Short Term Student Visas | Studying in the UK

The short term student visa allows you to come to the UK and complete a short student course. You can study a course up to 6 months or study an English language course up to 11 months. For example, you can complete a short study course, complete a period of research, re-sit an examination, take an oral examination or complete an elective course. 

In reference to an English language course, this is a course that teaches English as a foreign language only and does not include any other subjects. You cannot complete mixed courses. 

When you apply for the short term student visa, you must make sure your visa application contains the correct details. As part of the visa application, you must submit valid biometric information and you must not fall for refusal under general grounds of refusal. As part of your short term student visa application, a genuine student test will take place.

The Home Office will assess each and every application. Questions such as your intention to study this course, your reasons to study this course, why you have chosen this institution, are some of the answers they will ask from you when they consider the short term student visa application. 

Meeting the requirements of the Short Term Student Visa

In order to apply for a student visa, you must be aged 16 years or over and must be accepted at a course with an accredited institution or with a university. You must leave the UK at the end of the course, must not fall for refusal under general grounds of refusal and will need to demonstrate that you can support yourself during the periods of study in the UK. 

When you decide to choose an institution to study, they must be hold a Tier 4 sponsor licence, or hold a valid accreditation i.e. Accreditation UK, ABLS, BAC, ASIC are some of the approved accreditation. As part of the Home Office checks, they will also make relevant checks about the institution. 

In addition to this, you must also provide you have adequate accommodation in the UK. In addition to this, you may need to apply for a valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) and hold a valid tuberculosis certificate. 

How to apply for the Short Term Student Visa

The visa application is applied online; this is whether you are in the UK or outside of the UK. Once you have completed your Short Term Student Visa application, you will be able to pay for the visa fees and book the visa appointment. 

As part of the submission, you will need to submit your legal representation and also the evidences to support your Short Term Student Visa application. Evidences showing the intention to leave the UK after the studies must be proven. The decision making of a Short Term Student Visa does not take more than 15 working days. However in some circumstances, a decision can take longer, if checks need to be made.

Once the visa is granted, you will be given the term as stated in your visa application form. You will not be allowed to work or bring dependants on this visa. They would need to apply for a visa in their own rights. 

Finally, you can volunteer but cannot be employed as a voluntary. This means that an employer cannot offer work as a voluntary and for you to be contracted to work as a voluntary to conduct certain activities at certain times and place. You cannot receive any payments in kind however can be paid expenses. This must not be a consistent voluntary work. 

Refusal of your Short Term Student Visa

A short term student visa is usually refused in 2 grounds, either based on the grounds that you are not a genuine student or there is no intention to leave the UK after the studies. Whilst these may be common grounds of refusal, there are other refusal grounds that can be raised.

Where you have been refused, there are no automatic right to appeal nor can you apply for an administrative review, however you may be able to submit a legal representation and there are other legal remedy that you can follow to challenge a decision. 
It is important whenever a short term student visa is refused, you look at the application & the evidences lodged.

At ICS Legal, we can assess the refusal and advise on what you can do to challenge the decision. We may also advise you to re-apply if we find that the decision was correct. 

Taking legal advice on the Short Term Student Visa

At ICS Legal, we will advise you on the correct process of applying under the Short Term Student Visa and support you throughout the visa application process. We will assess the circumstances, advise on the grounds of the application and help on the submission for the short term student visa. 

You can speak to one of our UK Immigration Lawyers on the Short Term Student visa requirements by sending us an email on info@icslegal.com or you can call us on 0207 237 3388. You are also open to complete our free visa assessment.