A Standard Visitor visa lets you do a short course of study that lasts no longer than six months, provided you meet eligibility requirements.
In terms of study, a Standard Visitor can come to the UK to:
Please be aware there is another category called Family Visitor visa. The Family Visitor visa is only applicable if the student is inviting their guests for graduation and is:
In most cases you will need to refer to a Standard Visitor visa.
Check your decision letter or email for full details of the conditions of your visa.
You cannot:
When do I need to apply for standard visitor visa? This will depend if you are a visa national or not. You can find a list of visa nationals in the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list.
If you are a visa national, you must apply for a visa before you travel to the UK. You can check if you need to apply for a UK visa.
If you are not a visa national, you must prepare the correct documents to show at the UK Border. If you have a criminal record or a complicated immigration history, it is advisable to apply for a visa before you travel, even if you are not a visa national.
Please note: Even if you don't need to apply for a visa before travelling, you are still subject to the Standard Visitor visa conditions once you enter the UK. We advise you to have a physical copy of your confirmation of study letter (for example your unconditional offer) and bank statement in your luggage.
If you are eligible for an electronic visa waiver (EVW), you can use this visa type to study a programme which will be completed in less than six months.
You may need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA). Additional countries will gradually be added to the list for the ETA. Keep up to date with the latest information here.
If you are unsure, please check this page.
You can find full information about the other documents you must provide on the UK Government Standard Visitor visa page on their website.
If you are starting a new course, you will need to provide evidence of your Visitor visa at enrolment. You will need to provide a copy of your Visitor visa or entry stamp in your passport. If you were permitted to use the eGates, you will also need to provide evidence of your date of arrival in the UK, such as a boarding pass/flight ticket. If you are continuing on your current course of study, please email your visitor visa or boarding pass/flight ticket (if using an eGate) to the UKVI Compliance Team at internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk.
You will need a letter from admissions or student registry to confirm the date of the exam.
If you are a maritime student and you are coming to sit an exam with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), you will need a letter from them to confirm the date of the exam.
If you are repeating a module and you have been advised to come to the UK on a Visitor visa, you can request a letter from the registry team to confirm the start and end date of the module to support your visa application.
You can only access emergency services in UK under a Standard Visitor visa. We recommend obtaining a private medical insurance during your stay here.
