Short Term Study Visa
Short-term study visas
You can apply for a short-term study visa to take an academic course at the University of Reading.
If you are selected by the UK Border Agency, your visa will allow you to work in the UK during your course of study.
You may also wish to discuss with us your skills and experience, which might allow you to work in the UK after your studies have concluded.
Short-term study visas Explained
You can apply for a Short-term study visa if:
- you’re doing a short course of study in the UK
- you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
- you meet the other eligibility requirements
You need a Standard Visitor visa if you’re an academic visitor.
You cannot apply if you qualify for British citizenship- including if you can have dual nationality. You must apply for British Citizenship instead.
Speak to our assessment team now to confirm your eligibility and options for free on 0800 970 2727.
You can:
● do a short course of study
in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course
● do a short period of
research as part of a degree course if you are studying abroad
You cannot:
● study at a state-funded
school
● work (including on a work
placement or work experience) or carry out any business
● extend this visa
● bring family members
(‘dependants’) with you – they must apply separately
● get public funds
You can stay in the UK for:
● 6 months – for any short
course (including English language courses), or short period of research if
you’re 16 or over
● 11 months – if you’re 16
or over and taking an English language course
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You must prove that you:
● have been offered a place
on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study
● have enough money to
support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives
and friends can support and house you
● can pay for your return or
onward journey
If you’re under 18 you
must also:
● have made arrangements for
your travel and stay in the UK
● have permission from your
parent or guardian to study in the UK
You must be accepted on a
course with an education provider that holds a Tier 4 sponsor licence.
Otherwise your course will
need to be held at an educational institution listed by one of the
following:Accreditation Body for Language Services
● Accreditation Service for
International Colleges
● Accreditation UK
● Bridge Schools
Inspectorate
● British Accreditation
Council
● Education and Training
Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
● Estyn (in Wales)
● Higher Education Funding
Council for England
● HM Inspectorate of
Education (in Scotland)
● Independent Schools
Inspectorate
● Office for Standards in
Education (Ofsted)
● Quality Assurance Agency
for Higher Education
● Schools Inspection Service
You must be at least 16
years old and accepted on a course to learn English as a foreign language if
you’re applying for an 11 month Short-term study visa.
A mixed course, some of
which is spent studying English, does not count.
You can apply for a
Short-term study visa if you’re at least 16 years old and studying at an
overseas higher education institution and part of your course is in the UK.
Your institution must:
● hold its own national
accreditation
● offer only part of its
educational programme in the UK
● offer programmes that are
equivalent to a UK degree
You can come to the UK for
a short period of research if already enrolled on an overseas degree course.
To be eligible:
● your course must be
equivalent to a UK degree
● you must be carrying out
the research at a UK recognised body, or a body that receives public funding as
a higher education institution
● you must be at least 16
years old
When you apply you need to provide:
● a current passport or other valid travel identification
● evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for
the last 6 months
● details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans – you should not pay for accommodation or
travel until you get your visa
● your (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test and you’re coming to the
UK for more than 6 months
● contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country (if you’re under 18 years
old)
You need to provide the original documents.
You also need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You need a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa.
You must provide proof of the course you’re studying, for example a letter of acceptance from the
educational institution – on official headed paper, stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:
● previous study, for example academic certificates, references or transcripts
● English language qualifications, for example certificates or awards
● accommodation and travel plans
● permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)
● financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies
If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:
● you’re travelling on your own
● you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian
You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or over).
Your parent or guardian needs to provide their:
● written consent for you to travel to the UK
● full contact details
They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK,
including:
● the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with
● an address where you will be living
● details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you
● consent in writing so they can look after you during your stay in the UK
You must provide a letter
from the school confirming it has notified the local authority of your visit
and the details of who’ll be caring for you if:
● you’re under 16 (or under 18 if you have a disability)
● you’ll be looked after for
more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)
You must include the reply from the local authority if the school has received one.
When travelling to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or over), you need to identify them in your visa
application.
Their name will appear onyour visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK
without them.
You can identify up to 2adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel
with at least one of them.
The adult can apply for a visa at thesame time, but you must each complete separate applications.
