Visas and Student Support
Visas and immigration
The vast majority of overseas students coming to study in the UK are required to apply for Entry Clearance before travel at your nearest British Diplomatic Post (Embassy, Consulate-General or High Commission) that has a visa section. Visit the website of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for more information.
If you are coming to study on a course which is more than six months long you must make an application for Entry Clearance as a student and have been granted your Tier 4 student visa before you travel.
If you are doing a course which is less than six months long the rules are slightly different and you should refer to the guidance on short courses.
To gain entry to the UK as a student you must obtain the required points under the Points Based system. Points are awarded for being in possession of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number (30 points) and being able to meet the maintenance requirements (10 points). In addition, you must meet the immigration rules relating to students, which are:
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You must have been offered an unconditional offer to study a full-time degree level course, or where a course is below degree level, a full-time weekday programme involving attendance for a minimum of 15 hours of organised study per week
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You must be able to show you are able to follow the course in question
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And you must be able to show you have enough money to meet the total costs of your studies.
For more detailed guidance please refer to our immigration and visa advice pages.
International Student Support
King’s offers dedicated student advice to international students offering guidance on not only visa and immigration matters but also finance, working in the UK and any other queries about living in the UK.
Welcome & orientation events for international students
The Student Advice & International Student Support team at King’s hosts an annual free Welcome and Orientation Programme for new international students at the beginning of the autumn term. The Programme includes several events to welcome you to London, and it will provide you with plenty of useful information to help you settle in and meet other new international students.
You will need to book a place online in advance in order to attend this event. Places are limited so we strongly recommend that you reserve your place as soon as the online booking form becomes available (June).
Other topics on which we can offer advice include:
Getting to and from the airport
Opening a UK bank account
Dependants of students
Suspending your studies / withdrawing from the College
Travelling abroad during your studies (visas for overseas - including to mainland Europe)
Healthcare
Working during your studies
Working after your studies
Lost passports and ID cards
Please also visit our New to King’s pages aimed to help you settle in upon arrival in London.