Students already in the UK

Students already in the UK

If you are already in the UK with valid immigration permission then you need to check whether or not you are permitted to study whilst you hold this visa.  For example, people who have General Visitor visas are not permitted to study.

Tier 4 visa holders

If you already have a Tier 4 visa that you obtained in order to study at a different institution you will not be allowed to begin studying at St George’s until you have taken the following action:

• If you applied for your current Tier 4 visa on or after 5 October 2009, or if your current visa is not long enough to cover the duration of your course at St. George’s, then you must apply for a new Tier 4 visa.
  Once you have submitted your Tier 4 application to the UKBA you will be able to begin studying at St. George’s while you wait for your application to be decided, but you do so at your own risk as it is possible that your application will be refused.

• If you applied for your current Tier 4 visa before 5 October 2009 then you must get permission to change Tier 4 Sponsor by submitting a Tier 4 (Permission to Switch) application form to the UKBA.
  
  Tier 4 (Permission to Switch) application form (PDF)
  
  The fee for this application is £160 and applications can only be made by post.
  Once you have submitted your Tier 4 (Permission to Switch) application to the UKBA you will be able to begin studying at St. George’s while you wait for your application to be decided, but you do so at your own risk as it is possible that your application will be refused.

The Tier 4 Policy Guidance is available on the UKBA website. Please refer to paragraphs 314-323 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance for further information. Please note that St George’s is a Highly Trusted Sponsor.

If you are currently in the UK with Tier 4 immigration permission and you need further advice regarding studying at St George’s then please email us with a copy of your current visa.

email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk

Other visa holders

Some other visas, (such as dependants’ visas) permit study whilst in the UK.  If you are in the UK with immigration permission that does not permit study, or if your current visa is not long enough to cover the duration of your course, then you will need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

If you need further advice regarding studying in the UK with immigration permission other than Tier 4 then please email us with a copy of your current visa.

email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk

Applying for a Tier 4 from within the UK

You can apply for a Tier 4 visa from within the UK if your current immigration permission is in one of the following categories:

• Tier 4 (General) student
• Tier 4 (Child) student
• Student (under the Immigration Rules which were in force before 31 March 2009)
• Prospective student
• Student nurse
• Student re-sitting an examination
• Student writing up a thesis
• Postgraduate doctor or dentist
• Student Union sabbatical officer
• Tier 1 (Post Study Work) migrant
• Tier 2 migrant
• Work permit holder
• International Graduates Scheme, Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme
• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme participant

Please note that if you wish to apply for a Tier 4 visa from within the UK then there must be no more than one month between the end of your current visa and the start of your course of study, otherwise your Tier 4 application will be refused.  

You must also submit your Tier 4 application to the UKBA before your current immigration permission expires.  You can apply by post (current cost £386) or in person (current cost £702).  If you apply by post it is imperative that you post your application, by special or recorded delivery, before your current immigration permission expires. You must keep the special or recorded delivery receipt as proof of postage.  

If you apply in person, your appointment at one of the UKBA’s Public Enquiry Office must be before your current immigration permission expires. Information about submitting your application in person at a Public Enquiry Office can be found on the UKBA’s website.

If you apply by post, we recommend that you pay your Tier 4 application fee by postal order as this is the safest method of payment, because it ensures that the UK Border Agency will be able to take the application fee.  If UKBA are unable to take the application fee they will not process your application and instead return it to you as invalid.  Often by the time an application is returned as invalid the applicant’s original immigration permission has expired and they have become an ‘overstayer’ which has serious consequences.  You must write your full name and your date of birth on the back of the postal order and attach it to the front of your application form, as per page 5 of the Tier 4 help text.

More information about postal orders can be found on the Royal Mail website.

If you have immigration permission in a different category to the ones listed above then you will need to leave the UK and apply for a Tier 4 visa from your home country.  If you are not sure whether you can apply for a Tier 4 visa from within the UK then please email us with a copy of your current visa and details of the course that you want to study at the address below.

email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk

If you do have immigration permission in one of the categories listed above and you intend to apply for your Tier 4 visa from within the UK then please see the UKCISA information sheet entitled Making an immigration application as a Tier 4 (General) student in the UK.  Please also read the other immigration sections on this website, in particular please refer to the section on under Financial requirements entitled ‘Students who already have a student/Tier 4 visa (or a visa as a post-graduate doctor or dentist).’

If you still have questions relating to applying for a Tier 4 visa from within the UK then please contact us.

email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk

We would be happy to offer you an appointment with a Student Adviser so that we can explain the Tier 4 requirements in more detail.  We also strongly recommend that you attend an appointment with a Student Adviser so that we can check your application form and supporting documents before you submit them to the UKBA.

Please note that you can apply for a Tier 4 visa from your home country even if you have existing immigration permission to be in the UK: if your application is successful your current immigration permission will be cancelled and replaced with a Tier 4 visa.

If you will be applying for a Tier 4 visa from outside the UK then please refer to the guidance on the other pages of this section.

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Please note that the above information is subject to change; please check the UK Border Agency’s website for updates.  The information herein provided is given in good faith for information only purposes. The information herewith provided is not intended to nor does it constitute legal advice. St. George’s, University of London does not warrant the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no liability whatsoever as any claims arising from reliance thereon.