EU Nationals – Visa changes from 1 January 2021
Freedom of movement between the UK and EU ends on 31 December 2020 and from 1st January 2021 the UK will implement a points-based immigration system.
- International students, including EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, can now apply for a visa to study in the UK in 2021.
- All prospective international students, including EU, EEA and Swiss nationals coming to the UK on or after 1 January 2021 for a course longer than 6 months will need to apply to the Student Route, or the Child Student route if they are aged between 4-17 years old.
- EU, EEA and Swiss students and their family members who are resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and should not apply under the points-based immigration system. EU citizens must have started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 to be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and should apply by 30 June 2021. Students should still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme even if they do not intend to stay in the UK long-term. It is free to apply and applications can be made online on GOV.UK
- EU, EEA and Swiss students can continue to visit the UK for up to 6 months without applying for a visa and may participate in short term study.
Student Visas
In order to study in the UK on a course longer than 6 months, or an English Language course longer than 11 months, you will need a Student Visa. (If you do not think you will need a Student visa, you can find out more about studying on a Visitor Visa or a Short Term Study visa here).
In order to apply, you must meet a total of 70 points.
| Points Type | Relevant Requirements to be Met | Number of Points |
|---|---|---|
| Study |
|
50 |
| Financial |
|
10 |
| English Language |
|
10 |
The University will assess the Study and English Language criteria at the time of making you an offer to study. Once you have an unconditional offer, we will proceed with our Confirmation of Acceptance for Study checks. As part of this process, we will also check your Financial Evidence to ensure it meets the Home Office requirements for your application.
In order to help students to make a successful visa application, the International Student Support & UKVI Compliance team will be carrying out extra checks before we can issue their CAS. This could mean a delay in getting your CAS so it is imperative that you start planning and preparing for your application now.
The Student Visa application can be a difficult and complex process and we want to ensure that students have all the support they need to get their visa. The following information provides more details about the process, but if you have any further questions feel free to contact the International Student Support Team.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
International students will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to apply for a Student Visa.
About CASCredibility interviews
The Home Office may conduct a credibility interview as part of the visa application process. Find our more about the interview and how we can help you prepare.
About the interviewsDocuments required for visa application
This section details the documents necessary for your Student Visa application.
About the documentsApplying for a visa
This section covers applying for a visa online, the standard application fee, additional surcharges and processing times.
Apply for a visaVisa granted
This section covers what to expect when your visa has been granted and what your next steps should be.
My visa has been grantedBiometric Residence Permits
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) confirms your right to study in the UK. This section covers keeping your BRP safe, reporting errors and what to do if your BRP is lost or stolen.
About BRPVisa refusals
If your Student Visa has been refused, our International Student Support team can advise on how to proceed.
My visa was refusedDependant visas
This section covers the requirements necessary if you wish to bring family or dependants with you.
Bringing family to the UKVisa Support Webinars
We understand that making a visa application can be a stressful process but we can guide you through it to make it as smooth as possible.
The International Student Support Team are running a series of CAS Issuing, Visa Application and Pre-Arrival Webinars over the next few months.
CAS Issuing Webinar – Join this webinar once you have received your CAS so that we can guide you through making a successful visa application.
- Wednesday 14 April 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
- Tuesday 27 April 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
- Thursday 27 May 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
- Tuesday 29 June 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
- Tuesday 27 July 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
- Thursday 26 August 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
If you cannot attend any of the above webinars, please find a recording of one of the webinars from the last intake here (you will need to register with GoToMeetings as if you were attending the webinar). Please note that the information in the webinars is subject to change and regularly updated, so the live webinars will have the most recent advice.
Visa Application Webinar - Join this webinar for an overview of how to make your Student Route visa application and what to expect from the process.
Upcoming webinars:
- Wednesday 5 May 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
- Tuesday 18 May 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
- Wednesday 16 June 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
- Wednesday 14 July 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
- Wednesday 18 August 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
If you cannot attend any of the above webinars, please find a recording of one of the webinars from the last intake here (you will need to register with GoToMeetings as if you were attending the webinar). Please note that the information in the webinars is subject to change and regularly updated, so the live webinars will have the most recent advice.
Pre-arrival Webinar - Join this webinar to prepare for your journey to Bradford, including information on accommodation, what to expect from your first few weeks, and how to book the airport pick-up service.
Upcoming webinars:
- Tuesday 3 August 2021, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM BST - Register here
- Thursday 2 September 2021, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM BST - Register here
If you cannot attend any of the above webinars, please find a recording of one of the webinars from the last intake here (you will need to register with GoToMeetings as if you were attending the webinar). Please note that the information in the webinars is subject to change and regularly updated, so the live webinars will have the most recent advice.