International Students
The School welcomes applications from international students. Around one-third of the School's student population is international, creating a stimulating environment for academic endeavour.
As a small specialist postgraduate research institution, with a community of around 300 postgraduate students, the School offers a friendly scholarly community to students from around the world in the heart of Bloomsbury in central London.
Fee status classification
The classification of a student as ‘Home’ or ‘Overseas’ for fees purposes is based on residence in the UK or, for EU nationals, in a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA). Generally any student who has not been ordinarily resident in the UK or, in the case of EU nationals, in an EEA country for at least three years immediately preceding 1 October, or who has been resident primarily for full-time education, will be classified as ‘Overseas’ for fees purposes. Where three-year residence is a requirement, the applicant must normally also have ‘settled status’ i.e. the right of abode in the UK with no restrictions. If you are in doubt, please discuss this with the Registry.
Potential applicants should be aware of the impact of the Government’s new Points Based visa system on their application. The University of London has been licensed to offer certificates to potential students but this does not provide any guarantee of gaining entry clearance. Students should also note that they will be required to provide evidence of their ability to pay their fee and maintain themselves whilst in the UK.
Please note that it will be unlikely that nationals requiring a visa will be able to obtain a visa for part-time Master’s degrees as they do not comply with the Immigration Department regulations.
For further information visit the Home Office UK Border Agency website.
Tier 4 Student Visa Applications
Overseas (non-EU) students requiring a visa for more than six months must apply for a student visa under Tier 4 of the UK Border Agency’s Points Based System. In order to make an application, students will need to be sponsored by the School of Advanced Study and issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). CASs are issued by the School’s Registry Office.
In order for the Registry to issue a CAS, you must have received and formally accepted an offer of a place, met any conditions of that offer, paid a visa administration charge and any course deposit as required. Following receipt of the latter, the School’s Registry will issue you with a CAS when you are ready to submit your visa application. We write to you with details of your CAS and also return your original application documentation to you i.e. academic references/transcript etc, which you will need in order to apply for a visa, via courier. You should be aware that the immigration authorities will require you to show evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your full tuition fee and living expenses (the latter is currently stipulated as a minimum of £7,200).
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months prior to your intended date of travel. We recommend that you initiate the visa process as early as possible.
You should contact the Registry Office at least 2 weeks before you intend to make your visa application to request your CAS.
For detailed information on the student visa application process, visit the Home Office UK Border Agency website.
Helpful information is also provided on the UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) website.
Further Information for International Students
- British Council Pre-departure Guide for Students
- UKCISA Arrival in the UK Advice for International Students
- British Council Comfort Zone - Safety and Security in the UK
- UKCISA Driving in the United Kingdom: a guide for international students
- UKCISA International Students and Culture Shock
- UKCISA Keeping Healthy: a practical guide to medical services in the UK, and diet, weather and personal health
- UKCISA Preparing to Return Home
