Frequently Asked Questions: Applying for a Tier 4 Visa (outside or inside the UK)
1. I am in my home country, I am going to study at UEL. How do I apply for a visa?
If you wish to study at UEL and you are not a British national or a national of a European Union member state, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland, you will require a visa in order to study in the UK.
If your main reason for coming to the UK is to study, you will need to apply for a student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System for UK Migration. In order to successfully apply for a Tier 4 (Student) Visa you need to obtain 40 points.
Detailed information on the requirements for Student Visas (Tier 4) are available on the Student Visas section of our webpages as well as on the UKCISA and UK Border Agency websites.
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2. I am in the UK. I need to renew my student visa. What should I do?
If you need to renew your student visa because you have started a new course or because you need extra time to complete a course that you have already started, please see our webpages on Student Visas for detailed information. For an overview of the Tier 4 renewal process and how to request a CAS, see our Tier 4 Student Visa Renewal Process. We also hold regular workshops for students who need to renew their student visa.
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3. I need a CAS. What is it and how do I get one?
In order to successfully apply for a Tier 4 visa you need to obtain 40 points under Tier 4 of the Points Based System of UK migration. 30 of the 40 points required are awarded for a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS).
For an overview of the Tier 4 renewal process and how to request a CAS, see our Tier 4 Student Visa Renewal Process. You can also find more information on the Student Visas section of our webpages.
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4. How much money do I need to show for my student visa application?
In order to successfully apply for a Student Visa you need to obtain 40 points under Tier 4 of the Points Based System of UK migration. 10 of the 40 points required are awarded for holding the relevant amount of funds for the specified period.
In all cases, you will need to show that you have enough funds to cover any outstanding tuition fees for the current academic year as well as living costs. The amount of living costs that you are required to show will depend on whether or not you have an established presence studying in the UK.
If you do not have an established presence studying in the UK, you will need to show the higher maintenance requirement. If you have an established presence studying in the UK, you will need to show the lower maintenance requirement.
More details on the maintenance requirements are available our student visas section of our website: Maintenance: Applying Inside the UK and Maintenance: Applying Outside the UK.
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5. My visa expires before graduation, can I extend it?
The UK Border Agency does not consider the Graduation Ceremony to be part of your studies. They will therefore not permit you to extend your student (Tier 4) visa for the purposes of attending graduation. This means that you will need to leave the UK before your visa expires. However, you are eligible to apply to return to the UK on a 'General Visitor Visa'. See 'Returning to the UK for my Graduation Ceremony - what do I need to do?'
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Tier 4 Sponsor Licence
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