UK Short-Term Study Visa Requirements and Application 

The UK Short-Term Student visa is intended for those aged 16 or over who wish to study an English language course with an accredited provider in the UK for a period of longer than 6 months. It is important to remember that the Short-Term Student visa is strictly for the purpose of study and cannot be used for other reasons, such as to work in the UK.  

Before applying, it is important to check that this visa is suitable for your needs. If you plan to study on this type of course for a shorter duration, you can do so on a UK Visitor visa. Alternatively, if you plan to study for more than 11 months, it is recommended to apply for a Student Visa. For children between the ages of 4 and 17 who want to study at an independent school in the UK, the most suitable route is the Child Student visa. 

Please note: On 9 April 2025, the Home Office introduced new changes allowing caseworkers to refuse applications if there are concerns that the applicant does not genuinely intend to study or leave the UK after their course ends. This has resulted in increased overall scrutiny of short-term student visa applications. As a result, both applicants and education providers should fully acquaint themselves with the requirements of this visa route. In addition, it is essential to provide comprehensive supporting documents to demonstrate genuine study purpose, financial stability and intent to return to the home country after the course. Contact our immigration lawyers if you have questions about your study visas by calling at 02037442797 or completing our enquiry form. 

What are the requirements for a Short-Term Study visa?

To apply for a Short-Term Study visa, you must meet following requirements: 

• Be aged 16 or over 

• Be enrolled on an English language course lasting at least 6 months but no more than 11 months with an accredited institution, and have an offer letter confirming this 

• Genuinely intend to come to the UK to undertake the course of study 

• Meet the financial requirements – i.e. have sufficient funds to cover your course fees and your return or onward journey, and support yourself in the UK  

Accredited institutions

Your application will only be accepted if you are enrolled at an accredited institution. An accredited institution is one that holds a Student sponsor licence and is accredited by Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council (BAC), or the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC). They must also have had a valid and satisfactory full institutional inspection by one of the following bodies: 

• Estyn  

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education  

• Education Scotland  

• Office for Students (OfS)  

• The Independent Schools Inspectorate  

• Ofsted  

• The Education and Training Inspectorate Northern Ireland   

Along with your application form, you will need to provide an acceptance letter from the accredited institution for the course of study.

Financial requirements 

In order to make a successful Short-Term study visa application, you must be able to show that you have enough money to support yourself whilst in the UK. The immigration rules do not specify a specific amount; what matters is that you can prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself without the need to work or claim public funds. In addition: 

• The funds must be available to you 

• Your available funds must include the amount needed to pay for your course if you have not already paid the required fee, and 

• The funds should also include the cost of your onward or return journey from the UK once you have finished your course. 

How to apply for a Short-Term Study visa

To apply for a Short-Term Study visa, you will need to complete the following steps: 

• Apply for your course of study at an accredited institution – once accepted and enrolled, your provider will give you a letter of acceptance 

• Complete and submit an online application form for a short-term study visa 

• Pay the application fee and healthcare surcharge (the healthcare surcharge will allow you to access free healthcare whilst in the UK) 

• Provide any documents requested by the Home Office to support your application, including (please note you will need to provide certified translations if they are not in English or Welsh): 

• Your current passport or other travel document 

• Your letter of acceptance 

• Evidence of available funds to support yourself whilst in the UK 

• Evidence showing that you have paid your course fees (if applicable) or that you have sufficient funds to pay them. 

• Book an appointment at an overseas visa application centre to submit your biometric information and documentation.  

Remember, you must be physically outside of the UK when you apply for your Short-Term Study visa.  

What to do if your Short-Term Study visa is refused? 

If your UK short-term study visa is refused for any reason, it is important to understand why and your available options. There is generally no right of appeal for such application refusals. The two main options available if your Short-Term Study Visa is refused are to: 

1. Submit a fresh application – this is often the better and faster option if your visa was refused because you provided incorrect information or missing supporting documents.   

2. Apply for an administrative review – this option may be available to you if your application was refused in error or if you believe that the Home Office made a mistake when refusing your case. You have 28 days from the date of your refusal to apply for administrative review, and you will need to pay an application fee. 

If you are unsure of the options available to you in the event of a visa refusal, it is always recommended to speak to an immigration solicitor who can assess your situation and advise the best way forward.