Visa FAQs

If you are a Student Route visa holder you can bring your family members with you only if you meet the UKVI criteria as follows:

• You have a scholarship or sponsorship from a government and your course is full-time and at least 6 months in duration.

• You are a full-time research-based higher degree student, i.e. you are studying towards a PhD or other doctoral qualification, and your course is full-time and 9 months of longer in duration.
• You are studying or have studied on a full-time course at least 6 month sin duration and:

1. Your student route visa is current, or expired no more than 3 months before this new visa application, AND
2. Your new visa application is for a full-time course that is at least 6 months long in duration, AND
3. Your dependant already has a PBS dependant visa (or your dependant is your child who was born since your last visa was granted), AND
4. You are applying for a new visa at the same time with your dependant.

Who is a dependant?

• your husband, wife or civil partner
• your unmarried or same-sex partner
• your child under 18 years old - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

To find out about the eligibility, maintenance & documentary evidence criteria, please visit these useful websites:

• UK Government visa information
• UKCISA 

The new Graduate Route visa was launched on 1st July 2021. This route is for Student Route visa holders who want to work, or look for work, following the successful completion of an eligible course of study at the University of Chichester.

This unsponsored route will allow successful applicants to stay in the UK for up to 2 years (undergraduate and postgraduate graduates) or 3 years (PhD graduates).

For more information, please visit our Post-study work visa section.

If your friend or relative is a non-UK/Irish national, they will need to enter the UK under the Visitor route.

Some nationalities can enter the UK without applying for a visa in advance, but other nationalities have to apply for a Visitor visa before leaving home (these national are called ‘Visa Nationals’). You can check which category they belong to by visiting https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa 

Please visit the Chichester International Advice Moodle page for more information on the requirements and the evidence may need from the University.

It is not normally possible to study on apart-time degree on a Student Route visa. However, there is an exception for postgraduate students.

The University of Chichester is listed as Higher Education Provider (HEP) with a track record of compliance in the Register of Tier 4 Sponsor. This allows us to sponsor part-time postgraduate study (RQF level 7 and above).

This part-time option comes with the following restrictions:

• No work
• No work placement
• No dependants (family members)

You will need to meet the usual General Student Visa (Tier 4) eligibility criteria and submit your visa applications inside or outside the UK as outlined in the Visas & Immigration section on our website. The information relating to your part-time study is stated on your CAS and your NHS surcharge fees will be calculated based on the length of your leave.

If you are a non- EEA national and wish to visit other European countries while you are a student in the UK, you may need to apply for a “Schengen” visa. Please see our Schengen visa information document for more information on the process and how to request a letter to support your visa application.