Tier 4 (Student Visa)
Under the Points-Based System (PBS), this visa type is broadly speaking for those who wish to study for more than 6 months. However, Tier 4 visa can be for full-time courses of any length, for example 3 months Pre-sessional English language course. There are 2 sub-categories under Tier 4 route: This is the route for those intending to study in the UK for more than six months.
Please note that all students applying for Tier 4 (for over 6 months) from summer 2015 are issued entry clearance (yellow sticker) for one month only. Students will need to collect a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card within 10 days of arriving in the UK. The BRP card would cover the full length of their student visa. Your institution will give you more details on how to collect the card and you will also receive a letter from UK Visas and Immigration with more information following a successful visa application.
A student cannot make a visa application more than three months before the start date of their course. There are two categories under Tier 4:
- Tier 4 General Student: Also known as Adult Student for those aged 16 years or above. Maximum length of stay under the Tier 4 General route is 2 years for courses below degree level (from student’s 18th birthday) and 5 years for courses at or above degree level, subject to certain concessions. Please refer to the UKVI website for details.
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Tier 4 Child Student: For those aged 17 years and under, who are coming to study at independent fee-paying schools.. Note – children between 4 and 15 years old may only be educated at independent fee-paying schools and are unable to study pure English Language courses. Students aged 16 & 17 can only be assigned a Tier 4 Child CAS for a maximum of 3 years (in the case of a study plan that consists of main course and pre-sessional course, there should be no condition for progressing onto main academic course)
Students aged 16 or 17 years old can apply either as a ‘Tier 4 General Student' or a ‘Tier 4 Child Student' if they are studying a course at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), or National Qualifications Framework (NQF) / Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 3 or above.
- As of August 2015 – students wishing to join Foundation courses will have to apply under Tier 4 General route and therefore must have a UKVI-recognised SELT.
- We generally recommend that 16 or 17 year olds enrolling at our CATS colleges apply under a Tier 4 Child Student visa, with the exception of Foundation courses.
- 16 or 17 year olds studying a course at RQF/QCF/NQF level 2 must apply under Tier 4 Child route only.
Please note that: