Student route (applying outside the UK)

An application could take several weeks to prepare for so it is best to familiarise yourself with the process as soon as possible.

When?

Once you are ready with all the required documents, you can submit an application for entry clearance under the Student route from 6 months before the start of your course. The Immigration Advice Service have made an online application form guide to help you with your application.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) advises that decisions on applications using the standard service aim to be made in 15 working days but the timeframe can vary depending on when and where you make your application, particularly in the peak period between July - September.

A priority service is available in most countries at additional cost and aims to make a decision on the application in 5 working days. Some countries also offer a super priority 24 hour service for a decision. Advertised decision timeframes start after you have attended your biometric appointment, or after you have completed the ‘Evidence upload’ section of your application if you used the UKVI ID Check app as part of the application.

Where?

You should apply for your Student visa in your country of nationality or country of residence (where you have permission to live other than as a visitor).

How?

You'll need to complete the online application form and pay the application fees.  Details of the cost of an application can be found on gov.uk. You'll also need to upload your supporting documents as part of the application.

If you can use the UKVI ID Check app as part of your application, you won't normally be required to attend an appointment to provide your biometric information.  You can only use the UKVI ID Check app if your passport (or other identity document) has a biometric chip.

If you aren't able to use the UKVI ID Check app for your application, then you'll be required to attend an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) to enrol your biometrics as part of the application process.  You should take original versions (not copies) of all the supporting documents for your application with you when you attend your biometric appointment.

You will need:

• A valid passport – at least 6 months’ validity remaining, preferably longer. You may also need a page in your passport that is blank on both sides for your visa, unless you used the UKVI ID Check app as part of your application.
• A Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) is an electronic document confirming your unconditional offer for a place of study at Bath Spa University. This will be emailed to you. You are not required to provide a physical copy of your CAS when you apply for your Student visa. You must enter the CAS reference number in the relevant section of the online application form.
• Evidence of any academic qualifications listed on your CAS. These documents will be listed in the ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ section of your CAS.’
• Evidence that you meet the English language requirement for your course. Details of what is required can be found in the ‘English language qualification’ section of your CAS.
• Evidence that you meet the financial requirement. You’ll need enough money for your course fees, living costs, the visa fee, and the immigration health surcharge.
• Tuberculosis (TB) screening
  • Check on the UK Visas and Immigration website whether you need to undertake a tuberculosis screening. If you are required to submit this, you must be tested at a clinic that has been approved by UK Visas and Immigration. The test will involve having a chest x-ray and, if clear, you will be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months and must be uploaded as a supporting document to your visa application.
  • Please note that the requirement to have this test, and provide evidence with your visa application, is dependent on where you are, or have been, resident and not on your nationality.
  • You do not need a TB certificate if you have lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you have not been away from that country for more than 6 months.
• Apply for ATAS clearance if applicable (we'll notify you if you need to do this)
• Official translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh

If you're under 18 on the date that you apply for your visa you'll also need:

• A letter from your parent/legal guardian confirming their relationship to you and that they consent to your study, living and travel arrangements in and to the UK.
• Original evidence that demonstrates your parental relationship, such as a birth certificate clearly showing you and your parent’s names.

Students who are nationals of certain designated countries are able to submit fewer supporting documents with their Student visa application.  This is called the differential evidence requirement.  

The differential evidence requirement applies to you if you are applying for your visa from the country that you live in and you are a national (or citizen) of a country listed in Appendix Student ST 22 of the Immigration Rules.

If the differential evidence requirement applies to you then you will not need to provide documentary evidence of how you meet the financial requirements, English language requirements, or of the qualifications used to obtain your offer of a place.

Whilst you don't need to provide this evidence at the point of application, you are still required to meet these requirements and UKVI reserve the right to request evidence from you during the application process.

We would therefore recommend that you prepare these documents in case needed, but only provide them if you are specifically asked by UKVI.

If you did not use the UKVI ID Check app as part of your application, you will need to book and attend an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) to submit your biometric information and submit your documents. 

You are advised to upload any supporting documents to your online application prior to attending your appointment. The Visa Application Centres offer a document scanning service but there is usually an additional fee to use this.

You may also need to attend an interview at this appointment. This interview will be done by video link to the UK. The interviewer will ask questions to determine whether you are a ‘genuine student’. These are likely to be about why have you chosen to study in the UK, your choice of Bath Spa University, how you'll get to university each day, your future plans, if you've studied in the UK before, your recent educational and immigration history, including any previous visa refusals from any country.

We recommend that while you should not worry too much about the interview, you should take some time to carefully prepare for the questions that may be asked.

NOTE: Check your email and phone often as UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at the Home Office may contact you asking for additional documents and information. If you don’t respond to these emails/calls your application may be refused.

If you didn't use the UKVI ID check app as part of your visa application, then you'll usually receive an entry clearance vignette if your application is successful. This is a sticker in your passport which will allow you to travel to the UK. You must travel within the validity dates of your vignette.

You'll also receive a decision letter which outlines the conditions of your immigration leave. It's very important that you keep the letter safe and bring it with you when you travel to the UK.

You should check all the details on your vignette and decision letter carefully. If you find any errors, contact the visa application centre through which you applied as soon as possible, and they'll give you instructions on how to have the error corrected.

You'll also receive instructions in your decision letter on how to access your eVisa. You should access your eVisa as soon as possible – you do not need to wait until you have arrived in the UK. You will not be able to prove your right to work, right to rent, or right to study until you have accessed your eVisa.

Once your visa has been granted, please ensure that you upload copies of your vignette, decision letter, and share code to your CAS Shield account.

If you used the UKVI ID Check app as part of your visa application, you will not receive a physical visa. Instead, you'll receive an eVisa which you will be able to view in your gov.uk account.

You'll also receive an e-mail confirming that your visa has been granted and outlining the conditions of your leave. You should keep this e-mail safe for future reference.  Review the details on your eVisa and decision letter carefully and contact immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk if you find any errors.

Your eVisa should automatically be linked to the passport you scanned as part of your application. If you've received a new passport since applying for your visa, you should make sure that you add your new passport to your gov.uk account before travelling to the UK.

Make sure that you travel to the UK after the start date of your Student visa as stated on your eVisa.  If you travel to the UK before this date you'll have entered as a visitor, and you will not be permitted to enrol on your programme of study until you have left the UK and returned after the start date of your Student visa.

Once your visa has been granted, please ensure that you upload your share code and a copy of your decision e-mail to your CAS Shield account.

The UK has now moved to a digital immigration system.  This means that you'll usually be expected to use a share code to prove your immigration status.

There are different share codes for different purposes - we've linked to ways to apply for the most common below: 

• Prove your right to work to an employer
• Prove your right to rent in England
• Prove your immigration status for another purpose

You'll need to have set up your gov.uk account to generate a share code.

If you used the UKVI ID Check app as part of your visa application, you should already have a gov.uk account.

If you attended a visa application centre as part of the visa application process, then you'll need to create your gov.uk account using the instructions you received when your visa was granted.

If your Student visa application is refused, inform us immediately and send a copy of your decision letter in an email to both 

• immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk
• internationaladmissions@bathspa.ac.uk

and we will be able to advise you of your options.

You are advised to read the information on the UK Visas and Immigration website, prior to applying for your visa. It is your responsibility to ensure you understand and meet the UK immigration requirements.

UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides information on applying for a student visa from outside the UK.

• Student route guidance
• Appendix ST of the Immigration Rules