Study in the UK

What is Tier 4 (General)?

The fourth tier of the points based UK immigration system focuses upon overseas
students who wish to gain entry clearance to study in the UK.
Tier 4 visas replace the UK student visa service and place more emphasis upon the
responsibility of the educational body in question for the applicants they permit to study.
The aim of this tier immigration service is to provide a more user-friendly, transparent
route to studying in the UK.

Do you need to apply for a Tier 4 student visa?

You can study in the UK without a student visa if:
you are a national of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland;
you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign
base areas in Cyprus;
you are a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the UK because at
least one of your grandparents was born here; or
you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.
However, if you are a national of Bulgaria or Romania, your ability to work during your
studies may be restricted.
Who can apply as a Tier 4 (General) Student?

The Tier 4 (General) category is for adult students who want to come to or remain in the
UK for their post-16 education.
If you are classed an international student you will need to become a Tier 4 General
student sponsored with a UK educational institute.
To apply under the Tier 4 you must have a sponsor and a Confirmation Acceptance of
Study (CAS this is a virtual document rather than a piece of paper).
Once you have a Confirmation Acceptance of Study (CAS) you must score at least 40
points:
30 points for the Confirmation Acceptance of Study; and
10 points for available maintenance (funds).
How do become A Tier 4 (General) Student?
You must have a secured place at a UK-based institution for full-time study. Full-time
means a minimum of 15 hours of classroom study per week.
You plan to study minimum B2 level of English language course of the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) but exceptions can be made if
you are a government-sponsored student or if you want to study a pre-sessional English
course that meets certain requirements.
You must be able to support yourself without access to public funds, as well as pay for
the course and all accommodation and maintenance.
It is essential that applicants state that they intend to return to their home country after
the course is completed.
Can I work during my studies?
Under the new rules which came into effect from the 4th July the following working
restriction apply.
The aim of the revised Immigration Rules is to deliver a strong migration system which
tackles immigration abuse, while allowing genuine students to study at genuine colleges.
News: From 4 July UKBA will:
restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs)
and publicly funded further education colleges only; 10hrs to FE colleges and 20hrs for
universities plus 50/50 on study work based courses.
require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic
progression;
ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a
declaration on the visa application form;
commit to publish a list of financial institutions that we consider, on the basis of

experience, do not verify financial statements to our satisfaction in more than 50 per cent
of a sample of cases;
introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend
courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors;
extend the list of courses for which students must receive ATAS clearance;
restrict the ability to deliver accountancy courses accredited by the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to those sponsors accorded platinum or gold
status by ACCA; and
clarify the position of overseas universities with campuses in the UK.
Can I bring my dependants into the UK?
Yes you will be allowed to bring your dependants into the UK if you are studying at
postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and governmentsponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months.
Please contact us for further information.
For more details follow the links: Spouse Visa UK, Settlement Visa UK, UK visitor's
VISA, UK student visa, Work in the UK & Study in the UK.