How to Apply

Deciding which university you prefer and which subject you enjoy is just the first step for international students to take when applying to study in the United Kingdom. Here are some general processes which all students from outside the UK have to take in order to gain entry onto a UK university course.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before applying to a course you should make sure you are adequately qualified and stand a good chance of acceptance. All courses will have stated their entry requirements online or in their prospectus, but international students will often have qualifications which are entirely different to those specified. Contact the university or use an agency such as Whitehall Education to help determine the value of your international qualifications, and which courses you are eligible for.

It is also wise to research and choose some courses and institutions in the event that your original choices reject your application. Additional applications to universities can be made via the Clearing process for unsuccessful candidates.

The UCAS application is how all students gain entry into UK universities, regardless of their nationality. These applications can be completed independently or with the help of an adviser, such as Whitehall Education. The majority of courses have a deadline of January 15th for completed UCAS applications. There will be an application fee for making your UCAS application. This is currently around 25 pounds.

By May you should have received any successful offers from your chosen universities. If no offer is received you have been unsuccessful, and successful offers must be replied to by early June.

UK student visa applications can take several weeks and may only be applied for within three months of your course start date, and a full student visa is only awarded upon the receipt of an unconditional offer from a UK educational institution. A Tier 4 student visa is the standard requirement for international students. Alternatively there are six-month student visas which you may use to visit educational institutions before they offer of a place and study briefly, but these will need to be upgraded as soon as possible.

Many courses have minimum requirements regarding the English language proficiency of their international students, and whilst there are several ways you may demonstrate this, the simplest option is to take the IELTS test with UKVI. Take these tests well in advance of your UCAS application, as upon completion each test will give you a registration number which you can provide to your university enabling them to verify your abilities.

There are quite a few pieces of documentation an international student may need, so it is wise to acquire them well ahead of time. Having physical copies of all educational qualifications is useful, and any documents which prove your ability to fund yourself are essential. These may come in the form of bank statements or scholarship acceptance letters. The bank statements should show that you have had the funds in your account for more than 28 days.

If you have any questions about the process or requirements to study in the UK for international students, contact Whitehall Education today.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Please send the following documents to start your application:

  1. Passport and previous visas to the UK
  2. Home address in your country
  3. Telephone number
  4. Email address
  5. Most recent results from school/college/uni
  6. IELTS test result with UKVI or English language competence
  7. Recommendation letters
  8. Personal statement
  9. Course required and Start date

UK Student visa

International citizens from outside of the European Union who wish to study in the UK must obtain a UK student visa before they can begin their education in the country. The majority of students will require a Tier 4 UK student visa, which you will only be eligible for if your chosen institution is on the list of UKBA trusted sponsors.

International students can apply for their student visa up to three months before the start of their course date once you have been offered an unconditional place, and some universities will actually help you with the application process.

The UK student visa requirements are determined using a points-based system. In order to satisfy the criteria for successful entry you will need the following;

  • Detailed passport information
  • Recent photograph
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document from your chosen institution
  • Proof of English language fluency via IELTS with UKVI
  • Evidence you can support yourself financially throughout your stay in the UK, and pay for your course fees and accommodation.
  • Details of your academic qualifications

APPLY TODAY

Please send the following documentation

  • Passport and previous visas to the UK
  • Most recent results from school/college/uni
  • IELTS test result with UKVI or English language competence
  • Recommendation letters
  • Personal statement
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