If you are coming to City for a short period of study, you need to enter the UK under the Standard Visitor route.
The Standard Visitor route allows students to come to the UK for a period of up to 6 months (per calendar year) in order to undertake a short course of study, or complete certain academic requirements of their course after their Student visa has expired. The Standard Visitor Route is the required route for the following City students:
- Visiting / Occasional students on courses of 6 months or less
- Undergraduate / Masters students who need to return to resit exams
- Some PhD students who need to re-enter the UK only to attend their viva
- Undertaking distance-learning programmes who need to come to the UK to attend a short induction or face-to-face module.
Not all nationalities are required to have been granted a visa before travelling to the UK. You can check if you need a visa and what type you need using the GOV.UK self checker. Depending on your nationality, you might not need to apply for a visa before you travel.
Visa nationals
- Anyone whose nationality is listed on the Government's Visa national list is classed as a ‘visa national’.
- Visa nationals must always have been granted a visa before coming to the UK. This is known as ‘entry clearance’.
- An application must be made online.
- Applications should not be submitted more than three months before the intended date of travel.
- An application can be submitted in any country where the applicant is legally present, and does not have to be made from the individual’s country of residence (source: UKVI guidance)
Non-Visa nationals
Citizens of certain countries are non-visa nationals (scroll to Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list - if your country is NOT on the list, then you are a non-visa national) are able to come to the UK as a Standard Visitor without first applying for Entry Clearance (a visa issued as a sticker in your passport).
Instead, these citizens can be stamped in on arrival as at the UK border, or enter the UK through eGates. If you enter the UK as a Standard Visitor you can remain for a maximum period of 6 months per calendar year.
What is an ETA?
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission to travel that is part of the plans to transform and digitise the UK border.
An ETA will soon be a requirement for people who are entering the UK for less than 6 months. This will include international (and EU) students entering the UK as a Visitor to study and undertake research at UK universities. British and Irish nationals will not require an ETA.
Eligible non-European national visitors applications are now open
27 November 2024 marked a major step in the UK Government’s plan to digitise the UK border and immigration system.
All eligible non-European national visitors can now apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and will need one to travel to or transit through the UK from 8 January 2025.
In 2025 ETAs will be open to eligible Europeans, who will be able to apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to or transit through the UK from 2 April 2025.
From April 2025, all travellers to the UK, except British and Irish citizens, will need permission to travel in advance through either ETA or an eVisa.
Eligible visitors should apply for their ETA through the UK ETA app, which is quick and simple to use and enables most applicants to receive a decision within hours.
People who require a visa to visit the UK will continue to do so and should not obtain an ETA. Those who are exempt from immigration control will not require an ETA.
For further information please visit the Government website.
ETA is extending in two phases:
- Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025.
- Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.
Visitors can find out when they will need an ETA here: Check when you can get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on the Government website.
How to apply?
Individuals should apply for an ETA before booking travel to the UK through the ‘UK ETA app’ or by searching for ‘apply for an ETA to come to the UK’ on GOV.UK.
To apply for an ETA, you will need to:
- Pay a fee
- Provide contact and passport details
- Provide a valid photo, complying with the rules for digital photos on GOV.UK
- Answer a set of questions
Cost and Validity
An ETA will cost £10 per applicant when the scheme opens for nationals from the Gulf states and Jordan, permit multiple journeys and will be valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
If you are refused an ETA, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
Further information
For official updates regarding the UK ETA scheme, please visit GOV.UK.