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New UK Visa regulations
Studying in the UK: the new points-based system for students (tier 4)
This information is for guidance only - please refer to the UKBA website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
UK Visa regulations for international students is in the process of changing, though exact details are not yet finalised. We have outlined everything you need to know about how this affects you below – this information has been sourced from the UK Border Agency.
Find out more about:
- Do I need a visa?
- How are the points calculated?
- Finances & bank accounts
- Cost of a visa
- Can I work in the UK?
- How do I apply?
- Who can I talk to for more advice?
To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a student after the end of March 2009, you must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points to get your visa.
You will score:
- 30 points for a visa letter from an approved education provider; and
- 10 points if you can show you have enough finances to cover you, your course fees and monthly living expenses for up to 9 months (known as maintenance)
A visa letter is an offer letter from your education provider who is your immigration sponsor, including information about you, your sponsor, the course, and your finances.
Find out more about the information the visa letter must contain
What is an Approved Education Provider?
You must study with an approved education provider on the UK Border Agency Tier 4 Register of Sponsors which you can find online at the UK Border Agency Register of Sponsors.
Your approved education provider is your immigration sponsor while you are in the United Kingdom, and must tell the UK Border Agency if you:
- do not arrive for the start of a course
- withdraw from a course
- defer or suspend your studies
- fail to attend your course for significant periods of time.
The finances you need to pass the points-based assessment are:
| Length of course | Where you will study | Maintenance (finance) needed |
| 9 months or less | London-based | Course fees + £800 for each calendar month of the course |
| 9 months or less | Outside London | Course fees + £600 for each calendar month of the course |
| More than 9 months | London-based | First year of fees + £7,200 to cover the first 9 months |
| More than 9 months | Outside London | First year of fees + £5,400 to cover the first 9 months |
Proof of finance
For further information about documentation you need to approve availability of fund visit the UKBA website.
You will need to fill in the application form, pay your fee and include:
- a current passport or travel document
- a visa letter from a licensed sponsor
- documents to show you have the right finances (maintenance) available
- documents used by your sponsors when they accepted you on to the course
- your ID card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom
The UK Border Agency will also need to record your biometric details if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom.
The visa fee is currently £145 (for applicants outside UK).
You can work part-time (no more than 20 hours a week) during term-time while studying and full-time during vacations.
Sample visa letter from UK institution
The visa letter should contain the following information:
| Route | This should say 'general student' or 'adult student' |
| You (the student) | • Your name (as shown on your passport if applicable) • Your nationality • Your passport or travel document number (optional) |
| Approved education provider (also known as 'sponsor') | • The education provider's licence number • The education provider's address (if different from the letterhead) • The education provider's contact details (if different from the letterhead) • The name and address of any partner institution (if you are studying at another institution as part of this course) • The name and address of any overseas higher education institution (if the time you spend in the United Kingdom studying is part of an overseas higher education course) |
| Course | • The course title - or, if the visa letter is being issued for you to undertake a post at a sabbatical officer, details of the post • The academic level of course or qualification you will get when you complete the course (the National Qualifications Framework level or the type of qualification - for example, a bachelor's degree). If you will be studying an English language course, the level of the course should be the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level - for example, CEFR level A2 • The start date (the date you start your main studies, or the date you start an induction or course to prepare you for study if you have an unconditional offer to do your main course) • The latest date you can join the course (optional) • The expected end date • The number of hours per week (optional if studying a full-time degree course that leads to a United Kingdom recognised bachelor or postgraduate degree, or an overseas higher education course equivalent to a United Kingdom higher education course) • The address of your main place of study, if different to the approved education provider's main address • The address of any organisation offering you a work placement, if known and applicable |
| Evidence used to obtain the offer (visa letter) | A list of evidence that the approved education provider used to assess your academic ability to finish the course, which may include: • the level or type of your existing qualification (if applicable) • the qualification awarding body and/or institution (if applicable) confirmation that an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate is needed (if applicable) If you are applying to continue or complete the course of study for which you currently have permission to stay, and your approved education provider has used your progress to date to assess your suitability to continue this course, the education provider must explain this on the visa letter. |
| Money (also known as maintenance) | • Course fees for the first year, or the length of the course • Course fees that you have paid so far (if applicable) • Accommodation fees that you have paid so far (if applicable) |
For further information visit the UKBA website.
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Visa advice: talk to us
Our Education advisers are in regular contact with the UK Visa Agency and can give you detailed advice on how the new regulations affect you, whatever pathway you need to study in the UK.
We have a number of offices and regional experts throughout the world. Click on the relevant links to send an email, or please call us on the numbers below:
East Asia
China - Tel: +86 10 8526 1130 (Mr Pete Fiaschi)
Hong Kong - Tel: +852 9333 0977 (Ms Florence Chow)
Korea - Tel: +82 2 2052 1221 (Mrs Jinah Park)
All other East Asian countries - Tel: +44 (0) 1223 346187 (Mr Michael Parris)
Eastern Europe
Russia - Tel: +7 495 223 1348 (Mrs Maria Andropova)
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - Tel: +7 926 007 3891 (Miss Natalia Bogdanova)
All other Eastern European countries - Tel: +44 (0) 1223 346187 (Mr Chris Broadhurst)
South Asia - Tel: +44 (0) 1223 346187 (Mr Rob Hayes)
Africa - Tel: +44 (0) 1227 453237 (Ms Cathy Greenwood) / +234 805 108 4575 (when travelling in Nigeria)
Middle East - Tel: +44 (0) 1223 346187 (Mr Gregory Horobin)
South America - Tel: +44 1242 238641 (Mr Francisco Bustos)
North America - Tel: +44 (0) 1227 866543 (Mr Francisco Bustos)
Western Europe - Tel: +44 (0) 1227 866543 (Mr Francisco Bustos)