PROSPECTIVELONDONMET
 

 

Visa Requirements

New visa regulations for international students came into effect on 31 March 2009, and 31 March 2010 so it is important that you read the guidance carefully and decide whether you wish/need to apply for a full Adult Student Visa or come as a Student Visitor.

Do you need a visa?

  • If you hold a passport from a country that is not a member of the EU or EEA then you should carefully read the Visa section as this will be applicable to you.

All the following information is for non EU/EEA passport holders.

Use the pages from the UK Border Agency to find out whether you need to apply for a visa before you come to study in the UK. To check if you are a 'visa national' please see this Appendix to the Immigration Rules.

Note that:

All non EU/EEA students who wish to work, intern or volunteer during their stay will require a PBS student visa.

All non EU/EEA students staying longer than 6 months will require a PBS student visa. 

All students holding a passport from a Visa National country will require a PBS student visa (if staying for more than 6 months) or a Visitor letter along with Prior Entry Clearance from the UKBA (if staying less than 6 months).

It is your responsibility to ensure that you apply in good time for a visa, if necessary. 

Our role as your sponsor

Under PBS, students who come to the UK to study will have to be "sponsored" by a specific educational institution. This means that the university that you study with must monitor your attendance and progress, and report students who fail to attend classes to the UK Border Agency (Home Office). Under PBS, Universities are known as 'Tier 4 Sponsors'.
Read more about our role as your sponsor

Applying for a student visa from overseas

The Points Based System requires students to score 40 points in order to be successful in getting a visa to study in the UK.

To be granted a visa, you will need to:

  • have a 'Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number. The CAS is a electronic reference number and will be issued by London Metropolitan University (worth 30 points)

and:

  • meet the maintenance requirements - (worth 10 points)

CAS numbers and student visitor letters

The International Programmes Office (IPO) will issue a CAS or Student Visitor letter to:

  • all non EU/EEA students who hold an unconditional offer for a full year programme

  • all non EU/EEA students who hold an unconditional offer and have notified us that they intend to work

You must specifically request a CAS from the IPO if you do not meet any of the criteria above but still wish to apply for a PBS student visa, for example if you wish to work, volunteer, have the option of extending your stay in the UK, or for any other reason.  In this case, please email us to request a CAS for your visa application as soon as possible.

For all other non EU/EEA students who do not meet the criteria above, we will issue a 'student visitor letter' for you to show to the Immigration Officer at point of entry, to prove that you will be studying at a Tier 4 Licensed Sponsor institution.  You do not need to request this individually.

Please read the guidance on the student visitor category on the UK Border agency website and check that this category is suitable for you, and how it works. Some students may need to apply for prior entry clearance despite not fulfilling any of the criteria above, it is your responsibility to check this:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/student-visitors/

Maintenance requirement

The maintenance requirement is evidence that you have sufficient funds to live in the UK (in addition to the cost of your tuition fees if applicable). This level is set at £1,000 per month in Inner London (which includes both North and City campuses), up to a maximum of 9 months. So, for example a student coming to the UK to study on Erasmus for the whole academic year doesn't need to show any tuition fees but must show £1,000 maintenance per month or part month of stay. Please do check the UKBA website for the most up to date information.

The whole amount of money that you need to show for the maintenance requirement must remain in your bank account for 28 days before you make your visa application and must not go below the required amount at any time during the 28 days.

PLEASE NOTE!
If you cannot show the funds in your own bank account, the only other relatives you can use as a sponsor are your parents (unless you have an official financial sponsor, e.g. the UK government or an international organisation). If you want to use your parents' account you will need additional documents.

English language requirements

As of 21st April 2011 the UK Border Agency instituted new rules regarding proof of English language ability for students applying for a Tier 4 visa. 

We now are unable to issue a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) until an approved test has been taken by incoming students and a copy of the results sent to us (the original certificate must be kept for your visa application). The test must be run by one of the providers on the approved list.

There are also new (higher) minimum requirements that must be met before a CAS can be issued. Rather than just meeting a certain overall level, there are now minimum requirements in the different components, speaking, reading, writing and listening that must be met.

Further information on the new rules, approved testers and minimum requirements can be found on the UKBA website:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/english-language/#

If taking IELTS, you must achieve a minimum of 5.5 overall and 5.5 in each of of the four components of IELTS. Minimums have also been set for TOEFL (TOEFL IBT Reading 21, Listening 22, Speaking 23 and Writing 21) and other SELTs (Secure English Language Tests).

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/new-approved-english-tests.pdf

Please note that if you do not achieve the required level in ALL of the components then the test will not be valid for use in your visa application. The minimum level is B2 of the Common European Framework.

Where can you find out more about student visas and how to apply?

If you have any questions, just email erasmus@londonmet.ac.uk

Please note, all information provided in this website is done so in good faith, please do check UK Border Agency websites for the most up to date information and regulations!

 


 
 
  Page last updated : : 14 May 2012