Short-Term Study Visa and Student Visitor Visa
What Is a UK Student Visitor Visa?
Understanding the UK Student Visitor Visa: Who It's For and How It Works
You may qualify for a Short-term study visa if you’re planning to take an English language course in the UK.
To apply, your course must last more than 6 months but no longer than 11 months, and you must be 16 or older.
You need to prove that:
- You’ve been accepted onto an English language course that lasts more than 6 months and up to 11 months, with no additional subjects
- Your course is offered by an accredited institution
- You have enough funds to support yourself without working or relying on public funds, or that friends or family can support and house you
- You can afford your return or onward journey
If you’re under 18, you must also:
- Have made arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK
- Have written consent from your parent or guardian to study in the UK
- You can stay in the UK for the duration of your course plus an additional 30 days, but your total stay cannot exceed 11 months.
What You Cannot Do
With this visa, you cannot:
- Study on any course other than your English language course or switch courses whilst in the UK
- Study at a state-funded school
- Work or engage in any business activities, including paid or unpaid work, work experience, or placements
- Extend this visa
- Bring family members (‘dependants’) with you
- Apply for most public benefits or the State Pension
Student Visitor Visa Requirements (Standard Visitor Visa)
Who Can Apply for a UK Student Visitor Visa?
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to:
- Study at an accredited institution, including English language courses
- Conduct a short research project related to your overseas course
- Complete an ‘elective’ placement, which is an optional additional placement if you are studying medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, midwifery, or dentistry
- Sit for an entrance exam, retake an exam or course module, or take a PhD oral exam (viva)
- Undertake an unpaid clinical attachment if you are a graduate from a medical, dental, or nursing school
- Take the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
UK Student Visitor Visa Checklist
What Documents Do You Need for a UK Student Visitor Visa?
You should:
- Check you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor and any relevant extra eligibility requirements
- You must have a passport or travel document that is valid for the entire duration of your stay in the UK. Ensure there is a blank page in your passport for the Standard Visitor visa
When completing your online application, you will need to provide the following information:
- The dates you plan to travel to the UK
- The address where you will be staying during your visit
- An estimate of the cost of your trip
- Your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
- Your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
- Your annual income (if applicable)
- Details of any criminal, civil, or immigration offences you may have committed
Depending on your situation, you may also need to provide:
- A record of your travel history for the past 10 years
- Your employer’s address and contact number
- Your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number
- The name and address of anyone funding your trip
- The name, address, and passport number of any family members residing in the UK
- A certificate confirming that you’ve had a tuberculosis (TB) test if your visit is longer than 6 months
Supporting Documents Based on Purpose of Visit
What Additional Documents Are Needed for a UK Student Visitor Visa?
If you're visiting to study at an accredited institution
You must provide evidence that:
- You’ve been accepted onto a course offered by an accredited UK institution
- The course is no longer than 6 months, unless it’s a distance learning course
- The accredited UK institution must not be an academy or state-funded school
Distance learning courses
If you’re enrolled in a distance learning course, your course can exceed 6 months, as most of your study will take place outside the UK.
You can visit the UK to participate in certain activities related to your course, such as:
- Attending induction weeks
- Engaging in face-to-face intensive learning
- Having progress checks
- Taking exams or assessments
If you're visiting to do a short piece of research
You must prove that:
- You’re at least 16 years old
- You’re already enrolled on a course overseas that is the equivalent of a UK degree
- You’ve been accepted by a UK higher education institution to take part in research that’s relevant to the course you’re studying overseas
- You can visit for up to 6 months to do your research.
If you're visiting to do an elective
You must prove that you are:
- At least 16 years old
- Already enrolled in a course overseas that is equivalent to a UK degree, specifically in medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, midwifery, or dentistry
- Completing an elective at a UK higher education institution as part of your course
Your UK higher education provider must provide written confirmation that you will not be treating patients or receiving payment for the elective.
If you're visiting for an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post
If you’re an overseas graduate from a medical, dental, or nursing school, you can do an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post for up to 6 months.
If you wish to stay longer than 6 months, you will need to pass the PLAB test and apply to remain in the UK.
- You must not treat patients during your stay
- You must provide written confirmation of:
- Your clinical attachment or dental observer post offer
- That you have not previously done a clinical attachment or dental observer post in the UK
If you're taking the OSCE or PLAB test
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to take the OSCE or PLAB test.
- If you do not pass the PLAB test, you can apply for a further 6-month stay to retake the test
- If you pass the PLAB test, you can apply to stay in the UK to do an unpaid clinical attachment or dental observer post. In total, you can stay in the UK for up to 18 months
You must provide:
- A letter from the Nursing and Midwifery Council confirming your OSCE test registration, or
- A letter from the General Medical Council confirming your PLAB test registration
UK Student Visitor Visa Processing Times
How Fast Can You Get a UK Student Visitor Visa?
If you’re applying for a UK Student Visitor Visa, understanding the processing times is crucial to planning your trip.
Typically, it takes around 3 weeks to process a UK Student Visitor Visa application from the date of submission.
For urgent applications, you may be able to pay for faster processing through the Priority Visa service, which can shorten the processing time to 5 working days. However, this option depends on the location of your application and availability at the visa application centre.
UK Student Visitor Visa Application Fees
How Much Does a UK Student Visitor Visa Cost?
You must meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor visa, along with any additional relevant eligibility criteria.
The visa fee for a 6-month stay is £127.
What Is the Difference Between a Student Visitor Visa, a Short-Term Study Visa, and a Standard Student Visa?
Which UK Study Visa Is Right for You?
- If you’re planning to study in the UK, choosing the right visa is crucial. Here’s a quick guide to the main types of student visas:
Student Visitor Visa
Duration: Up to 6 months (11 months for English courses)
Work: Not allowed
Course Type: Short-term courses or English language courses
Extensions: Not allowed
Eligibility: For students attending non-degree level courses
When to Use: For short courses or language programmes under 6 months
Short-Term Study Visa
Duration: Up to 6 months (11 months for English courses)
Work: Not allowed
Course Type: Short-term or language courses
Extensions: Not allowed
Eligibility: For short, non-degree level studies
When to Use: For short-term studies (6 months or less) without plans to work or extend your stay
Standard Student Visa (Tier 4)
Duration: Length of course plus extra time
Work: Allowed (20 hours/week during term time, full-time during holidays)
Course Type: Degree-level or higher education courses
Extensions: Allowed to extend or switch courses
Eligibility: For full-time degree-level studies at a licensed institution
When to Use: For long-term studies (more than 6 months) at degree level or higher
Comparison Table
| Feature | Student Visitor Visa | Short-Term Study Visa | Standard Student Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 6 months (11 months for English courses) | Up to 6 months (11 months for English courses) | Duration of course + extra time |
| Work | Not allowed | Not allowed | Allowed (term time: part-time, holidays: full-time) |
| Course Type | Short courses, English language courses | Short courses, English language courses | Full-time degree-level or higher courses |
| Extensions | Not allowed | Not allowed | Allowed (can extend or switch to another course) |
| Eligibility | Non-degree level courses, short-term study | Non-degree level courses, short-term study | Degree-level or higher education courses |
| Financial Proof | Required (tuition + living costs) | Required (tuition + living costs) | Required (tuition + living costs, higher amounts) |
If you’re studying a short course, a Student Visitor Visa or Short-Term Study Visa is best. For degree-level courses, the Standard Student Visa is the right option, allowing you to work part-time and extend your stay.
Latest Short-Term Study Visa News
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