Applying for a Tier 4 visa from Outside the UK, April 2017
1. How do I apply for a visa?
Virtually all applications are made on-line via UK Visas and Immigration website. UKVI give
detailed information within the Tier 4 Policy Guidance, you should read the parts about Tier 4
(General) that are relevant to your circumstances. UKCISA also produce detailed guides to Tier 4
and the application process.
2. When can I apply for a visa?
You will need a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) before you will be able to complete
a visa application. You can be issued with a CAS up to six months before the start of your course,
but you cannot apply for a visa more than 3 months before the course start date on your CAS.
It is advisable to apply for your visa as early as you can to make sure you do not miss your course
start date.
3. How long does it take to obtain a visa?
This depends on your location and whether you have included everything in your application as
required. You can check the UKVI webpage for a general indication of your local visa processing
time. During the summer the visa processing time is likely to be significantly longer. In some
countries the Visa Application Centre may offer services to ‘fast track’ the processing of your
application for which there is an additional charge.
4. How much does it cost to apply for a visa?
The Tier 4 entry clearance (visa) application fee is: £335 paid in local currency.
If you are required to have a TB test a separate test fee is charged which depends on location.
In April 2015 UKVI introduced an immigration health charge for most people applying for a visa for
longer than 6 months. The charge is based on the maximum length of visa that could be granted
as follows:
• For each year and each part year between 6 - 12 months - £150
• For each part year less than 6 months - £75
Depending on the length and type of course Tier 4 permission may be issued for up to one month
before studies commence and 4 months beyond the end of studies, for example:
Type of
Course
BSc/BA
MSc/MA
PhD
Length of studies
on CAS
2 years 9 months
12 months
4 years
Length of visa
Health charge
3 years 2 months
Up to 17 months
4 years 5 months
(3 x 150) +75 = £525
150 + 75 = £225
(4 x 150) + 75 = £675
The same fees and charges will also have to be paid for each family member applying for a
dependent visa.
5. What funds do I need to prove in my application?
You need to show you have enough money for any outstanding tuition fees as stated on your
CAS plus living expenses which are calculated according to the Tier 4 policy guidance. If you are
self-funding you need to have kept at least the required amount in your account throughout a 28day period which ends no earlier than 31 days before your visa application.
You should only submit your visa application if you are able to prove that you have the
required funds in place, or your visa application will be refused. If your visa is refused, the
University does not guarantee to issue you with a new CAS – we will only do so if we are satisfied
that you have put sufficient measures in place to ensure that your subsequent visa application will
be successful.
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The visa decision will be based on what tuition fees are still to be paid according to the
information on your CAS. The fees for your main programme can be found on our Fees and
Funding webpage, fees for pre-sessional courses can be found here.
The CAS only needs to state the tuition fees that are due within the first year of your studies,
if your course is longer than one year you do not need to show you have the funds for the
second or subsequent years.
If you are applying for a visa with a CAS that just covers an English language pre-sessional
course, you only need to show that you have money for the tuition fees and living expenses
for the length of the pre-sessional course.
If you are applying for a visa to cover both an English language pre-sessional course and a
degree, you need to show that you have money for the tuition fees and living expenses for
both the pre-sessional course and the degree.
If you have been awarded a scholarship or bursary, this will be deducted from the tuition fees
before they are specified on your CAS. Otherwise a sponsor note can be added to the CAS
to confirm the details.
If you have already paid some or all of your tuition fees, this can be noted on your CAS. If
you pay some or all of your tuition fees after your CAS is sent to you, please let the office that
issued your CAS know and ask for the CAS to be updated.
The money you need to show for your living expenses depends on where you are studying
and the length of your course but you never need to show more than 9 months living
expenses. Most students studying at the main Loughborough campus will need to show
£1,015 per month for up to 9 months (£9,135). If your main degree is to be taken at
Loughborough University London you will need to show £1,265 per month for up to 9
months (£11,385).
If you have paid the University for some or all of your accommodation charges, this can
reduce the amount you need to show for your living expenses. However, UKVI rules only
allow us to record up to £1,265 as paid accommodation costs on your CAS, even if you have
paid more.
Some examples of how to calculate the Tier 4 ‘maintenance’ requirement:
Your course
MSc Management
Pre-sessional Course C (10 weeks)
only (you only need to show living
expenses for the number of months or
part months of Course C)
Pre-sessional Course C (10 weeks)
plus main degree (e.g. Course C + MSc
Management studied at Loughborough)
MSc Digital Creative Media at
Loughborough University London
Tuition fee
£20,500
£3,650
You will need
20,500 + (9 x 1,015) = £29,635
3,650 + (3 x 1,015) = £6,695
£3,650 +
£20,500
£3,650 + £20,500 + (9 x
1,015) = £33,285
£22,650
22,650 + (9 x 1,265) = £34,035
6. How do I demonstrate that I have the above funds?
Although the maintenance requirement is calculated in British Pounds your funds can be kept in
another currency, UKVI convert any amount held in another currency using oanda.com.
Most self –funding students will rely on providing a bank statement, which includes the following
information:
• The name of the account holder
• The full account number
• The date of the statement
• The bank’s name and logo
• Showing the required balance throughout, at least, a 28 day period
• The amount of money available.
Loughborough University Visa Advice for Applicants Overseas – April 2017
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If you supply a statement printed from an online internet bank account, it will need to be stamped
by the bank on every page.
If you are relying on funds in your parents’ bank account(s), you must supply an original birth
certificate or other acceptable evidence that you are related, plus a letter from your parent(s) to
confirm your relationship and that the money can be used to fund your studies.
For funds held in certain countries UKVI provide a list of which banks are acceptable for visa
purposes, you can check the list here.
If you are funded by an ‘official financial sponsor’ as defined with the Tier 4 Policy Guidance you
will need to provide a letter from your sponsor in the format set out within the Guidance. If your
sponsor is only paying for part of your costs, you will still need to provide bank statements to
show you have the necessary funds for any outstanding fees and/or living expenses.
7. What documents do I need to include with my visa application?
• You will need the Loughborough University Sponsor License Number : G9M4TDXV1 and the
14 digit unique CAS number and CAS details to complete the Tier 4 application
• Financial evidence, e.g. a bank statement showing the correct amount of money.
• The academic documents listed on your CAS details as ‘evidence used to obtain offer’.
These are the documents that Loughborough University has used to confirm you have been
accepted onto your degree. There is no need for you to provide a copy of an English
language test or qualification if your CAS contains the following sentence:
English language ability assessed and confirmed at CEFR Level B2 or higher in each of the
four components of language learning, no documents are required to be submitted as
evidence of this.
• Certified professional translations of any documents that are not in English.
• ATAS clearance certificate if required for certain engineering and technology subjects.
Your initial offer and CAS will indicate whether your course requires ATAS, further information
is available for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. You can apply for an
ATAS clearance certificate online here.
• TB screening result for students applying from certain countries.
• Photograph and a valid passport
You should submit original evidence (not copies) and ensure they comply with the requirements
set out in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance.
Certain nationalities may not have to provide evidence of qualifications or finances in accordance
with the ‘differentiation arrangements’ explained in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. Nevertheless it is
recommended to have the evidence prepared and available in case it is requested.
8. Will I have to attend a visa interview?
At your visa application appointment you can expect to be interviewed by video link. The purpose
of the interview is to check you are genuinely coming to study. It will help you if you prepare for
this interview in advance, so you are confident in answering questions about your plans to study
in the UK. The questions might include:
o What is the name of your university?
o What is the name of your course of study? Do you know what modules/topics you will be
studying as part of this course?
o What are your reasons for wanting to study in the UK?
o What are your reasons for choosing Loughborough University and the course?
o What are your future career plans?
o What are your accommodation arrangements in the UK?
o How you can afford to pay for your studies?
o Do you intend to work in the UK during your studies? If so, do you know how many hours
you are permitted to work under Tier 4?
o Have you ever studied in the UK or overseas before? If so, what did you study, did you
complete the course; did you leave the country before your visa expired?
There are some videos about the visa application process for new international students here.
Loughborough University Visa Advice for Applicants Overseas – April 2017
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9. Where can I collect my Biometric Residence Permit?
From March 2015 UKVI introduced Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) for anyone coming to the
UK for more than 6 months. Your Tier 4 visa will be issued for just 30 days to allow you to travel,
after arriving in the UK you must collect your BRP which contains your permission to stay longer.
The visa application process will ask you for your contact details in the UK and details of where
you are studying, if necessary you can use the relevant University address for your contact details.
Towards the end of the visa application you will be asked where you wish to collect your BRP
from, the suggestions are based on the contact details you have given. If you wish to collect
your BRP from the Student Office at the Loughborough campus select the ‘alternative
location’ and enter the ACL code ‘2HE857’ – this option is available at the Loughborough
campus only (including all pre-sessional students and their dependants), it is not possible
to collect BRPs at the London campus. Otherwise BRPs may be collected from participating
Post Offices, the details of the nearest to each University campus are as follows:
Campus Address
Loughborough University
Epinal Way
Loughborough
Leicestershire, LE11 3TU
Loughborough University London
3 Lesney Avenue
The Broadcast Centre, Here East
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Stratford, London, E15 2GZ
Nearest Post Office for BRP Collection
Loughborough Post Office
10 High Street
Loughborough
Leicestershire, LE11 2PY
Stratford Post Office
26 – 28 The Broadway
Stratford
London E15 4QS
Please note that all pre-sessional courses are delivered at the Loughborough campus.
10. What if I have any further questions?
If you have any questions about your offer or your CAS please contact the relevant office for your
level of study:
• Undergraduate - [email protected]
• Postgraduate Taught - [email protected]
• Research - [email protected]
Pre-sessional English offer enquiries - [email protected]
Pre-sessional student CAS will be issued by the relevant office for your main degree (see above)
If you need specific advice about your visa application contact: [email protected]
Loughborough University Visa Advice for Applicants Overseas – April 2017
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