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Applying for a Student Visa

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You must apply for a student visa in your home country before traveling to the UK unless:

IN THIS SECTION:

Apply for a student visa from outside the UK (permission to enter)

You can apply for a student visa up to 6 months before the start of your course and as soon as you have received your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Your CAS will be valid for 6 months from the date it is issued.

If your application is successful, you'll be issued with a 90-day UK Entry Visa (vignette) which will be stuck inside your passport and will allow you to travel to the UK up to one month before the start of your course. A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will not be issued, but you will be required to create a UKVI account. This account will give you access to your eVisa and allow you to verify your immigration status in the UK. Your visa should cover the duration of your studies, plus an additional 'wrap-up period'. 

Apply for a student visa in the UK (permission to stay)

You can apply for a student visa up to 3 months before the start of your course and as soon as you have received your CAS (valid for 6 months from the date it is issued).

Your new course must start no later than 28 days after your current visa expires and you must apply for a visa online before both of those dates.

Once you have applied for a student visa, you can remain in the UK and register on your course at Durham, even if you have not received a decision on your application.

Please note:

  • You must apply online before your current visa expires
  • The date you apply is the date you complete the online application and pay the application fee
  • You can stay in the UK under the conditions of your previous visa, until your new visa is granted
  • It is important not to make any travel plans until you receive your new visa 

Prepare your application & apply online

Durham University is a higher education provider with a track record of compliance and you’ll be asked to confirm this in your application. This means that financial requirements and other evidence are not always required. Follow the steps below to help you apply:

  1. Receive your CAS
  2. Make sure you meet any financial requirements and prepare any evidence you may need
  3. Take a TB test (only required in certain countries and applications outside the UK)
  4. Apply online outside the UK or apply online from inside the UK
  5. Pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) and the application fee during your online application
  6. Book a biometric enrolment appointment

 

How long will you be allowed to stay in the UK? 

Your eVisa will tell you how long you’re allowed to stay in the UK. Whether you apply in the UK or at home, you should be given permission to stay for the duration of your course plus an additional 'wrap-up period', the length of which depends on the length of your course:  

  • Courses 12 months or longer: 4-month wrap up period 
  • Courses over 6 months but less than 12 months: 2-month wrap up period 
  • Pre-sessional courses less than 6 months: 1-month wrap up period  

The wrap-up period gives you extra time to complete your study if you need it, travel, work or look for work or apply for another visa (if eligible) if you intend to stay longer. 

eVisa holders and eGate users

You should only travel to the UK once you have received your eVisa and on or after the date it is valid from. You cannot register at the University if you don’t have a valid visa that allows you to study, when you travel to the UK. If you arrive in the UK before your eVisa starts you will be classed as a visitor and you will be required to leave the Common travel area and re-enter the UK with your valid eVisa. You cannot apply for a Student visa in the UK when you have entered as a visitor.

 

Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published on this page is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) change in Government policy, or change of law. Any changes will be incorporated into the University’s website as early as possible.