European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss students
If you are an EEA or Swiss national you should be able to enter the UK simply by showing your passport or national identity card. Immigration officials should not enquire about your stay in the UK, though if there is a problem with your documents, they are entitled to ask you some questions. Your passport will not be stamped when you go through immigration, so you may wish to consider applying for a residence permit after you have arrived in the UK. Please contact the us if you would like more information about this.
Non-EEA students
If you are not an EEA or Swiss national, and you are coming to study a course of more than six months or a Pre-sessional course, you need to apply for a student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. It is very important that you do not enter the UK as a visitor as you will not be able to switch visa categories once you are here, and you will not be allowed to start your course!
To help you with your Tier 4 visa application, the university has prepared a step-by-step guide, which should be read alongside our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
The most common reason for a visa refusal is failure to evidence funds in the format required by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). To avoid a refusal due to funds, please read about the criteria and required document formats in our FAQ.
Please note that, under new rules, the UKBA will not issue a Tier 4 visa if this will lead to you spending more than five years on courses at degree level, with some exceptions. If you have previously studied in the UK the university will assess your eligibility for a Tier 4 visa when processing your application.
You may also be aware that, from April 2013, the UKBA will be conducting "credibility interviews" as part of the Tier 4 visa application process. It is essential that you are well-prepared in advance of these interviews as questions can cover a wide variety of topics. Some possible questions that UKBA interviewers might ask can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Please ensure that you submit your visa application as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment. The university's deadline for enrolment cannot be extended, so if you arrive at the university after the latest start date as stated on your CAS, you will not be permitted to enrol on your course.
Please note that all the information on these pages is supplied in good faith. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate, the requirements relating to visas and immigration are complex and change frequently, often at short notice. We cannot therefore accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor for consequences arising from the use of this information.