Visa information
What type of visa do I need?
You will be expected to apply as an adult student under the Student Visa if you are coming to the UK for your post-16 education.
If you live in your home country, you must apply for entry clearance before coming to the UK. You can apply to the British diplomatic post in the country where you usually live, often through a commercial company called a visa application centre.
Alternatively, if you are already in the UK, you may be able to apply for leave to remain here, which is often referred to as extending your visa.
More information on the Student Visa
What are the conditions of my Student Visa?
As a sponsored student, you must follow the conditions of your Student Visa. The latest Student Visa information and immigration rules from the British Government can be found on the Government website.
The University wants to support you in keeping your visa conditions and has provided you with our 10 top tips to help you have a safe and problem-free stay at the University and in the UK.
More information
Can I apply as a Student Visa holder if my course is less than six months
There is no minimum length of course required to obtain a Student Visa. If your course is less than six months, you may wish to enter the UK on the ‘short-term student’ route.
You can apply for this type of visa if you are 18 years old or over and want to study in the UK for up to six months.
Consider carefully
However, we recommend carefully considering whether this option is right for you. At the end of the six months, you will not be allowed to extend your permission to be in the UK as a short-term student or a Student Visa, and you will not be able to work while in the UK.
When do I apply?
Check all information
You must check that all the information on the CAS statement is correct and notify the University of any mistakes as soon as possible. It is the student's responsibility to ensure the information on the CAS is correct.
You must apply for your visa/entry clearance before you leave home. When you arrive in the UK, you will need to show your passport, with the correct stamp, to the immigration officer.
Once you have paid the required deposit and shown us your bank statement (if requested), the university will send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number.
You must pay your deposit as soon as possible and allow the University time to create your CAS number and get it to you. If you delay paying your deposit, this will delay your visa application, which may result in you being late joining the course and being refused entry for this academic year. You will then have to return home and wait until the following year to commence your studies.
You must submit your application for entry clearance no more than six months before the course start date.
If you apply too early, your CAS will be deemed invalid, and your application automatically be rejected.
How does the Points Based System affect me?
Biometric Information
It is compulsory to provide biometric information as part of any application for a UK Visa.
You must go to your nearest visa application centre, where your fingers will be scanned, and a full-face digital photograph will be taken.
Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided this information.
When applying for entry clearance, you must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points to qualify for entry to study.
Points are obtained as follows:
30 points for a CAS number
You will receive this number from Birmingham City University once you have paid your deposit.
10 points for maintenance
Money to cover fees and living expenses.
How do I apply for entry clearance?
We recommend that you visit the United Kingdom - Visa and Immigration (UKVI) website and follow the instructions when making your visa application.
To apply for a Student Visa, complete the VAF9 – PBS Migrant and PBS Appendix 8 General Student self-assessment forms.
The information on your entry clearance application must match that on the CAS statement emailed to you by the University. Any qualifications written on the CAS statement must be included in your application. If it is not in English or Welsh, you must provide the original qualification with an accompanying official translation.
As Birmingham City University is situated outside the Inner London Boroughs, you will be expected to show you have £1,023 (£1,136 monthly on or after the 2nd January 2025) to cover your maintenance. If you have paid any money to the University as a deposit for tuition or accommodation fees and it is not included on the CAS statement, you must contact the University immediately.
Entrance clearance refused?
If your application for entry clearance is refused, please inform the University as soon as possible. You may be able to apply for an Administrative Review in your own country. Please do not travel to the UK; you will be refused entry at the UK port of entry (airport/seaport, etc.).
Follow the guidance notes
Please follow the guidance notes carefully and provide all relevant documentary evidence and the application fee required.
As Birmingham City University is situated outside the inner London boroughs, you will be expected to show you have £1,023 monthly to cover your maintenance (and £1,136 from 2nd January 2025).
Visit the UKVI website and refer to the Self-Assessment Points Calculator for full details of your own personal maintenance requirements.
What should I do if I am already in the UK as a student and my student visa will expire soon?
You must obtain a new visa to study with us and get a new CAS. If you are currently studying at an FE college or private provider, please note you cannot apply for your new visa here in the UK; instead, you must go back home and apply there. The same applies if you have not completed or failed your studies elsewhere.
Before Enrolling with us
Please note you must have applied for your new visa before you can enrol at Birmingham City University.
The University has a visa service (the Batch System) open for international students already in the UK who can apply for their new visa here. As part of this service, we will give you all the advice you need on your new visa application, help you fill in the forms, and even send the application off for you. What’s more, this service is completely free.
This means that once the CAS is ready, we will send it to our Student Affairs department, and an International Student Advisor will contact you to agree on a time for you to complete your visa application with them.
What funds do I need?
When you are putting together your visa application, you will need to ensure you have the following money available:
Evidence needed
We require certain students to show us evidence before we issue your CAS.
We appreciate the sensitive information that bank statements contain; however, we assure you that any data received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will not be accessed by anyone other than International Office staff.
- One year’s tuition fee – minus any money paid to the University
- One year’s living expenses – £9,207 (£10,224 on or after 02-01-2025)
- You will need to show these funds for 28 days before we issue your CAS
- The funds should be in your bank account or your parents’. If the money is in your parent’s name, you must also include a birth certificate and a letter from them stating you have the right to use these funds with your visa application.
- Do not take this money out of the bank account while you wait for your visa, as the UKVI may check with the bank to see if the money is still there.
- The bank statements you send must not be dated more than one month from submission.
- We require certain students to show us their financial evidence before we will issue your CAS.
- We appreciate the sensitive information that bank statements contain; however, we assure you that any data received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will not be accessed by anyone other than the International Office staff.
Will I need to attend a credibility interview?
Many students will be interviewed as part of the Student Visa application process to provide further assurance that applicants granted a visa do intend to study in the UK. Get additional information on student interviews from the Government.
For most students, the Government expects that this interview will be around five minutes long and conducted via video link with a specialist team based in Sheffield, UK. The interview will focus on your reasons for studying in the UK.
The kinds of questions you may be asked are:
- What research you’ve undertaken when you looked where to study
- Why have you chosen the UK
- Why you chose BCU (instead of other UK universities)
- Why do you have gaps in your education
- What modules will you be taking
- How will your UK studies help your career development
Will I need to pay the healthcare charge?
The Government have introduced this health charge to all international students coming to the UK for six months or more from 6 April 2020. The current charge is £776 for each year of leave your request.
If you are coming for longer than a year, e.g., for three years of an undergraduate course, you will need to pay the entire amount upfront. This charge is for the entire leave, not just the course length.
You will pay for this charge as part of your visa application process.
Before applying for your visa
Before applying for your visa, you must obtain your Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) reference number.
The UKVI website contains information to help you.
What are Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)?
BRP delivery
When you make your visa application, please tick the box for delivery to our University in the “Alternative Location” field and enter our unique code, 2HE522. This way, your visa will be sent to us for you to collect at enrolment.
If you are successful with your Student Visa application, you will be issued a vignette in your passport, which is valid for 30 days from your intended travel date in your visa application. This will be you if you are coming to study for a period of six months or more. This process will change in 2025.
How long should I wait before applying for my student visa after I receive my CAS?
As soon as you have your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from the university and the required supporting documents, apply for your Student visa now! Do not risk missing out on the beginning of your academic journey in the UK.
Once you have your CAS and supporting documents, start filling out your Student visa application. Remember to give enough time in case UKVI needs to contact you for additional information. If your bank statement shows an unclear source of funds or large deposits, consider including a cover letter to provide explanations with your Student visa application. This will reduce the need for UKVI to contact you for additional information, which may cause delays. Start your UK Student visa journey with the right documentation.
Do you have gaps in your studies?
It may be helpful to include a supporting letter with your Student visa application to explain any gaps in your study. Do not wait until closer to your course start date to apply for your Student visa. Remember, paying for Priority or Super priority service does not guarantee success, and some applications can take longer to consider. UKVI may contact your bank to verify the financial documents you submitted. Consider informing your bank that you are applying for a UK Student visa to help reduce delays.
Are you applying for a UK Student visa?
UKVI has a list of countries that require a Tuberculosis test from an approved TB clinic if you've lived there for 6 months or more. Normally, the university asks for the TB Certificate before you obtain your CAS. Avoid visa delays by regularly checking your registered email, including the junk folder, as we may write to you for more information.
Check if you need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) before you apply. If you intend to study or research at the postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects, you may also need to apply for an ATAS certificate. You must do this before you apply for a UK Student visa.
Important Reminder: Do not travel to the UK without your student visa or before the date of issue of your student permission. It’s essential to have your Student visa approved in your passport or issued electronically before you travel to the UK.