Visas and Immigration
Please be aware that UKVI visa policy is subject to change, and changes often. You should also check the UK Government’s Visas and Immigration page for the most up-to-date information. This is particularly important given the current Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, as the advice changes rapidly and in accordance to the ever-changing situation.
Generally speaking, if you are normally resident outside of the UK/EU, and you do not hold UK/EU citizenship you will require a Tier 4 Student visa in order to enter the UK as a student. You will need to have made an application for a visa and be granted entry clearance as a student before travelling to the UK.
Entry clearance to the UK as a student is granted via the Points Based system. Points are awarded for having been provided with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) by the institution you intend to study at once you hold an unconditional offer, with further points awarded for meeting maintenance requirements.
Further to this:
- You must hold an Unconditional Offer to study a Full-Time course
- You must be able to demonstrate your ability to follow the course (via your academic record and command of the English language)
- You must be able to demonstrate that you have enough money to meet the total costs of your study.
If you believe this may apply to you and hold an offer to study here at The Courtauld, you will need to undertake take the following steps in order to apply for visa outside of the UK, though further, detailed information will be provided upon receipt of your CAS:
Study Abroad / Programmes lasting 6 months or less
Study Abroad students studying in the UK for 6 months or less will not be issued a CAS in support of a Tier 4 visa – you will instead need to independently apply for a short-term study visa.
Dependants
If your programme lasts 12 months or longer, you may be eligible to bring dependants with you. The UKCISA guidance on dependants clarifies what a dependant is, your eligibility and how to apply to bring dependants with you.
UK Healthcare and NHS surcharge
As an international student it is important that you take the time to consider how you will access health care whilst in the UK. Access will be different depending on the length of your programme, your status as a Home, EU/EEA or Overseas student and whether or not you require a visa.
A Tier 4 visa student will typically be required to pay the NHS surcharge. To calculate your fee, you can use the Immigration Health Surcharge tool at https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type. The Home Office website will check how much you will have to pay.
If you do not pay the IHS your application will be refused. The Home Office may contact you and request payment before refusing your application for this reason but you should not rely on this happening.
Note: As of 6 April 2016, Australian and New Zealand nationals are now subject to the NHS Surcharge. However, British Overseas Territory citizens who live in the Falkland Islands are exempt. See the UKVI for up-to-date information about who does and who does not have to complete the IHS.
Find out about how to access Healthcare in the UKContact the Admissions Team if you have any issues
If you have any questions about your visa status, please do contact us at ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk or pgadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk as appropriate.
Contacting us is particularly important when you receive your passport and visa back from the British Embassy or Consulate – it is vitally important that you check all the information on your Biometric Residency Permit to ensure there are no mistakes. Should there be any errors on any correspondence from the British Embassy or Consulate processing your visa application it is advised to contact us immediately.
You should be in the UK no later than 24 September 2018 ahead of the 2018/9 academic year.
The above represents only an outline of the process. Full guidance on the visa process can be found on the UKCISA website. Details on how a visa application differs when applying within the UK for Leave to Remain – which can only be undertaken under certain circumstances – can also be found on the UKCISA website.
The Courtauld Institute of Art reserves the right to refuse to sponsor your study and issue you a CAS.
If you have any questions about your visa status, please do contact us at ugadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk or pgadmissions@courtauld.ac.uk as appropriate.