Apply for a Student Route Visa

To be eligible for a Student Visa (Student Route), you need 70 points under the Home Office Points Based System (PBS).

You can read the full guidance by visiting -  www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student

When you apply for a Student Route visa, you will need to prove the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you have enough money to cover your living costs and tuition fees.

How much money you need to show depends on your tuition fees and the length of your course.

Exemptions:

• If you have held a valid Student Route visa for 12 months at the time of the application and you are applying for your visa in the UK, you are exempt from demonstrating any evidence of your finances. Please contact the International Student Advisers (international@chi.ac.uk) if you think that you will fall under this criterion.
• If you are a national of a country listed on the differentiated national list (see Appendix Student ST 22.1), you will not be asked to submit financial evidence. However, you must still meet the financial requirements and be ready to show evidence of funds if asked to do so.

To claim 10 points for funds you must show that you have enough money to cover the tuition fees and living costs.  See “how much money do I need?” section above.

To help you calculate the amount of money you need to have, please download the Funds Calculator worksheet.

Unless you are exempt from showing evidence of your finances, you must show that you meet the financial requirements.

If you are not exempt from showing evidence, we will ask you to show your financial evidence to us during a CAS eligibility interview before a CAS can be issued to you.

List of different types of documents you can use as evidence of funds

Bank statements – The bank statement must belong to you, your parent(s)/legal guardian(s). If you are using a joint account your name (or your parent(s)/guardian(s) name must be named on the account. The statement must show that the funds are available for a consecutive 28-day period. The statement must not be older than 31 days when you submit your visa application online.  The 28 days is calculated from the date of the last transaction in the last dated bank statement.

Download our example bank statement [PDF]

The bank statement must show the following details:

1. Your name/ name(s) or your parent(s)/ legal guardian(s)
2. The account number
3. The bank’s name and logo
4. The amount of money available
5. The date
6. The currency

You can provide a download of electronic bank statements as long as it has the above information.

If you are using your parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) bank statements, you have to prove your relationship to them by providing one of these documents:

1. Your birth certificate
2. Your certificate of adoption
3. A court document naming your legal guardian(s)

Your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) must provide a letter to confirm that you have permission to use their money for your studies. The letter must include the following details:

1. The relationship between you and your parent(s)/legal guardian(s)
2. That they have given consent for you to use their money to study in the UK

The names on the above documents must match the names on the bank statement.

Bank letters – If you cannot provide bank statements, you can ask your bank for a letter to confirm that you have the required amount of money in your bank account. The letter must confirm that the funds have been held in your account for a consecutive period of 28 days. The letter must not be older than 31 days when you submit your visa application online.

Download EXAMPLE BANK LETTER [PDF]

The bank letter must show:

1. Your name  or the name(s) of your parent(s)/guardian(s)
2. The account number
3. The date of the letter
4. The bank’s name and logo
5. The balance of funds in your account
6. The currency

Using overseas bank accounts - If you are using an overseas bank account, you must use the OANDA website to convert the balance in to GBP. UKVI use this website when they check your application.

Extra checks - UKVI may make additional checks e.g. that the financial institution is regulated and uses electronic record keeping.

Translations - Any documents not in English, must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator.

Other types of evidence you can use - For a full list evidence you can use to show that you meet the financial requirements, please visit the UKVI Student Route Caseworker Guidance and the Financial Evidence guide.

Acceptable evidence - You should not try to submit evidence of your finances that is not listed by the UKVI as acceptable evidence.  For example, do not use your siblings’, uncle’s, aunt’s, grandparent’s bank statements, unless they are your legal guardian and you can show evidence of this). Your application will be refused if you show incorrect evidence.

Unless you are exempt from the English language requirement, you will need to meet the required English language level for your course and provide evidence of this as part of your visa application. See our Evidence of English Language Level document for more information on how you can prove that you meet the requirements.

The level required depends on your degree level. The University may require a higher level of English than what is stipulated by the UKVI.

• If you are studying on a course that is at degree level of above you are required to show evidence of English language level at CEFR B2 (IELTS 5.5) or above. If you are studying on a course that is below degree level, you will need show evidence of English language level at CEFR B1.
• If you are studying on below degree level course, you may be required to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Our admissions team will advise on you this.
• If you are a pre-sessional student you can find more information on the English language requirements on our pre-sessional course pages.  

If you have previously studied in the UK at degree level (RQF 6) or below degree level on a Student Route/ Tier 4/ pre-Tier 4 student visa, you will be subject to study limits.

Postgraduate (RQF 7 and above) level students are exempt from these limits.

For more information please visit UK Council for Student Affairs website and read the latest Student Visa Policy guidance available on the Home Office website.

Please note that residents from certain countries, and who come to the UK for more than six months, will need to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test and provide a test certificate as part of the visa application process. The list of countries subject to TB testing and the approved TB testing clinics are listed in the ‘Immigration Rules, Appendix T – Tuberculosis Screening’ on the Home Office website.

As part of the visa application process, you may be required to attend a credibility interview to assess whether you are a genuine student.

Please find more information on the Home Office credibility interviews and what to expect here.

We may invite you to attend a CAS eligibility/genuine student interview at the University before issuing your CAS. Our admissions team will inform you of this requirement if it is relevant for you.

Please note that the immigration health surcharge is due to increase on 16^th January 2024 from £470 to £776 per year.

If you are coming to the UK to study on a course that is six months or longer, you are required to pay an immigration health surcharge of £470 per year. The amount you need to pay is calculated based on the length of your visa, not the length of your course.

Check how much you have to pay (use the course dates stated on your CAS):

https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type

More information on this requirement:

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

For example:

If you are on a course that is 3 years long, you will be charged as follows:

Year 1 = £470

Year 2 = £470

Year 3 = £470

+ extra 4 months given at the end of your studies. This gets rounded up to 6 months and the charge is £235

Total for 3 years and 6 months = £1645

Exchange rate

If you are not paying in Pound Sterling (GBP), please note that the UKVI exchange rate policy will apply and you will pay 4% above the Oanda live bid rates.

EU nationals

You may get a full or partial IHS refund if you have an S1 certificate registered with the NHS Business Services Authority.

You can also apply for a full or partial IHS refund if all of the following are true:

• you’re a full-time student in UK higher education
• your visa started on or after 1 January 2021
• you have a European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in an EU country
• you do not work

If you’re claiming as a full-time student with an EHIC, you can apply for a refund of the IHS you paid to cover any period starting on or after 1 January 2021. Applications open from 1 January 2022.

The amount you’re refunded will depend on the date your S1 certificate or EHIC runs out.

Find out more about applying for a refund.

The Student Visa (Student Route) application form will ask you to enter an ‘ACL’ location for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). We do not have an ‘ACL’ code. You are required to collect your BRP from a post office in Portsmouth (30 min train ride from Chichester/Bognor Regis). You should include the University of Chichester post code (PO19 6PE) to get the nearest post office details on your visa application form.

The vignette (sticker) you are issued in your passport will be valid for 30 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic you may be given a 90-day vignette. You must travel to the UK before the expiry date on your vignette. If your vignette expires before you are due to arrive in the UK, you must apply for a replacement vignette.

You are normally required to collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival. However, if you are delayed in collecting your BRP due to any COVID-19 related visa application delays, travel restrictions and/or self-isolation requirements for international arrivals, you can collect your BRP later.

When you collect your BRP, you must take your passport and VISA DECISION LETTER with you.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/418271/v_9_overseas_BRP_leaflet.pdf

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals:

Please note that if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app when you applied for your visa, you do not get a BRP. Your visa will be in a form of an online digital status. This status can be shared and checked via the UK government website.

Please note that if you are applying for immigration permission for a postgraduate course starting on or after 1^st January 2024, you can only have dependants in the UK if your course is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree. Or if your current or most recent immigration permission was as a student on a full-time course lasting at least six months and you meet the criteria outlined on the UKCISA website.

You are allowed to bring your family to the UK with you if your degree is a postgraduate course lasting 9 months or more or if you are a government sponsored student taking a course of more than 6 months long.

You can find out about the application process on our Visas and Immigration page.

For more information on the financial requirements and the documents you must provide, please visit the UKCISA website.

Graduate Route - If you wish to apply to stay in the UK under the Graduate Route after successfully completing your studies, your family members must be in the UK as your Student Route dependants in order to apply to say in the UK as your Graduate Route dependants (except babies born in the UK. See below). See our Post-study work visa section for more information on the Graduate Route option.

Babies born in the UK – please note that babies born in the UK are not automatically British citizens. The baby’s nationality will depend on the nationality of the baby’s parent(s).

After birth, your baby can lawfully remain in the UK without making an immigration application. However, if your baby travels abroad, she/he will need immigration permission to return to the UK. Please also see the healthcare related note below.

Healthcare: If your baby was born in the UK and does not have immigration permission as your Student Route dependant, you will need to consider how you are going to pay their healthcare costs. Babies born in the UK are exempt from paying NHS charges for a period of three months after they were born. After this they are considered overseas visitors and are liable to be charged for NHS treatment, unless they pay the immigration health surcharge, which is only payable as part of an immigration application, or they access private medical care.  Please note that if your baby applies for immigration permission as your dependant (Student/Graduate) you must explain how the healthcare costs have been met between the age of three months and date of the dependant visa application.

The earliest you can apply is six months (outside the UK) and three months (inside the UK) before the start of your course.

The University of Chichester will normally issue your CAS when you are within 3 months of starting your studies with us (this is regardless of your location).

If you have an unconditional offer (i.e. you have met the academic conditions and paid a deposit) and you are within 3 months of your course start date, please contact the admissions team to request your CAS document. You must make sure to apply promptly as many visa application centres are busy prior to the start of the academic year.

You may be asked to complete a CAS request form and attend a CAS eligibility interview before you can get your CAS. Our admissions team will advise you on this requirement, if applicable.

• Current passport.
• Tuberculosis test certificate if you are a resident in one of the countries where you need a TB test to enter the UK.
• ATAS certificate (only applicable if you are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects and are not exempt due to your nationality).
• NHS Surcharge payment if you are studying on a course that is over six months long.
• University of Chichester Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number.
• Evidence of funds. See above.
• Evidence of English language level (unless you are exempt). See above.
• Original Certificate(s)/transcript(s) of qualifications listed on your CAS (see page 2 “evidence used to obtain offer” section), unless you are exempt *(see below).
• If your documents are not in English or Welsh you are required to provide official translations. See the sections on “Translations” below.

Differential evidence requirement

Some students can provide fewer documentary evidence with their application. This means that you may only be required to submit your passport with your application. Please see the list of nationalities (e.g. EU/EEA/Switzerland, Japan, Canada, China and U.S.) benefitting from the differential evidence requirement (Appendix Student 22.1 of the Immigration Rules).

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals:

Please note that if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app as part of your visa application, you will not be asked to provide additional documentary evidence.

More information

For the latest information on Student Visa (Student Route) application process and the documentary evidence requirements please refer to the Student Route Caseworker Guidance – Student and Child Student. 

When applying from outside the UK you are required to make your application online. You will need to pay a visa application fee (currently  £348 per application) and the NHS Health Surcharge fee (currently £470 per year) as part of your online application.

These are the steps you need to make during your visa application:

1. Check the Student Route visa requirements to make sure you are ready to submit your application when the time comes. You will need to pay particular attention to making sure that you can provide evidence of having enough money and that you can show the money in a way that is accepted by the UKVI (see above for more information on this).
2. Meet the academic conditions (provide evidence of your qualifications, English language test, references, portfolio etc.).
3. Pay a tuition fee deposit (minimum £2000).
4. Provide a copy of your passport, previous visas and your immigration history to the admissions team. We may ask you to provide evidence of your finances and ask you to attend a CAS eligibility interview if you are from a country that is not listed on the differentiated national list (see Appendix Student ST 22.1).
5. Receive your CAS.
6. Submit your online visa application using your CAS details and pay the NHS surcharge & application fees. See “Tips for completing your visa application” section below for help with the questions you will be asked.
7. Book an appointment at the nearest visa application centre/ follow instructions on what you should do next. Unless you are an EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app as part of your visa application.
8. Attend the appointment with your printed cover sheet and the required documentary evidence (see “what evidence do I need to submit with my application” section above).
9. Wait for the decision on your visa (visa processing times)

Please visit the Home Office website and read the latest Student Visa Guidance carefully before completing your online application.

For helpful information on making a Student Visa (Student Route) application from outside the UK, please visit the UKCISA website.

If your application includes any documents which are not in English or Welsh, you must also include a translation of each document. Each translation must contain:

• confirmation from the translator / translation company that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the full name and signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
• the contact details of the translator or translation company; and
• (if you are already in the UK and are applying for further leave) certification by a qualified translator and details of the translator or translation company’s credentials

See the UKVI Student and Child Caseworker guidance for more information on translations.

How long you can stay in the UK depends on the type and length of your degree.

Your 90-day vignette will start maximum one month before the start date of the course, or seven days before your intended date of travel as specified in your application, whichever is later, if:

• your course will last for six months or more, or
• it is a pre-sessional course which will last for less than six months.

For shorter courses your vignette start date will be start seven days before the start date of the course.

The end date of your visa will depend on the length of the course. It includes some extra time after the end of the course:

Submit your application online

• Confirm your visa type = Student Visa
• You will be asked a couple of questions relating to your nationality and location.
• CAS number - This is on page 1 of your CAS.
• Personal information – you will need to answer this section about you.
• English Language

CHECK your CAS page two to see how we have assessed your English Language level. Here are some of the questions you may be asked in his section:

Have you provided evidence of your English language ability in a previous visa application to the Home Office? – “no” if you haven’t and “yes” if you have. You will then be taken to answer some follow up questions.

Do you have an English language or literature qualification from a UK school? Answer "Yes" or ""no" depending on your circumstances. If you were educated in the UK when you were under 18 the answer to this question might be "Yes".

If you are studying at a Higher Education Provider, have they assessed that you meet the English language requirement or that you are a gifted student? Check your CAS page two. If you can see this on your CAS: " Higher Education Institution (HEI) sponsor has made assessment" text in the English language section, you should say "Yes".

You will then be asked "Does the Higher Education Provider have a track record of  compliance? The answer is "Yes"

• Parent details
• Accommodation details

if you know where you will stay you can state the details by ticking “YES”

If you do not know your address, you can tick “no” and explain what your circumstances are in the free text field box

If you have applied for a room in the halls of residence, you can include one of these University addresses:

• Bishop Otter Campus, College Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6PE
• Bognor Regis Campus, Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1HR

• Travel history – You should answer these questions honestly and include as much information you can.
• UK Arrival date – This is the date you plan to arrive in the UK. You cannot plan to arrive earlier than 1 month before the course date on your CAS. If you are doing a course that is less than 6 months long, you can arrive in the UK 7 days before the start of your course.
• Medical treatment in the UK – this is relevant if you have had in-patient treatment in a hospital in the UK pm a short-term or a general visitor visa.
• Immigration history – be hones about any vis refusals and include details in this section. You will be asked to declare any criminal convictions and if you held or supported any terrorist views or activities.
• Person of good character – Answer honestly whether you have undertaken any work for a non-UK government which you know to be dangerous to the interest of national security of the UK or its allies , s well as any activities that mean you not a person of good character.
• Employment history – You must declare if you have worked (paid or unpaid) in organisations listed in this section
• University sponsor details – Use your CAS to find the full details
• Place of Study – answer: Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance.
• ATAS – if you need an ATAS certificate this will be listed on your CAS. The certificate must be available to you when you submit your visa application
• Do you have a financial sponsor? – Official Financial Sponsors are defined as the UK Government, your home government, the British Council or any international company, university or independent school. If you have a scholarship from an organisation that meets this description, select “Yes”.  An international company is one that has an office in more than one country
• Course information – Use the details on your CAS.

Course level: Undergraduate degrees: RQF 6 / Postgraduate degrees: RQF 7/ PhD: RQF 8
Course fees:  Check your CAS for your full course fees and any money you have paid towards your fees or accommodation.

• Additional information: if you do not have anything additional add, you can leave this section blank.
• Check your online application carefully and get in touch with the International Student Advisers (international@chi.ac.uk) if you have any questions about your visa application. You cannot make changes after you have paid and submitted your application.

Next steps:

• Pay the health surcharge when you are directed to the surcharge payment section. See above information on the surcharge and how it is calculated.
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) location – See the above section on BRPs.
• Book an appointment (unless you are exempt).
• Pay for your application.
• Print your application. You can save or print your application as a PDF. You can also print /save your appointment details.

You should contact the admissions team as soon as possible. If it isn’t possible to submit an administrative review or submit a new application and depending on the refusal reason(s) you can either decide to withdraw from the course or ask us to hold your place until the next start date of the same course. If a visa application is refused and we are shown the original refusal letter (not a photocopy).

For more information please contact the International Student Advisory Service or visit the following websites:

• The Home Office
• UKCISA

If you are unable to travel to the UK by the start date of your course (start date as stated on the CAS), you must contact the University to request late arrival authorisation. Late arrival is not an automatic right.

If you think you are going to be delayed, please email international@chi.ac.uk without delay.

The request to arrive late must be authorised by your academic department and unauthorised late arrivals will need to be reported to the UKVI and your visa may be cancelled/application rejected.

Your CAS states the latest possible arrival date (1 or 2 weeks after the start date of your course), but you should not use that date to guide your arrival or assume that your late arrival is authorised.

You should familiarise yourself with the Student Visa (Student Route) holder’s responsibilities which are outlined on these websites:

• https://www.chi.ac.uk/international/visa-and-immigration/protecting-your-general-student-visa-student-route
• https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Protecting-your-Student-status

Student Visa (Student Route) holders studying full-time at degree level or above at the University of Chichester are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during holidays.

MA/MSc level students: Please note that there are only a limited number of vacation weeks during your academic year and you cannot work full-time during the dissertation write-up period.

You should not plan to rely on part-time work income to support yourself during your studies. The UK Home Office expect that you have the funds in place to cover the cost of living and tuition fees without having to rely on part-time employment and you must show these funds as part of your visa application. We strongly advise against depending on finding work to finance your studies.

For more information on employment rules, please visit these websites:

• https://www.chi.ac.uk/international/visa-and-immigration/general-student-visa-tier-4-employment-rules
• https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Working/Student-work

You will need to show the University the following documents:

• Passport
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or if you have yet to collect your BRP, you will need to show your 30-day entry vignette & visa decision letter. Once you have collected your BRP (within 10 days of arrival) you will need to show this to registry staff.
• All your original qualifications (as stated on your CAS under the ‘evidence used to obtain offer’ section). These may be your previous qualifications (certificates/diplomas/leaving certificates and your English language test (if applicable)
• If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national and used the UK Immigration: ID check app to receive your visa in the form of an online digital status you should use the UKVI online portal to share your status with our registry staff.

If you have any questions or require immigration advice please contact the International Student Advisory Service at the University. We are happy to provide immigration advice to our applicants and current students.

Please note that this section is for information only. The Home Office frequently update the immigration regulations so please check their website for the latest regulations.