UK visa requirements

The University of Law is a Student Sponsor approved by the UK Home Office. We are fully authorised by the UK Government to sponsor international students for a Student Route visa under the Points Based System.

We recommend that you read the information on this webpage alongside Appendix ST: Student of the Immigration Rules, which contains the Home Office’s regulations for the Student immigration route. You must also read our Student Visa Policy.

You cannot enter the UK as a Short-Term Student or Visitor and then change into the Student Route. The University of Law cannot enrol you on any of our full-time courses as a Short-Term Student which last longer than 6 months. Additionally, we cannot enrol you on a Visitor visa or on any other visa which doesn’t permit study.

Please note that the University does not currently provide visa sponsorship to students for part-time study. We also cannot sponsor students for online courses due to Home Office regulations.

Students with existing UK immigration permission/visa

If you already have immigration permission or a visa for the UK, you will be asked to submit evidence of your existing Right to Study in the UK (e.g. passport and biometric residence permit) using our online verification system. You will be asked to do this after you accept your offer to study with us.  You must also read our Right to Study Policy.

You cannot enrol on your course or attend any learning sessions until you have had your Right to Study verified by the University.

It is the responsibility of all international students to secure the correct immigration permission which allows them to study in the UK and covers the entire duration of their course.

Please note that UK immigration requirements are subject to change at any time and students should always refer to the last version of the Immigration Rules.

EEA and Swiss Nationals

The UK is introducing a new immigration system which will come into effect on 1 January 2021. If you are an EEA / Swiss national, you will need a visa to study in the UK from this date, unless you hold Pre-Settled or Settled Status for the UK. You can find further guidance on these changes and how to apply under the Settlement Scheme in this document.

Hong Kong British National (Overseas)

The Home Office is introducing a new Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa for those who are British National Overseas citizens and ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.  You can find further guidance about this visa in this document.

Graduate Route Visa

The Graduate Route is for those who have been awarded a degree level qualification from an approved UK Higher Education provider. It allows graduates to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career in the UK for 2 years post successful completion of a UK degree. Your application does not need sponsorship or endorsement by an employer. The University of Law will be required to inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you have successfully completed your degree.

To apply you must have successfully completed your degree during your current period of Tier 4/ Student Route permission. The Graduate Route is only open to those who have successfully completed their course and who have valid Student or Tier 4 permission.

In the event that your course completion is delayed due to a resit or resubmission, you may not receive a final result until after your student visa has expired and so you would not be eligible for a Graduate route visa. It is important to note that it is not possible to extend your visa for the purposes of waiting for results, or to cover a resit period if physical attendance is not required for the resit, for example submission of coursework online. The only way to ensure eligibility for the Graduate route is to successfully complete your studies on time, and receive confirmation of that outcome, within the validity of your current visa.

You can find answers to common questions on the Graduate Route visa in this document.

Further guidance

If you have any questions after reading the guidance on this webpage, please email International Student Advice. Please read this document before writing to us, as it explains how we advise students and the support we can provide.