Short Term Study Visa: Study English in the UK

Short Term Study Visa: Study English in the UK

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Veda Burman

| Updated On - Nov 21, 2024

The Short-Term Study Visa in UK is beneficial for Indian students planning to enhance their English skills in an English-speaking environment. This visa is exclusively for English language courses and is ideal for students not willing to commit to a long-term study plan. The visa allows you to pursue English language courses of 6-11 months in UK. Students can stay up to 11 months in the UK with this visa, including the English course duration plus an additional 30 days.

Indian students aged 16 or above are eligible for the Short Term Study Visa in UK. The visa comes with a few restrictions like not allowing any dependent, ineligibility to work in UK, no stay extension, or access to other public benefits.

  • The application process for the visa to study in UK takes around 3 weeks.
  • The application fee for a UK Short Term Study Visa is £200 (21,865 INR).
  • However, you can get a faster decision by paying additional fees of £500 (54,651 INR) or £1000 (1.09 lakhs INR).
  • You should also consider an additional healthcare surcharge of around £776 (84,810 INR). This will grant you access to the UK National Health Service (NHS).

Also Check: UK Student Visa Types

UK Short Term Study Visa Highlights

UK Short Term Study Visa Requirements

Indian students need to meet the following requirements to qualify for a Short Term Study Visa in UK:

  • Age: You must be 16 years old or above.
  • Course Details: You should have an acceptance letter for an English language course in UK, lasting 6–11 months.
  • Accredited Institution: The course should be from an accredited UK institution or a recognized overseas provider.
  • Financial Support: You must show proof of funds to support yourself without working or public funds.
  • Travel Arrangements: You must provide details of your travel and stay plans. However, do not pay for your accommodations or travel until you receive your visa.

Know More: Proof of Funds for UK Student Visa

Documents Required for UK Short Term Study Visa

Indian students require the following documents to be eligible for UK short term study visa:

  • Passport: Your passport should have at least one blank page.
  • Financial Proof: Students need bank statements or payslips from the last 6 months as a proof of financial availability to study in UK.
  • Course Acceptance Letter: Your course acceptance letter from an accredited institution should reflect the course name, duration, and fees.
  • TB Test Results: Students from certain countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and several others require a TB test for UK visa application. You should be tested at a clinic approved by the UK Home Office.
  • Parental Consent (If under 18): Written consent for the visa, travel, and living arrangements from at least one parent is necessary for minor students.

Also Check: UK Student Visa Requirements for Indian students

UK Short Term Study Visa Requirements for Minors

If you are a student below 18 years of age and require a short-term study visa in UK, you will need to provide these additional documents:

  • Parental Consent: You must have written consent from a parent or guardian for studying in the UK. You should provide the contact details of at least one parent or guardian living in your home country.
  • Local Authority Notification: If you are staying with a non-relative for over 28 days, you need to notify the local authority in the UK.
  • Travel & Accommodation Arrangements: You should have proof of suitable living arrangements in the UK and sufficient funds for travel.

Read More: Accommodations in UK

Course Requirements for Short Term Study Visa in UK

The English language course in an accredited institution in UK must meet the following criteria for you to be eligible for Short Term Study Visa:

Course Type Requirements
Accredited UK Institution Must have a student sponsor licence or be accredited by recognized UK bodies such as the British Accreditation Council.
Overseas Providers Students studying at an overseas higher education institution with a part of English language course in UK are also eligible for Short-term study visa

The accrediting bodies for UK institutions are as follows:

  • British Accreditation Council (BAC)
  • Accreditation UK
  • Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
  • Education Scotland, Ofsted, and more.

For overseas courses, your institution must:

  • Be accredited nationally.
  • Delivers less than 50% of the program in the UK.
  • Offer courses equivalent to UK degrees.

UK Short Term Study Visa Application Process

Indian students can apply for a UK Short Term Study Visa in a few simple steps. A step-wise application process of UK short-term study visa for Indian students is provided below:

UK Short Term Study Visa Application Steps

UK Short Term Study Visa Limitations

The UK Short Term Study Visa comes with a range of restrictions. Here are a range of activities you cannot do while on a Short-Term Study Visa in UK:

  • Work or Volunteer: You cannot pursue any paid or unpaid work while on a Short Term Study Visa in UK. This includes even internships or placements.
  • Course Change: There is no option of changing your course with this visa. You can only pursue the specific English language course you applied for.
  • Visa Extension: There is no possibility of visa extension, you must return after the visa expires.
  • Bringing Dependants: Your family members cannot accompany you under this visa.
  • Access Public Funds: You cannot avail state benefits or pensions on a Short Term Student Visa.

UK Short Term Study Visa Fee

The cost of a UK Short Term Study Visa for Indian students includes the visa application fee, healthcare surcharge and cost of TB test. Here is a detailed breakdown of the UK student visa cost for Indian students to pursue short term English courses:

Expense Type Cost Equivalent Cost for Indians (INR)
Visa Application Fee £200 21,861
Healthcare Surcharge (Includes UK Health Insurance) £776 (approximate, covers NHS access) 84,823
TB Test Varies, based on the location of the approved clinic in India (Approximately 200-1400 INR)

The UK’s Short-Term Study Visa provides an excellent opportunity for Indian students to pursue a time-limited English-language course in an English-speaking environment. Indian students should ensure to gather the necessary documents well in advance and avoid the restricted activities to increase their chance of securing the visa. With the right planning, this Short-Term Study Visa can be a stepping stone to achieving advanced English proficiency, leading to future higher education opportunities in English-speaking countries.

FAQs

Ques. Can I get a UK short-term study visa if my school is not accredited?

Ans. No, you cannot get a short term study visa in UK if your school is not accredited. However, if you are a student of an overseas higher education institution and a part of your English language course is in the UK, you can apply for a short term study visa. In this case, your institution must hold its own national accreditation and less than 50% of your course is in the UK.

Ques. Can I apply for a UK short term visa if I register for a short course?

Ans. Yes, you can apply for a UK short term visa if you're registering for a short course, depending on your course duration. If you are pursuing an English language course between 6-11 months of duration, you can get a short-term visa. For short courses lesser than 6 months, you will need a standard visitor visa. For courses with duration of 6 months or longer, you need a UK student visa.

Ques. Can I stay in the UK for 6 months on a short-term study visa for a 3-month course?

Ans. Yes, you can stay longer than the duration of a 3 months course in UK with a 6 months visa. However, according to the immigration rules of UK, you need to leave the country within 30 days of the end of your study within the 6 months period.

Ques. Can I re-enter the UK for tourism on a valid short-term study visa after my course ends?

Ans. Although it is technically possible to re-enter the UK with a valid short term visa even after course completion, you will have to justify your reason of visit. If tourism is the only reason of your visit, chances are high that your entry to the UK might get rejected even within the span of the visa validity.

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