The visa you need depends on the English language course you will study, the length of the course, and the English Language qualification that you have.
There are three types of visa to choose from: the Student visa, the Short-term study visa and the Standard Visitor visa.
Find out which visa you will need based on the type of pre-sessional and length of the English language course you will be studying:
Academic Year Pre-sessionals
If you are studying for more than 11 months
If you are studying for a period of more than 11 months, you must apply for a Student visa before travelling to the UK. Read our step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Student visa
We recommend that you apply for a Student visa if:
- You have an offer to start an academic degree programme immediately after the completion of your English language course.
- Your course is longer than six months and family members are accompanying you as dependants.
- You wish to work part time.
To be eligible for a Student visa you will need to have a Secure English Language Test (SELT). You can find information about the English Language qualifications that we accept, including SELTs, on our English Language certificates page.
You must remain on your pre-sessional English programme if you hold a Student visa, even if you obtain a higher IELTS score during the course. This is because if you stop studying, the University must report this to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI and your visa will be cancelled. You must also return home as you cannot extend your visa inside the UK due to not completing the course for which your visa was issued.
Please note that Student visas can be extended from inside the UK if they meet the UKVI’s Academic Progression and other requirements.
If you are studying for six to 11 months
If you are studying an English language course for a period of six to 11 months, you can apply for a Short-term study visa or Student visa
Work is not permitted on the Short-term study visa and you cannot stay longer than 11 months or switch into another immigration route on this visa in the UK.
Short-term study visas require you to leave the UK and return home after completion of your English language course to apply for a Student visa for your academic degree programme.
Find further information about short-term study visas on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.
For further information on Student visas please read the guidance on applying for ‘If you are studying for more than 11 months’ in the previous section on this page.
If you are studying for less than six months
If you are studying an English language course for less than six months, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa or a Student visa.
A Standard Visitor visa is suitable for most Language Centre students, but a Student visa allows you to work part-time while you are studying.
Standard Visitor visas require you to leave the UK and return home after completion of the English language course to apply for a Student visa for your academic degree programme.
Read our comparison guide to help you decide which visa to apply for.
Summer Pre-Sessionals
Please note, we recommend that you apply for a Student visa if you are studying a summer pre-sessional, as you will also have an offer to start an academic degree programme immediately after the completion of your English language course. This visa can be extended in the UK, avoiding delays in arriving for and starting your chosen degree programme.
To be eligible for a Student visa, you will need to have a Secure English Language Test (SELT), unless you are eligible to receive a combined CAS. You can find information about the English Language qualifications that we accept, including SELTs, on our English Language certificates page.
If you are studying an Academic English for Undergraduate Studies Pre-sessional
You will need to provide us a Secure English Language Test on CEFR B2 level, taken in the last 2 years of the course start date and apply for a Student Visa for the pre-sessional course only. Your Student visa can be extended from inside the UK, if you meet the UKVI’s Academic Progression and other requirements.
If you are studying a Research Pre-sessional
As this English language course is less than six months, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa or a Student visa.
A Standard Visitor visa is suitable for most Language Centre students, but a Student visa allows you to work part-time while you are studying.
Standard Visitor visas require you to leave the UK and return home after completion of the English language course to apply for a Student visa for your academic degree programme.
You will only be eligible for a combined CAS for your Pre-sessional and degree programme if your research degree offer is unconditional.
If you are studying the 6 week Online Pre-sessional
No visa is required to study this course. You must successfully complete the online pre-sessional and receive your CAS for your degree programme before you can travel to the UK. It is your responsibility to arrange your travel and visa appointment, and the Language Centre cannot be held liable if you arrive too late to start your degree course. If you arrive late, please contact the admissions team using the contact details in your degree offer letter. You also check UKVI’s visa processing times before you apply.
If you are studying one of the Content-based Academic English for Postgraduate Studies pre-sessional
10 week pre-sessional
If your offer is unconditional or conditional only on English, you will be eligible for a combined CAS for your pre-sessional and Masters course and will need to apply for a Student Visa.
If you have a conditional Masters offer with an academic condition, you will need to provide us a Secure English Language Test on CEFR B2 level, taken in the last 2 years of the course start date and apply for a Student Visa for the pre-sessional course only. Your Student Visa can be extended from inside the UK, if you meet the UKVI’s Academic Progression and other requirements. You may be eligible to receive a combined CAS if you meet our deadlines. Find further information on the deadlines for pre-sessional courses page
6 week pre-sessional
You will only be eligible for a combined CAS for your pre-sessional and masters course if you meet your academic conditions by the deadline. If you are unable to do this, you will need to provide a SELT and request a pre-sessional-only CAS via the application portal to apply for a Student Visa, which can be extended from inside the UK, if you meet the UKVI’s Academic Progression and other requirements. Find further information on the deadlines for pre-sessional courses page.
Who do I contact if I need visa advice?
If you have a visa question, or would like your visa application checked before you submit it, please contact the Student Visa Advice service.