Visa Information
Loughborough College is a government approved ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’. This means we can offer courses at NQF Level 3 and above to international students aged 16 or over.
Most international students will need to apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for a visa before coming to the UK and we can help you to do this. There are two main types of visa available:
Student Visitor
Combines a visit to the UK with a short course of study. This type of visa lasts for a maximum of eleven months for English Language courses and six months for all other types of course. It is not possible to extend a Student Visitor visa so if at the end of the six/eleven month period you wish to continue with your studies, you will have to return to your home country and apply for a Tier 4 Student visa. Student Visitors are not allowed to work part-time or bring dependants although your spouse and/or children may be able to apply for their own Visitor visa.
General (Adult) Student (also known as ‘Tier 4’ of the points-based visa system)
The traditional type of student visa available to those aged 16 or over. Student visas can be extended in the UK with the help of the College. General (Adult) Students enrolled at Loughborough College may work part-time for up to 10 hours per week during term-time and full-time in College holidays. If you are sponsored by your home government and will be enrolling at the College for a course lasting at least six months, you may bring dependants.
How to apply for a visa from outside of the UK
General Student Visa Applications
When you have met the conditions of your offer and have paid a £1000 deposit towards your tuition fees, we will issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Information about your acceptance at the College, including course details and fees already paid will be sent direct to the UKBA, using their electronic system. When we have done this we will email you a CAS Statement so you can see what details we have given the UKBA. This statement will include your CAS number which you should enter onto your visa application form. This will help the UKBA to see proof of your acceptance at Loughborough College. You do not need a paper visa letter, just the CAS number.
Student Visitor Visa Applications
When you have met the conditions of your offer and have paid a £1000 deposit towards your tuition fees or the full tuition fee if this is less than £1000, we will issue you with a visa letter which should be sent to the UKBA with your visa application form and documents.
Visa Application Forms
For more details about how to apply and to download the correct visa application form, you should go to the UKBA website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Complete the form clearly and include:
- The correct fee
- Valid passport or travel document
- Passport-sized photographs
- CAS Number (or, if you are applying as a Student Visitor, your visa letter)
- Evidence of funding for both tuition fees and living expenses for at least the first year of the course (original documents are required)
- Original high school/university and English Language certificates - these should be the same documents that you submitted with your Loughborough College application and will be listed on your CAS Statement/visa letter
All documents must be officially translated into English.
If you need to attend an interview, always be honest with your answers and if you do not understand a question, ask for help.
It may be necessary to demonstrate you:
- know about the College and why you chose your course of study
- know the location of the College, its facilities and the College's strengths
- understand the progression opportunities available after you have completed your course at Loughborough College
- show you are intending to return to your home country when you have completed your studies in the UK
Students who are already in the UK with a valid Student visa
You will need to ask the UK Border Agency for permission to move to Loughborough College. The exact requirements depend on when you applied for your current visa; however it is possible for you to start your studies in Loughborough whilst you are waiting for a decision from the UKBA. Their guidance makes it clear that you will be doing this at your own risk, as they might refuse your application and it might not be possible for you to return to your previous college. Please get in touch with us if you want to discuss this in more detail or would like help with applying for your new visa.
If you applied for your current visa on or after 5 October 2009:
You must apply for a new Tier 4 visa and be sponsored by Loughborough College. Please refer to the General Student Visa Applications section above for more details.
If you applied for your current visa before 5 October 2009:
You do not need a new visa, but do need to ask the UKBA for permission to move to Loughborough College. To do this you should complete the Permission to Change Educational Institutions Request form and send it to the UKBA along with the required payment. This form asks you to give the details of your new institution and course, as well as your reasons for leaving your current institution.
Once you have submitted your Permission to Change Educational Institutions Request form, the UKBA will acknowledge that they have received your request. Please send us have a copy of this acknowledgement. You may then start your new course at Loughborough College whilst the UKBA are deciding your case.
If your existing visa is due to expire fairly soon, you may prefer to apply for a brand new visa rather than requesting permission to change institutions. If you require help with any of the above, or wish to discuss your visa application in more detail, please contact us.
For more details about changing institution, see
