Prospective students

This page explains whether you can come to the UK as a prospective student.

The ‘prospective student’ category is for nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

You can come to the UK as a prospective student if you intend to study in the UK under Tier 4 of the points-based system but you have not completed all the arrangements for your course of study. For example, you can come here as a prospective student if you have been provisionally accepted on a course, with final acceptance dependent on an interview.

You should have a clear idea of the type and purpose of course that you want to study, and you should already have been in touch with educational institutions in the UK. If you only have a vague intention to study for qualifications or to enter an unspecified university or other institution, you cannot come here as a prospective student.

You must be able to show that you will start your course within 6 months of arrival in the UK. In some cases, you may be able to provide this evidence in a letter of acceptance or prospectus giving details of the course.

If you already have an unconditional offer of a place on a course, which you intend to accept, you should not come here as a prospective student – instead, you should apply to enter the UK under Tier 4.

You must show that you intend to:

• switch into Tier 4 of the points-based system to begin your course within 6 months of arriving in the UK, and then leave the UK at the end of your course;
• Leave the UK when your permission to stay as a prospective student expires, if you have not been able to switch into Tier 4.

You must also be able to show that you have enough money to meet the costs of your intended course and accommodation, and to support yourself, without working or help from public funds.

There is no minimum age requirement as a prospective student.

Your husband, wife or civil partner, and any of your children under 18, can come to the UK with you while your arrange your studies. They are known as your ‘dependants’. You must be able to show that you can adequately accommodate and support them without working or needing any help from public funds.

This page contains information about the documents that you may want to provide to support your application to come to the UK as a prospective student.

If you apply for a visa, you should provide these documents with your visa application. If you travel to the UK without a visa, you should bring them with you so that you can show them to our officers at the border.

You should provide as many relevant documents as you can to show that you qualify for entry to the UK. If you do not provide them, we may refuse your application.

You must decide which documents will best support your application. We advise you to consider providing documents that contain:

• information about you
• information about your finances and employment
• your accommodation and travel details
• information about your visit to the UK

This page explains whether and how you can extend your stay in the UK as a prospective student.

If you come to the UK as a prospective student, you are allowed to remain here for a maximum of 6 months. At the end of that time, you must leave the UK unless you have already switched into Tier 4 of the points-based system to begin your course of study.

When you enter the UK, we will stamp the duration of your permission to stay in your passport.

If we give you permission to enter for less than 6 months, and you later want to extend your stay to the maximum of 6 months in total, you must apply for an extension – see below.

If we allow you to extend your stay, you must continue to meet the requirements for prospective students.

You must apply using application form FLR(O). You can complete and submit this application form online, or you can print out the form, complete it by hand and submit it by post, by courier or in person.

You should read the FLR(O) guidance notes before you complete the application form. You will need to pay a fee when you apply, and we will not refund your fee if we refuse your application or if you withdraw it.

The application form gives details of the documents you must send with the form. You should send the original documents, not copies. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original, or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining why you are providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

You must be in the UK to apply, and you must apply at least 4 weeks before your permission to stay in the UK ends.

If you apply by post, you must send your application to the address given on the form. If your application is straightforward, you can apply in person using our same-day service at one of our public enquiry offices for a premium fee.

This page explains what you can do if we refuse to allow you to enter the UK as a prospective student.

We will make a decision by carefully checking your application, immigration history and supporting documents, to see whether you meet the Immigration Rules. If we cannot make an immediate decision, we may need to interview you.

If we refuse your application for a visa or to enter the UK, our immigration officer or entry clearance officer will send or give you a notice of refusal. This document will list the reasons for the refusal, and will tell you whether you have the right to appeal. The notice will also give you advice on where to send your appeal.