Visa Information

This page provides a brief summary of what you will need in order to apply for a visa to study in the UK. Full information is available from the UK Border Agency website.

The UK Government has replaced its visa system of immigration with the new Points Based System (PBS). From April 2009 all international (non European Economic Area – EEA) students will need to apply for an Adult (General) Student Visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. For further information, please visit the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) website.

You can also obtain further advice and guidance on studying in the UK and applying for a visa from the UKCISA website.

Applying for an Adult (General) Student Visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System

To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a student, you must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points before being given a visa. Your score is assessed as follows:

Points	What the points are awarded for:	Documents required:
30	Studying for a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider (also known as the sponsor).	Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. This will be an electronic reference number and will contain all the information about you, your intended course and the evidence of your qualifications seen by the University College when making you an offer.
10	Proof that you have enough money to cover your course fees and monthly living costs for up to 12 months (known as maintenance).	Proof that you have: Your course fees and; At least £5,400 to cover your first year living expenses

What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies?

From April 2010, the Norwich University College of the Arts will issue you with a letter with information of your confirmation of acceptance for studies. In order to obtain this confirmation, you need to have completed the following:

Met any conditions attached to your offer (as detailed in your offer letter)
Returned your acceptance form
Paid any deposit if applicable (this will be detailed in your offer letter)

Please note the University College will not issue any student with a confirmation of acceptance for studies for courses starting in September 2010 until after 1st April 2010, to ensure that the documentation issued by the University College is valid for your visa application.

How Much Money Do I Need to Have?

If you are studying for a Foundation Degree, BA (Honours) degree or a postgraduate Masters degree, you will need to show that you have the first year of your course fees plus at least £5,400 to cover your living expenses for your first year of study. This is required in order to meet the financial requirements of your visa application.

If you are studying for less than 12 months (as an exchange student) you will need to show that you have your course fees plus £600 for each month of the course.

You can provide bank or building society statements, a building society passbook, a letter from your bank confirming money or a loan, a letter from a regulated financial institution or a letter of official financial sponsorship.

Please note that the following are not accepted as proof of your ability to pay fees and living expenses:

Shares or bonds
Pension funds or similar savings accounts which cannot be readily accessed
A relative's bank account
A business bank account

For further information on the documentation and proof of funds that you will need to provide, please visit the UK Border Agency website.

How Long Can I Apply to Stay For?

If you are studying for an undergraduate degree, you can stay for the full duration of your course, normally up to three years, plus four months. If your course will be longer than four years, you will have to apply for a visa extension from the UKBA in order to complete your course.

What do I need to apply?

You will need to complete the visa application form as an Adult Student, pay your fee and include:

a current passport or travel document;
a confirmation of acceptance to study from an immigration sponsor (this would be the University College);
documents to show you have the finances required (tuition fees and maintenance) available;
documents used by your immigration sponsor (the University College) when they accepted you on to the course (for example your original qualification certificates or any other information used by the University College when offering you a place);
your biometric identity card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom (please note not all students will have this);
your biometric details if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom.

Please see the UKBA website for more information concerning the biometric information that you will need.

How much will it cost?

The student visa application fee depends on where you apply from:

Applying from	Student visa application fee
Inside the United Kingdom by post	£357
Inside the United Kingdom at a Public Enquiry Office (PEO)	£565
Outside the United Kingdom	£145

These fees are correct at the time of writing. Further information about visa fees is available from the UK Border Agency website.

Your Visa and permission to work

Generally speaking you should be granted permission to work part-time (no more than 20 hours a week) during term-time while studying and full-time during vacations, in line with previous visa rules. (Note: postgraduate students are not permitted to work full-time during the summer vacation if they have not completed their writing-up or submitted their dissertation or any aspect of their course of study such as the Masters Project).

Key Differences for Students

All international students will require an immigration sponsor under the new Points Based System. A student’s immigration sponsor is the institution they are studying at, therefore if you are coming to study with us, the Norwich University College of the Arts will be your immigration sponsor.
Your visa will be linked to your immigration sponsor, therefore your visa will be granted to study at the Norwich University College of the Arts only. If you decide to switch institution your visa would no longer be valid and you would be required to apply for a new visa.
The maintenance required for students wishing to bring dependants with them has changed. Please see the UK Border Agency website for the latest guidance.
Under the Points Based System, the Norwich University College of the Arts will be required to monitor your attendance. It is therefore very important that you ensure you arrive and enrol at the University College on the dates as written in your visa letter and attend classes in accordance with the University College Attendance Policy. If you do not enrol on the given deadline, or do not attend classes we will be required to report this to the UKBA and this may result in your visa being withdrawn.

Study Abroad and Exchange Students

All international (non European Economic Area – EEA) exchange students will be required to apply for a visa. If you are studying for less than six months you can either apply for ‘Student Visitor’ entry clearance, which is aimed at those short term students who wish to undertake a short course of up to six months and have no interest in full student visa entitlements (i.e. the ability to work part-time, extend your stay whilst in the UK, or provide the opportunity for multiple entry). For more details including eligibility and restrictions please see the Student Visitor pages of the UK Border Agency website.