a visa to enter the UK regardless of the duration of your studies. Please see the guidance on the ISSO website on applying for your visa.
Please also see the important information about travelling to the UK.
If you are a Non-Visa National and you are coming to study in the UK for longer than 6 months, it is compulsory for you to apply for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa under the UK Border Agency Points Based System before travelling to the UK. Please see the guidance on the ISSO website on applying for your visa.
Please note that your CAS Statement will be issued by the International Office (not the Admissions and Access Service) on receipt of your Offer Acceptance Form.
Please also see the important information about travelling to the UK.
If you are a Non-Visa National and you will be studying in the UK for less than 6 months, it is not compulsory to apply for a student visa before you travel. Your options are:
(1) You can present your papers to the immigration officials on arrival at a UK airport. You will need your passport, a Student Visitor Acceptance Letter (which will be issued by the International Office), and evidence that you can support yourself financially for the duration of your course. You will be given a “Student Visitor” immigration stamp in your passport which means that you will not be permitted to do any work (paid or voluntary) or apply within the UK to extend your study placement – see below.
(2) You can apply for a Student Visitor Visa in your home country. This will grant you entry to the UK for up to six months but does not allow working in the UK (paid or voluntary) and you cannot extend your visa to stay on in the UK.
The difference between options 1 and 2 is that when you arrive in the UK, if for any reason the airport immigration officers do not want to let you enter the UK, having a Student Visitor Visa before travelling ensures you have permission to remain in the UK to appeal against their decision.
(3) You can apply for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa in your home country. This will allow you to work part-time (paid or voluntary) during your studies and extend your student visa in the UK. Again, if for any reason the airport immigration officers do not want to let you enter the UK, having a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa before travelling ensures you have permission to remain in the UK to appeal against their decision
Although it is not compulsory to apply for a student visa before travelling, we recommend strongly that you do so. This is especially important if you would like to get a part-time job or do voluntary work whilst you are studying. Also, if you think there is the possibility that you will wish to extend your study placement in the UK (for example, if you decide to stay for the full year instead of just a semester), you will only be able to apply for an extension within the UK if you applied for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa before travelling.
Once you have been sent a letter of offer by Queen's International Office, you must decide whether or not you wish to apply for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa (option 3 above), so that we can issue you with the appropriate document required by the UK Border Agency. You must indicate this on your Offer Acceptance Form and return it to the International Office at studyabroad@qub.ac.uk.
If you indicate that you do wish to apply for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa, we will send you a CAS Statement/Number, which you will need for your visa application. Please see the guidance on the ISSO website on applying for your visa.
If you indicate that you wish to enter as a Student Visitor (by either presenting your papers at the airport or applying in your home country), we will send you a Student Visitor Acceptance Letter.
Please note that these two documents are different and can only be used for the purpose issued. You cannot use a Student Visitor Acceptance Letter to apply for a Tier 4 (general) Student Visa. You cannot show a CAS Statement at the airport to enter as a Student Visitor or use it to apply for a Student Visitor Visa in your home country. You must decide which option you wish to follow before you return your Offer Acceptance Form.
Please also see the important information about travelling to the UK.
