Visitor visas for short courses or periods of study

This guidance is for the sole use of University of Brighton applicants and students. It is a guide only and must be used in conjunction with the information referenced on the gov.uk website. The information in this guidance is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. However, the University of Brighton accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.

The information on this page was last updated in May 2022.

Ask us a question about visas

Do I need a visitor visa?

Visitor visas for study purposes are primarily for short courses of less than six months duration.

The most common reasons are:

  • For a short English language course
  • Study as part of a study abroad or exchange programme
  • A short period of research as part of your overseas degree
  • If you are studying a degree course at the University via distance learning, but need to come to the University for a short period.

If you are coming to the UK to study a full-time degree course at the University of Brighton then you normally will need to apply for a Student visa, unless we have advised you otherwise. If you are coming to study one of our pre-sessional courses before you start your degree course, you should also apply for a Student visa.

Visitors are not permitted to work while they are in the UK. This includes unpaid work that is part of your course. If your course includes a work placement, you will need to contact us to check your eligibility for a Student Visa.

Visitors cannot extend their visas or switch into another immigration category from within the UK.

If you are unsure if you need a Student visa or a Visitor visa contact us using our visa enquiry form.

How to apply for a visitor visa

You can find out information on the requirements for Visitor visa for study purposes on the UK Government website as well as information on how to apply for a visitor visa.

Some nationals do not need to apply for a visa prior to travelling if they are coming to the UK as a visitor for less than 6 months.

If you are non-visa national (any national who is not on the visa national list) then you can apply for leave to enter as a visitor on arrival at the airport. You will still need to meet the requirements and have the evidences as outlined below.

See also: Do I need entry clearance?

Using E-gates

If you are a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA you will also usually be able to use the E-gates when you enter the UK. This means you will not receive a stamp in your passport to show when you entered the UK and if travelling as a visitor, you will be automatically given 6 months permission to enter the UK. It is important you keep evidence of the date you entered the UK, as the University will need this as proof of when your permission to enter expires.

If you are a visa national you will need to apply for your Visitor visa before travelling to the UK. You do not need to do this from your country of nationality or residence; you can apply from any country where you are lawfully present.

Electronic Visa Waivers

You can get an electronic visa waiver (EVW) instead of a visitor visa if you are a national of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.

If you are a national of Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, you can apply for an EVW from 1 June 2022.

See: Electronic Visa Waiver information (gov.uk)

Requirements and evidence

The university will provide you with a Study visit visa letter. To request this letter email us at Non-T4@brighton.ac.uk.

If you are coming to study at postgraduate level or undertake research in certain sensitive subject areas you will may need an ATAS Certificate in order to be able to start your course or period of research, you do not need to submit this with your visa application, but you will need to provide it to the University in order to enrol and attend the University.

You also need to provide evidence that you can afford to pay for your tuition fees, accommodation and other living costs while you are in the UK. There is no fixed amount of money you need to show, although as a guide, the requirements for a Student visa are that you have £1,015 for each month of your course plus your tuition fees.

Find out more information on the requirements and documents needed on the UK government

See also: information on the UKCISA website for Visitors