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Visa Information

Our London centre is accredited by Accreditation UK. This means we can support your entry to the UK to learn English for courses with a maximum duration of 11 months. There are different requirements depending on where you come from (your nationality), how long the English language course is, and your personal circumstances. You may need:

  • A letter from us to show border control officials that you are coming to the UK to learn English for fewer than 6 months, or
  • A Standard Visitor visa, or
  • A Short-term study visa 

Find out if you need a visa here.

Click here for more information about the visa application process.

Do you need a visa?

For English language courses lasting from 1 week to 6 months

  • If you are a EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you can stay in the UK as a student at an accredited institution for up to 6 months without a visa. When you arrive in the UK, you need to show evidence that you will be learning with us. We can supply a letter on official headed paper to show border control officials. If you have a criminal record or you have previously been refused entry to the UK, you may need a Standard Visitor visa.
  • If you are from outside the EU or the EEA: you need a Standard Visitor visa. Find out how to apply for a Standard Visitor visa here. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us.
  • Some nationalities from outside the EU or the EEA can enter the UK to learn English for up to 6 months without a visa. Check if your nationality is on this list using the UK Government visa checker tool here. If your nationality is on this list, you need a letter from our school to show border control officials that you will be learning with us. If you have a criminal record or you have previously been refused entry to the UK, you may need a Standard Visitor visa.

For English language courses lasting between 6 and 11 months

There is no difference in this process based on nationality or country of origin, therefore:

  • If you are a EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: you need a Short-term study visa. With a Short-term study visa 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. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us.
  • If you are from outside the EU or the EEA: you need a Short-term study visa. With a Short-term study visa 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. We can supply a letter on official headed paper with the necessary details to prove you will be learning English with us. Here are the steps you need to take to apply for a Short-term study visa.

For English language courses lasting longer than 11 months

You need a Student visa. This type of visa used to be called Tier 4 (General) Student visa. We are unable to support Student visa applications.

Registering with the police

UK visas and registering with the police - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


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