Visa guidance

Do I need a visa?
Student visitor visa
Tier 4 General Points Based System?
Do I need an ATAS certificate?
Can I work while I study?
Can I extend my Tier 4 student visa?
Tier 2 General Visa
Further information

Here you can find information about visa requirements to study in the UK. We strongly advise that you keep up to date with any changes to the visa rules before you make any visa application. You can do this by visiting the UKBA United Kingdom Border Agency) website. You can also find lots of helpful visa information from UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs).

Do I need a visa?

Students travelling from Malaysia
Malaysia is a non-visa national country and therefore you do not need a visa to enter the UK. You can enter on a student visitor stamp which you will get in your passport on arrival into the UK.

Students travelling from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a visa national country so you must apply for a visa before you leave Sri Lanka.

Student Visitor visa?

If you are from Malaysia, you can get this stamp upon arrival at the UK airport. If you are from Sri Lanka you must apply for this visa in advance from VFS Global.

You should consider the student visitor visa/stamp if

you only want to study for the summer programme. You must leave the UK when your student visitor visa/stamp expires and you can not switch into a Tier 4 student visa.
you do not want to work during your studies. You are not entitled to work part-time while on a student visitor stamp.
you do not want to apply for a further work visa inside the UK. You can not switch in the UK into a work visa. You will have to return home and apply for the work visa instead (see below).

You will need to prepare some necessary documents. If you are from Malaysia you will need to show these documents at Immigration Control at the UK airport. If you are from Sri Lanka you will need to submit them as part of your student visitor visa application to VFS Global.
You can find further information from the UKBA website

Please note you will need to show your bank statements. However there is no prescribed amount of money you must show in your bank account. As a guide we suggest you follow the funds rules for the Tier 4 (General) visa listed above.

Tier 4 General Points Based System

This visa is suitable if you want to

work part-time while you study (please note, we do not recommend this for Undergraduate Progression Programme students) or
go on to further study in the UK, without returning home between courses

You can apply for a Tier 4 student visa, however this visa is more expensive and the requirements are stricter.

In order to be granted a Tier 4 student visa, you must

hold a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) (30 points)
be able to evidence the necessary funds for your stay in the UK (10 points)

Please visit the UKBA website for how to apply in your home country.

The documents you must show include

the application form. This is the VAF9 and can be found on the UKBA website. If you are applying in Malaysia you will need to complete it online.
sufficient funds to pay for the balance of your tuition fees plus £800 per month of your course for your living expenses. For a three month course you therefore need to show £2400 for your living expenses. You must show this total in your bank account every day for 28 days prior to your application. If you pay all your fees, you only need to show the amount for living costs. If you wish to study a master's course after your summer programme please also read the section below: 'Can I extend my student visa?' This is because you will need to prepare more savings in your bank account for your student visa extension.
it is possible to show your parents' bank statements instead of your own to meet the funds requirements. However you will also need to show your original birth certificate and a letter of consent from your parents. Please see UKCISA for further information
a CAS
original certificates/qualifications as listed on your CAS
evidence of your English language ability. Check your CAS. Here it will list your English language qualification – for example IELTS. Make sure you provide the original certificate. You must score 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each area.
an ATAS certificate (if necessary)
other documents (for example photos) as required by VFS Global
the fee – it costs approximately £298 but fee levels do change

Do I need an ATAS certificate?

Yes, if the JACS code for the course you are applying for is in any of the following subjects at masters level

F2 – materials science
F3 – physics (including nuclear physics)
H3 – mechanical engineering
H4 – aerospace engineering
H8 – chemical, process and energy engineering
J5 – materials technology not otherwise specified

You can apply before you leave home, or before you apply for your visa extension in the UK. Your offer letter will contain the information required, but further information can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website

Can I work while I study?

Only if you have a Tier 4 (General) student visa. You can work for 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during vacations. You cannot work if you have a student visitor stamp/visa.

Can I extend my Tier 4 student visa?

If you decide to continue your studies after the summer programme, or if you need to extend your Tier 4 visa to resit examinations, you may be able to do so with the help of staff in the international student support team, in the Student Services Centre at the University. If there is more than one month gap between your student visa expiring and the start of your new course, you will not be able to extend in the UK and will need to return home to apply for new entry clearance.

The cost to extend a student visa in the UK is currently £406. Full details can be found on the Home Office website.

To extend your student visa for your masters course, you will need to show the balance of your fees for your masters course plus £7,200 for your living costs. You need to show this money every day for 28 days in your bank account before you apply. You should therefore budget for this cost in plenty of time.

Tier 2 General Visa

If you decide to stay and do a masters course immediately after your summer programme, then you may be eligible to for apply for a Tier 2 (General) visa when you successfully complete your masters. To qualify for this visa inside the UK you must have a job offer from an employer who has a sponsor licence number.

You must meet certain requirements including

the job must be graduate level and a shortage occupation or a job for which the employer has carried out the Resident Labour Market Test
the job has an appropriate wage
proof of your English language ability and that you meet the maintenance requirements for Tier 2

You can read more about the rules from the UKBA and UKCISA

Further information

More information can be found in our frequently asked questions (FAQs)

If you can't find the information you require in this brochure or in our FAQs, please visit our international webchat which takes place every Wednesday at 9–10am BST/GMT+1.

Alternatively, you can email us at internationalsupport@shu.ac.uk.

For comprehensive UK visa information please visit UKCISA or UKBA

> Undergraduate Progression Programme

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