If you are studying in the UK for more than six months, you will need a Student visa. If you are studying in the UK for less than six months, you can choose to apply for a Student visa or a Standard Visitor visa.
This page explains the differences to help you decide which visa to apply for.
Standard Visitor visa
- Work or unpaid (voluntary) work is not permitted on the Standard Visitor visa.
- You cannot stay in the UK for longer than six months and you must leave the UK within 30 days of the course end date
- You cannot extend this visa or change the type of visa from inside the UK.
If you choose to apply for a Standard Visitor visa there are two ways to apply, depending on your nationality.
Visa nationals
If your nationality is on the UK Government’s list of visa national countries, you must apply online before you travel.
Non-visa nationals
If your nationality is not on the UK Government’s list of visa national countries, you can choose to apply online before you travel or you can get the correct immigration permission when you arrive at a UK airport.
If you apply for a visa before you travel
- You will need to pay a visa fee. See the UK Government’s visa fees page for details
- This is a multiple entry visa, so you can leave the UK and re-enter
If you need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
- Some non-visa nationals who wish to travel to the UK as a Visitor (including for short-term study) will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before they can travel. The ETA costs £10.
- Currently the ETA requirement applies to Gulf and Jordanian nationals only, but this will be expanded to other non-visa nationals, including EU nationals, by early 2025.
- Check if you will need an ETA on the UK Government’s website before you travel.
- An ETA only provides permission to travel and so you will need to meet and follow the Standard Visitor rules when you arrive. Follow the advice below about getting immigration permission at the airport.
If you get immigration permission at the airport or other port of entry
- It is free of charge.
- This is a single entry visa but if you want to leave the UK and re-enter during the semester, you can request permission to enter again if you leave the UK.
If you choose to get the immigration permission when you arrive in the UK, you must follow this guidance:
- Always carry your University of Leeds offer letter to provide evidence the purpose of your visit, proof of accommodation booked in Leeds, and your most recent bank statements with you in your hand luggage to present to an Immigration Officer to confirm you can support yourself financially throughout your course and pay for a flight home.
- Confirm that you are coming to the UK to study if you are asked what the reason for your visit is.
- Arrive in the UK near to the course start date as you are entering as a visitor for up to six months.
- If you enter via the Republic of Ireland or a passport E-gate, you will not pass through UK immigration control so you must retain your boarding pass and/or flight details to prove the date you entered. You will have permission to remain in the UK for six months.
Please read the UK Council for International Student Affairs’ (UKCISA) visitor guidance before applying for a Standard Visitor visa.
Student visa
If you are studying for a period of more than six months, you must apply for a Student visa online before travelling to the UK.
See our step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Student visa.
- You will need to pay a visa fee. See the UK Government’s visa fees page for details.
- You may need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge fee (payable if your visa is valid for more than six months)
- If you are studying for less than six months, you can arrive up to seven days before the start date of the course. You can stay for up to seven days after the course finish date.
- If you are studying for six to 12 months, your visa will be valid up to one month before the start date of the course and for up to two months after the course finish date.
- This is a multiple entry visa, so you can leave the UK and re-enter
- You cannot extend this visa or change the type of visa from inside the UK if you decide to extend your course of study
Immigration information for European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss nationals
The deadline for applying for the EU settlement scheme has now passed.
If you made an application to the EU Settlement Scheme that has not yet been granted, you may have a Certificate of Application. Please read UKCISA’s international student advice and guidance.
UKCISA also has advice on the EU/EEA/Swiss travel documents that can be used to enter the UK from 1 October 2021.