Visa requirements
Find out whether you need a visa and which type is required.
Do you require a visa?
We recommend obtaining Short-term Student immigration permission if you do not already have the necessary visa to study in the UK. If you hold a different type of valid immigration permission, such as a Tier 4 visa for another UK institution, please contact us for advice, as it may also allow you to study with us
Visas for full-time programmes
If you do not currently have immigration permission to study in the UK, we suggest obtaining Short-term Student immigration permission to enrol in the Westminster Central College programmes. If you already have a different type of valid immigration permission, such as a Tier 4 visa for another UK institution, please reach out to us for guidance, as it may also be applicable for studying with us.
You can apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
- have been offered a place on a course
- can speak, read, write and understand English
- have enough money to support yourself and pay for your session – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
- are from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- meet the other eligibility requirements
UK immigration legislation caps the length of time a non-EU student can study in the UK with a Tier 4 Visa. The cap sets as follows:
- Five years and 11 months if you have completed a 3-year undergraduate degree in the UK
- Six years and 11 months if you have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree in the UK
The length of study is based on the validity of previous visas, not the period of the study itself, which may mean future research in the UK is more restricted. WCC can only support visa sponsorship under Short Term Study Visa.
- You can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during non-study periods.
- You are allowed to bring your dependents to the UK (classified as your husband, wife, unmarried partner or children under 18 years old)
- Your dependents are permitted to work or study while in the UK.
- Following your studies, it is straightforward to switch to a Tier 2 sponsored visa should you secure employment with a Tier 2 licensed company.
Visas for Part-Time Courses
The Short-Term Study visa route is suitable for international students who wish to study in the UK for a short duration, provided their course does not include work placements or apprenticeships.
You can apply for a Short-term study visa if:
- you’re doing a short course of study in the UK.
- you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
- you meet the other eligibility requirements.
You can stay in the UK for the length of your course or research.
You may be allowed to stay an extra 30 days if your total stay in the UK would be no more than six months, or no more than 11 months if you’re both:
- 16 or over;
- studying an English language course.
Your visa will say how long you are allowed to stay in the UK.
If you do not usually need a visa to visit the UK, you can study for up to 6 months without applying in advance. When you arrive in the UK, you must see a border officer – do not use the ePassport gates.
If you want to study for longer than six months, you must apply for a Short-term study visa in advance.
You can:
- do a short course of study in the UK, such as an English language course or a training course
- do a short period of research as part of a degree course if you are studying abroad
You cannot:
- study at a state-funded school
- work (including on a work placement or work experience) or carry out any business
- extend this visa
- bring family members (‘dependants’) with you – they must apply separately
- get public funds
