- Short-term Study visa for English language courses
- How do I apply?
- What documents do I need?
- What can I do on a Short-term Study visa?
- How long can I stay in the UK?
- Travelling to the UK
- More information
Short-term Study visa for English language courses
You may be eligible for a Short-term Study visa if you are studying an English language course in the UK that lasts longer than 6 months and no more than 11 months.
If your course lasts:
- 6 months or less, you will need to check whether you should apply as a Visitor
- longer than 11 months, you will need to check whether you should apply for a Student visa.
How do I apply?
You must apply online through GOV.UK before you come to the UK.
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel to the UK.
As part of your application, you will need to provide your documents and prove your identity.
What documents do I need?
You will need to provide evidence to support your application. This includes:
- a current passport or other valid travel document
- evidence that you can financially support yourself during your stay
- details of where you plan to stay and your travel plans
- evidence that you have been accepted onto your English language course
- a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate, if required.
The Home Office requires written evidence from your course provider confirming that you have been accepted onto an eligible English language course.
Check the documents you need for a Short-term Study visa before applying.
What can I do on a Short-term Study visa?
A Short-term Study visa is specifically for studying an eligible English language course.
You cannot:
- work or carry out business
- undertake paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements
- study another course or change your course while in the UK
- extend your Short-term Study visa
- bring dependants with you on this visa.
How long can I stay in the UK?
You can stay for the length of your course plus an additional 30 days, provided your total stay is no longer than 11 months.
Check your visa to make sure you know when you must leave the UK.
Travelling to the UK
If your application is successful, you will get an eVisa, which is an online record of your immigration status.
You will need to link the travel document you use to come to the UK to your UKVI account. Keep documents explaining why you are coming to the UK in your hand luggage in case you are asked to show them at the border.
More information
For the latest information about the Short-term Study visa, see: