Quick guides for students
What type of student visa do I need?
This quick guide explains which type of student visa you should apply for.
On this page
Types of student visa
|
Type of student visa |
Who can apply? |
|---|---|
|
Tier 4 (Child) student
|
You can apply as a child student under Tier 4 of our points-based system if you are between 4 and 17 years old. If you are between 4 and 15 years old, you must be coming to the UK to be educated at an independent fee-paying school. |
|
Child visitor |
You can apply as a child visitor if you are 17 years old or under and you want to come and study in the UK for up to 6 months. You cannot switch and apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa while you are in the UK as a child visitor. If you want to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa, you must apply from the country you live in. |
|
Tier 4 (General) student |
You can apply as an adult student under Tier 4 (General) of our points-based system if you are coming to the UK for your post-16 education. |
|
Student visitor |
You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over, you want to come and study in the UK for up to 6 months, and you do not want to work while you are here. You cannot switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa while you are in the UK as a student visitor. If you want to apply for an Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must apply from the country you live in. |
|
Prospective student |
You can apply as a prospective student if you want to come to the UK to help you decide which course to study, or if you plan to start a course of study within 6 months. You will be able to switch and apply for a Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) student visa while you are in the UK. |
16- and 17-year-old students applying to come for more than 6 months
If you are 16 or 17 years old, you and your approved education provider (also known as your sponsor) should agree whether you need to apply under Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) of the points-based system. If you will be studying a course below National Qualification Framework level 3, you must apply under Tier 4 (Child). If your course is at National Qualification Framework level 3 (or equivalent) or above and is longer than 2 years, we recommend you apply under Tier 4 (General).
If you want to study for an English language qualification at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A2 or above, you must apply under Tier 4 (General).