Short-term study visa

You can apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re coming to the UK to study an English language course that’s longer than 6 months but less than 11 months.

If your course is 6 months or shorter you should apply for a Visitor visa. If your course is longer than 11 months, you’ll need to apply for a Student visa.

You must have been accepted onto an accredited English language course before you apply for a Short-term study visa – you’ll be asked to prove this during your application. You must also:

• Be aged 16 or over to apply
• Apply from outside the UK
• Obtain your visa before travelling to the UK

Requirements and restrictions

Under the Short-term study visa, you:

• Must study on the course your visa was granted for
• Must leave the UK within 30 days of completing your course
• Can't use it for frequent or successive visits to the UK
• Can't work or engage in any business activities
• Can't extend this visa or switch to a different visa while in the UK

1) Apply for your course

Before you make your visa application, you must have a Letter of Acceptance from us. Find out more (under 'What's the enrolment process for English language courses').

2) Apply for your visa

• Apply using the online visa application form on the UKVI website
• Choose your language and select a country to attend a biometric appointment
• Register your email to access your application at a later stage
• Answer questions about yourself, your course, immigration and finances*
• Pay for your visa application – the current fee is £228
• Pay your Immigration Health Surcharge to access the NHS – £776 per year

*You must be 100% honest when answering these questions – please also make sure the information matches the details on your offer or visa letter issued by Regent's, if applying to start a new course.

Once you submit your application you'll need to attend a biometrics appointment – which gathers your biometric information (fingerprints, facial ID) and verifies your documents.

Documents required

• Your passport (with one free page for your visa)
• A formal letter confirming your acceptance onto an English language course
• Details of where you intend to stay, with evidence like a hotel reservation*
• Evidence of your intent to leave afterwards, like booked tickets*
• Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay**
• Written consent from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), if you're under 18
• Official translations of any documents which are not in English or Welsh
• Tuberculosis test results, if required (depends on your home country)

*Be careful about accommodation and travel payment before you receive your visa, just in case your application is refused.

**We advise a minimum of £1,529 per month for living costs. Evidence includes (over six months of) bank statements and recent payslips – failure to show sufficient funds is one of the most common grounds for visa refusal.

If you have any questions about the application process, contact [email protected].

Receiving your visa

Once your application has been approved, you'll receive a decision letter from the UKVI via email confirming the outcome of your application, describing your visa conditions and stating your visa start and expiry dates. This is usually sent within three weeks of your biometrics appointment or the date you submitted the required documents, if you used the UK Immigration ID check app.

You must then create a UKVI account (if you don't already have one) and get access to your eVisa before you travel to the UK. Instructions on how to do so will be in your decision email.

UK Visas and Immigration have prepared useful videos to help you access and use your eVisa.

If you spot any errors on your eVisa, please get in touch as soon as possible.

At the UK border

You must receive your decision letter and have access to your eVisa before you travel to the UK.

When you speak to the Border Control Officer, make sure to tell them that you’re coming to the UK to study and have your decision letter and a share code at hand. They’ll need to stamp your passport with the date of your arrival. If they don't, ask them politely to do so, saying you were instructed by your University. If they don't stamp your passport, or you use eGates, please ensure to keep your boarding pass to show proof of your date of entry to the country.

You should keep all your documents in your hand luggage, just in case the Border Officer asks to see them.

How long does it take to get a Short-term study visa?

You should receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks (or 15 working days) of attending your biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre or the date you submitted the required documents, if you used the UK Immigration ID app.

How long can I stay in the UK?

Your visa will be granted for 11 months, but you'll need to leave the UK within 30 days of completing your course.

Can I undertake an unpaid internship on this visa?

No – this visa does not permit you to do any type of work in the UK, including unpaid or voluntary work.

Can I undertake a supplementary study?

No – you must study only on the course for which the visa was granted.

How much money do I need to show in my application?

Unlike others, there isn’t a specific amount you're required to show when applying for this visa. However, you need to prove that you have enough money for your living costs (accommodation, maintenance) and to pay for your course, if you haven’t paid yet. As a reasonable guide, you can use the monthly amount required of students applying under Student visa, which is £1,529 per month for London-based studies.

Can I extend this visa in the UK?

No – Short-term study visas cannot be extended in the UK. If you wish to make another visa application to stay longer, you'll need to leave the UK and apply from overseas.

If you have any further questions, contact us at [email protected]