Overseas Students

Immigration

Our full-time courses satisfy the Home Office Immigration Regulations for overseas students requiring a UK student’s visa. It is essential that all overseas applicants obtain their visa through the British High Commission in their country of origin before attempting to enter into the UK.

Unless you are a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), that is, the 25 EU countries plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway – or a Swiss national (all of whose citizens have the right of free movement and residence in the UK), you will need to seek entry clearance before travelling to the UK.

The most important consideration for overseas students is the ability to cover the cost of your studies and living expenses while you are in the UK. Proof of financial security will be required by the College and by the British High Commission in your country of origin. You must also prove that you intend to leave the UK upon completion of your studies.

Admission and Letters of Acceptance are subject to submission of completed Application Form with all the required enclosures. This includes Application Fees, Academic Documents, First term’s Fees, proof of your accommodation within close travelling distance of the College campus (no more than 30 miles away) and documentary evidence of your ability to pay your fees and cover your living expenses.

Each overseas student with a student’s visa must attend a minimum of 15 hours of full-time daytime studies each week.

For further information on visas and entry clearance, see www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

Arrival in the UK

Students who have been successfully completed the application process will be sent a formal letter of acceptance. Once you have secured you student’s visa, you may travel to the UK even months prior to the commencement of your academic year.

Ideally you should contact the college in advance to notify us of when you will be arriving in the UK and your exact flight details. Those who do not have a relative or friend in the UK can be received by the College protocol team at either London Heathrow Airport or London Gatwick Airport. Once you arrive in the UK, you must immediately contact the College to notify us of your arrival and make a preliminary appointment with the Administrator within a week of your arrival.

It is an offence for a student to actually arrive in the UK on a student’s visa and fail to join the college to commence their course. Any student who arrives in the UK on a student’s visa but fails to join the college will be reported in writing to the Immigration Authorities.

Orientation Week

We arrange a special week at the beginning of the academic year sometime in October to introduce students who are new to the college and the UK to important aspects of life at College and in the UK. It includes a programme of events where you get to meet with staff and fellows students and get information about the range of facilities available to you as a student. The highlight of Orientation Week is the free guided coach tour of London covering the West End, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Common, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, etc. The tour ends with an exquisite lunch in Chinatown in London’s West End. You will be notified of exact details of Orientation Week once you arrive at College.

Employment in the UK

Overseas students from outside the European Community will not be permitted to take up full-time paid employment. However the Department of Employment allows students a maximum of 20 hours per week for part-time work so long as it does not interfere with your studies. This means evening, weekend and vacation work is permitted.