Who needs a Standard visitor visa

The Standard Visitor visa allows you to come to the UK for a maximum of six months to:

• study a short course
  
• attend a short period of intensive teaching as part of a longer programme
• re-sit an exam or module
• undertake a viva as part of your postgraduate course
• complete a study-abroad programme in the UK as part of an overseas course
• research in the UK where you are studying abroad for a Bachelor's, Master's or doctorate degree which is relevant to your research visit
• attend your Graduation ceremony if your Student visa has expired

UKCISA has published useful information about the Standard Visitor visa.

Long-term Standard Visitor visa

If your period of study is longer than six months, you will not meet the requirements of the Standard Visitor route.

However, the Long-term Standard Visitor visa may be appropriate if you are studying a distance learning or part-time programme and you wish to come to the UK for short periods of study activities, such as summer or winter schools, induction weeks, sitting exams, meeting with a supervisor, etc.

The Long-term Standard Visitor visa allows multiple visits of up to 6 months at a time over a period of:

• 2 years
• 5 years
• 10 years

You must meet all the Visitor rules in order to apply for the Long-term Standard Visitor visa.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the Standard Visitor visa, you must provide:

• Proof of the purpose of your visit. You can use your offer letter from the University of Bath.
• Evidence of your accommodation for the duration of your visit. You can use an accommodation contract, or evidence of temporary accommodation where you will stay while you look for somewhere to live.
• Evidence that you are able to support yourself during your trip and have enough funds to cover your return journey. You can provide bank statements, a scholarship letter, educational loan documents to demonstrate this.
• A valid ATAS certificate (where applicable).
• Evidence that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit. You can provide return flight tickets / evidence that you are expected return to your home country.

Additionally, if you are coming to undertake research or to be taught about research (including as part of a Study Abroad exchange), you will need to prove that:

• you are enrolled on a course of study abroad equivalent to at least degree level study in the UK and
• you are coming to take part in research that is relevant to the course you are studying overseas

The Student Immigration Service will issue incoming students who hold an unconditional offer with a Standard Visitor visa letter.

If you are a current student and require a Standard Visitor visa, you will receive a letter to support your application once your department has informed the Student Immigration Service of your study / visit dates. This letter will be sent to your University of Bath email address, and you will need to print it out and use it for your visa application.

How to apply

If your nationality is listed in Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa nationals list, you must apply for your visa before you travel. If your nationality is not listed in Appendix Visitor, you have the option of applying before you travel or applying when you arrive at the UK border.

Most students will need to apply online before coming to the UK, and attend a visa application centre to provide biometrics and supporting documents, including the Standard Visitor visa letter which the Student Immigration Service will have provided them with. You should aim to apply for your visa around three months before you intend to travel.

To apply for a Standard Visitor visa, please follow our online instructions to help you complete the application form.

If you are able to apply when you arrive in the UK, you must travel with all the supporting documents listed above.

EEA and Swiss nationals, as well as travellers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America coming on a Standard Visitor visa are able to use the eGates. As you will not receive a stamp on your passport, it is very important that you retain evidence of when you entered the UK. We recommend that you keep your boarding pass or evidence of your flight itinerary.

Prohibited and permitted activities under the Standard Visitor visa

If you come to the UK under a Standard Visitor visa for the purpose of studying, you are not allowed to work in the UK, including:

• taking employment in the UK
• doing work for an organisation or business in the UK
• establishing or running a business as a self-employed person
• doing a work placement or internship
• direct selling to the public
• providing goods and services

You are also not allowed to:

• access medical treatment, other than private medical treatment or to donate an organ
• get married or form a civil partnership, or give notice of intention to marry or form a civil partnership
• receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK, except for reasonable expenses to cover the cost of travel and subsistence

If you would like further advice on whether you qualify to come to the UK as a Standard Visitor for your studies, please contact the Student Immigration Service.

When you arrive at the University

If you are a new student, you must have your passport and visa checked on entry to the UK. You can only upload a copy of your passport and visa and begin Registration Online (ROL) once this has been done.

During September arrivals, this is done in the wider passport check process. If you arrive after this time, you must present your documents to the Student Immigration Service in Wessex House 8.30, between 10:00 -16:00.

eGate nationals will also be required to provide evidence of their date of entry into the UK in the form of a boarding pass or flight confirmation.