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  2. Pre-arrival and visas

Pre-arrival and visas

Most international students need a visa to study in the UK. Check the UK government website to confirm your visa requirements.

On this page:

Types of UK study visas

There are different kinds of visas for studying in the UK. These include:

  • Student visa – for courses over six months. This allows you to study for up to three years below degree level or up to five years for degree-level programmes and above. Find out more about Student visas.
  • Short-term Student visa – for English language courses between 6 to 11 months. If you're studying a pre-study English course before your degree, you need a full student visa to cover both courses. If you obtain a short-term study visa, you will not be able to switch to a student visa while you are in the UK. Learn more about short-term Student visas.
  • Visitor visa – for courses up to 6 months if you don’t intend to work part-time or extend your immigration permissions. Find out more about the visitor visa.

If you're already in the UK, our advisers can help you submit your application. Book an appointment by emailing hallamhelp@shu.ac.uk.

Applying for your visa

You can apply for your Student visa as soon as you have a confirmed place at Sheffield Hallam. The earliest you can apply is six months before your course start date.

If you are self-funding remember that you’ll need evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover living expenses and tuition fees and you’ll need to prove you held this amount in your bank account every day for 28 days prior to making your visa application. 

We strongly recommend you apply for your visa as soon as you can. Check the timescales with your visa application centre before you apply.

Requirements for a UK Student visa

This list includes some of the key things you need to apply for a Student visa. You can see a full list of requirements on the UK government website.

  • University place – an accepted conditional or unconditional offer of a place at Sheffield Hallam. You can prove this with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which we will give you.
  • Financial proof – depending on your home country, you might need to show that you have enough money to pay the course fees and look after yourself when living here. The UK government website explains how much money you will need to have and whether the rule applies to you.
  • English language – prove your English language level with a UKVI approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). See the list of approved tests on the UK government website. 
  • Tuberculosis test – You may need a valid Tuberculosis (TB) test if you are coming to the UK from one of the listed countries.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge – You need to pay an additional fee for yourself and any dependents travelling with you for each year of your visa to access the National Health Service (NHS) healthcare. You can calculate your surcharge on the immigration healthcare pages. 
  • ATAS certificate  – Some postgraduate or research programmes may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate. Check the ATAS guide to see if this applies to you.

Steps to apply for your Student visa

Once we accept you onto a course and you have paid a deposit for your tuition fees, we will upload your details to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) database. You will then receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) with a reference number needed for your visa application.

During the process, you might be required to provide our sponsor licence number, which is G5N8YGW40. You might also be asked to do a credibility interview to confirm your intention to study.

Once your application is submitted through the UK government website, you should receive a response within three weeks, but decisions may take longer during busy times.

Successful applicants will receive instructions from the UKVI on how to create an eVisa account. Students generate a ‘Share Code’ from their eVisa account to evidence they have right to travel to, and study in the UK.

How to apply for a student visa

Bringing your family

You can bring your husband, wife, unmarried partner and children (under 18) to the UK with you as a Student visa dependant if you are studying one of the following:

  • PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8)
  • Research-based higher degree

Please note that our MRes degrees are not a ‘Research-based higher degree’ and do not meet the criteria for bringing dependents.

Read more about bringing your dependants on the gov.uk website. 

Changing your university

If you have a Student visa for another university and want to switch to Sheffield Hallam, you must apply for a new visa with Sheffield Hallam's CAS from your home country. Your visa must match our Sponsor Licence Number or CAS to avoid entry issues.

If you're already in the UK studying at another university and wish to start a new course at Sheffield Hallam, apply for a new visa before enrolment. Ensure your current visa ends no more than 28 days before your course starts, and that you've completed your original course. Otherwise, you must apply for a new visa from your home country.

Time limits for studying in the UK

Your visa to study in the UK will usually cover the duration of your course with some additional time at the end. The exact amount of extra time varies depending on your course's level and duration.

However, there are limits to how long you can study in the UK on a Tier 4 General or Student visa. The maximum duration is currently three years below degree level and five years at degree level. 

If you complete a PhD in the UK, you won’t receive additional visa leave if you’ve already spent eight years studying here. 

It is your responsibility to plan your studies in the UK according to these rules. Check the UKCISA website for more details.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out insurance cover for your own financial and personal security. Many companies offer insurance policies specially designed for overseas students studying in the UK, which cover:

  • Emergency medical expenses
  • Repatriation
  • Cancellation or curtailment charges
  • Baggage
  • Personal money, passport and documents
  • Course fees
  • Personal liability
  • Legal expenses

If you will be studying on a short course for up to six months, you must take out insurance to cover your medical expenses because you will not be eligible for free NHS medical treatment.

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Working in the UK

If you have a Student visa and are enrolled in full-time degree-level or higher studies at Sheffield Hallam (including Sheffield Hallam foundation degrees), you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. 

For studies below degree level, you can work up to 10 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. Always check your visa terms to confirm your eligibility for work hours.

If you are enrolled in a part-time course, you will not be permitted to work. This also includes courses with a work placement.

After graduation, you may qualify to remain in the UK to find work, requiring a specific work visa. Our international experience advisers offer workshops to provide detailed information on available visa options. Find out more details on the UKVI and UKCISA websites.

Need help?

For comprehensive information about UK visas, check the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) websites.

Our international support team is here to assist you. For any queries, email hallamhelp@shu.ac.uk or call our reception on 0114 225 2222 to book an appointment with our advisers. You can also check our support pages for more information.

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