Short-term Student (English language)

Eligibility

Age 16+, accepted onto an English language course lasting more than 6 and up to 11 months, at an accredited provider. No work, no dependants, cannot extend. Courses of 6 months or less: use a Standard Visitor visa; over 11 months: Student visa.

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

What you can and cannot do, how long you can stay (official)

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

What you cannot do

You cannot:

• study on any other course or change your course while in the UK
• study at a state-funded school
• work or carry out any business (this includes paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements)
• extend this visa
• bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on this visa
• apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

Full eligibility criteria (official)

Who can apply

You must be 16 or older to apply.

You must prove that:

• you’ve been accepted onto an English language course that lasts longer than 6 months and up to 11 months and includes no other subjects
• your course is with an accredited institution
• you have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you
• you can pay for your return or onward journey

If you’re under 18 you must also:

• have made arrangements for your travel and stay in the UK
• have the consent of your parent or guardian to study in the UK

Source: GOV.UK – Who can apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Your course

Your English language course must be with an ‘accredited institution’.

This can be either:

• an accredited UK institution
• an eligible overseas provider, if you’re studying in the UK as part of an overseas course

Your course must last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months.

Accredited UK institutions

An accredited institution must either have a student sponsor licence or have a valid accreditation and be listed by one of the following:

• Accreditation Service for International Colleges
• Accreditation UK
• British Accreditation Council
• Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)
• Estyn (in Wales)
• Education Scotland
• Independent Schools Inspectorate
• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
• Office for Students
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education

Eligible overseas providers

You can also apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re studying at an overseas higher education institution and part of your English language course is in the UK.

Your institution must:

• hold its own national accreditation
• offer no more than half of its educational programme in the UK
• offer programmes that are equivalent to a UK degree

Source: GOV.UK – Your course (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Documents checklist (official)

Documents you'll need

When you apply you must provide:

• a current passport or other valid travel document
• evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
• details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa
• evidence that you’ve paid your course fees or have enough money to pay them

You also need to provide:

• your tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test
• contact details for at least one parent or guardian in your home country, if you’re under 18 years old
• a certified translation if any documents are not in English or Welsh

Documents about your course

You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:

• permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)
• financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies

If you’re under 18

If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:

• you’re travelling on your own
• you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian

Travelling on your own

You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).

You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:

• your visa application
• your travel to the UK
• your living arrangements and care in the UK
• the plan for when you arrive in the UK

They need to include details about what will happen when you arrive in the UK, for example:

• how you’ll get to where you’re staying
• if anyone will meet you when you arrive in the UK or travel with you to where you’re staying - and their name, date of birth and relationship to you

They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:

• the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with
• an address where you will be living
• details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you
• consent in writing so they can look after you during your stay in the UK

Keep a copy of the written consent with you when you arrive in the UK.

Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if either of the following are true:

• you’re under 18 and have a disability
• you’re going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)

You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.

Travelling with an adult

If you plan to travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to name them in your visa application.

You can name up to 2 adults in your visa application. If they need a visa to travel to the UK, they will also need to make their own separate visa application.

You need written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian if you will:

• travel to the UK with an adult who is not your parent or legal guardian
• travel without at least one of the adults identified in your visa application - for example, if a change in circumstances means you have to travel alone or with different adults

The written consent needs to include details of anyone you’re travelling with, for example:

• the name and date of birth on their passport or travel document
• details of your relationship to them
• their passport or travel document details - they could include a photocopy

Your parents or legal guardian can include their own contact details so that they can help if you’re asked extra questions at passport control in the UK.

Keep a copy of the written consent with you when you arrive in the UK. You may still be refused entry if you’re believed to be at risk of harm.

Source: GOV.UK – Documents you'll need (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

Apply

You must apply online before you come to the UK. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel to the UK.

As part of your online application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your documents and prove your identity.

Allow time to attend your appointment.

You’ll need to take your passport with you to the visa application centre (you’ll be able to collect it on the day).

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply online

You must apply online.

Before you start, check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Once you’ve started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

After you apply

You’ll get an email when the Home Office has made a decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

Source: GOV.UK – Apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: Usually 3 weeks (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

Does not lead to settlement.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.