I already have a non-student visa for the UK. 

Standard Visitor

If you come to the UK with permission as a visitor, you cannot:

• apply to switch to a student category in the UK;
• study a full-time degree course, executive or part-time Masters programme or take a re-sit examination;
• undertake more than 30 days incidental study per visit - incidental means that study cannot be your main reason for visiting the UK

UKVI have produced a guide to the visitor visa routes which explains permitted study.

Tier 1 Routes

You can study while in the UK under any of the Tier 1 categories. However, if your visa does not cover the full length of your programme, you will need to ensure that you can either extend your visa or  apply for an alternative immigration route to be able to complete your programme.

If you need to apply for Tier 4, it is not possible to switch  in the UK from most Tier 1 categories. Seek advice from us before applying for your visa.

Tier 2 Routes

You can study in the UK under Tier 2 (General) as long as you continue to work for your employer. It is advisable to check that your employer is happy for you to study while working for them. You will be required to provide evidence of this if you intend to register for a programme on this visa e.g. a letter of consent.

If you stop working for your employer in order to study, you need to apply for a Tier 4 visa, even if you have time left on your Tier 2 visa. Contact us for advice on when and where you may be able to apply.

Tier 5 Youth Mobility

The main intention of the Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa is to work in the UK.  However, it is possible to study on this visa.

Points Based System (PBS) Dependant Visa

If you are in the UK as a dependant of someone with a points based visa e.g. Tier 4, you can study.

If your visa expires and you cannot extend your stay as a dependant, you will need to apply as a Tier 4 student. You cannot do this inside the UK, you need to return to your home country and apply from there. 

You will be required to sign a declaration confirming that your dependant is in the UK.

Diplomat

If you are currently posted to the UK as a diplomat, you are exempt from immigration control, therefore you can study in the UK.

If you are working as a diplomat outside the UK, you can enter the UK using your diplomatic passport but this does not permit you to study in the UK.  You will be classified as a Standard Visitor (see above).

You will need to obtain immigration permission to study.  The kind of permission you will need depends on the programme that you are studying at LSE.  

If your spouse or your parent is currently in the UK as a diplomat and you are in the UK as their dependant, you are also exempt from immigration control and can study in the UK as long as your family member remains in the UK during your studies.  

ATAS Clearance

From the 6 April 2015, all  international students who require a visa and plan to study a programme that requires ATAS clearance, must obtain an ATAS certificate regardless of which visa they have.  At the LSE, very few students require ATAS and this is at Postgraduate Research level.  You will be informed if your course requires ATAS clearance as part of your offer.

Applying for the Short-term Student visa

Who can use a Short-term Student visa to study at LSE?

New students:

• Summer School - for more information check the Summer Schools section on this page.
• Executive Education Courses - for more information check the Summer Schools section on this page.
• Methods programme (except as a condition of a degree offer) -  for more information check the Summer Schools section on this page.
• Language Centre students - for more information check the Language Centre section on this page.
• Executive/part-time Master programme - for more information check the Executive/part-time programmes section on this page.
• Visiting research students who plan to attend LSE for less than six months as part of their overseas degree
• Erasmus exchange students

Current students:

• Students returning for re-take/deferred assessments
• Executive/part-time students returning for teaching
• PhD students who are completing their studies overseas and are returning for their viva 

What are the facts for Short-term Students?

• You should plan to leave the UK when your course ends or the visa expires, whichever is soonest. 
• You cannot extend your Short-term Student visa in the UK
• You cannot switch into another visa category in the UK e.g. Tier 4 or Tier 2
• You cannot undertake any work or business in the UK
• You can study full time or part time and the course does not need to lead to a qualification 
• You are not entitled to free treatment from the National Health Service 
• You cannot use the Short-term Student visa to study a full time programme by applying for successive visas. The Executive MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy as it is a full time programme. You cannot use the Short-term Student or visitor routes to study this programme.
• The 11 month Short-term Student route can only be used for English Language programmes. 

Do I need to apply for a visa?

Depending on your nationality, you will either need to obtain your visa before travelling or you can request entry as a Short-term Student at the border. You can check if you need to apply for your visa before travelling on the gov.uk website.

FAQ: I've checked the website and it tells me I won't need a visa to come to the UK. Why have you contacted me to say I need a Short-term Student visa?

When you check if you need a visa, you may see the following message:

This means you do not need to apply for a visa before travelling, but you must still get the correct immigration permission at the border.  In this case, you should request to enter the UK as a Short-term Student.  

The stamp you obtain at the border is known as "Leave to Enter" and is your immigration permission to be in the UK.  You must have the correct permission for the correct purpose.

If you have previously had issues with your immigration history e.g. refusals, you may wish to consider applying for your visa before travelling to the UK.  Students have previously faced difficulty requesting entry at the border if they have a complex immigration history. 

Applying before travelling to the UK

It currently costs £89 to apply for a  six month Short-term Student visa at the embassy. You will be granted with a multi-entry sticker in your passport which will be valid for 6 months.  This means you can leave and re-enter the UK using the same Short-term Student visa, but you must be able to show you have studies to complete.

If you are coming to the UK for up to 11 months for an English language programme  you must apply for entry clearance. An 11 month visa application will cost £170.

How do I select the Short-term Student Visa application form?

You will need to choose the following options:

Reason for visit: Study

Visa Type: Study (non Points-Based System)

Visa Sub-type: Study-Short-term student 6 months

You can only select the 11 month visa if your are studying the full EAP Foundation Programme.

UK Visas and Immigration 

Requesting entry as a Short-term student at the border

If you are from a country that does not need to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK, you can request entry as a Short-term Student when you arrive at the UK border. 

Carry all your supporting documents in your hand luggage to show the Border Force Officer.  They may ask you about your plans and about your programme of study at LSE. It is important that you state that you would like to enter the UK as a Short-term Student.  Check your immigration stamps shows this before you leave the border.  If it is the incorrect stamp, you may be unable to  join your programme.

Your stamp in your passport will be valid for a single entry.  If you travel outside the UK or Common Travel Area during your studies, you will need to request entry as a Short-term student again if you have studies left to complete.

If you enter the UK by travelling from the Republic of Ireland, you will not go through UK border controls. We will need to see evidence of your Irish visa, your travel details and any evidence that you travelled from Ireland e.g. a boarding pass.  

What documents do I need?

To apply to be as a Short-term Student you need a letter to show that you  going to study at an accredited institution. This includes institutions who hold a Tier 4 sponsor license. Your letter from LSE will confirm that LSE holds a license.

• If you are a new student and you have accepted an unconditional offer on your course you will receive an offer certificate or letter from LSE. A conditional offer letter does not confirm you will be studying at LSE. 
• If you are a Summer School student, you will need to request a letter from the Summer School when you have paid your tuition fees (and accommodation if you are staying in LSE residences). You can check how to obtain this at:  Summer School Visa FAQs
• If you are a returning for re-take examinations you can request a Short-term Student letter from the Registry for students
• If you are an Executive/part-time Masters student returning for teaching, your department will be able to provide you with a letter.
• If you are a research student registered overseas, you can request a letter from the Research Degrees Unit

Information on the documents you need to provide can be found on the gov.uk web pages.

How much money do I need to show?

The immigration rules for Short-term Students do not state exactly how much money you need to show.  The guidance states that you should  be able to show evidence of funds to cover your period of stay in the UK and your journey to and from the UK. 

More information

UK Visas and Immigration 

UKCISA 

Applying for a visa for the Summer Schools

This information is applicable for the Summer School, Executive Summer School and Methods Programme.

What visa can I apply for to attend the Summer School?

Case One: A person attending the Summer School/Executive Education Course/Methods Summer Programme only and has no current immigration permission for the UK.

If you are  intending to study at the Summer School/Executive Education Course /Methods Summer Programme only, you will need to apply for a Short-term Student visa. Choose the "Short-term Student visa" section on this page for advice.

• If you are an Executive Education Course student and need to apply for a Short-term Student visa, contact the Executive Education Course team for a letter.
• If you are a Summer School student and need to apply for a Short-term Student visa, you can request a letter from the Summer School: Short-term Student letter request
• If you are a Methods Summer Programme students and need to apply for a Short-term Student visa, contact the Methods Programme team for a letter.
• Check the Home Office guidance on supporting documents and prepare your application.
• If you are a visa national (you must apply for a visa before travelling), submit your application to UK Visas and Immigration.
• If you are a non-visa national, you can request permission to enter the UK as a Short-term Student at the border when you arrive in the UK.

FAQ: Can I study the Summer School on a Standard Visitor (C-VISIT) visa?

A maximum of 30 days study per trip is permitted on a Standard Visitor visa for short-courses or recreational courses but the study must be incidental to the main reason you are travelling to the UK.  If you are only in the UK to attend the Summer School/Executive Education Coursel/Methods Programme, study is the main reason you are in the UK and the tourism is incidental.

We understand that it may be quicker to apply for a Standard Visitor visa in some countries, but you should ensure that you have the correct immigration permission to study in the UK. If you plan well in advance, you should be able to get the correct visa on time.

Case Two: LSE Summer School/Methods Summer Programme before further studies in the UK?

If you are coming to LSE to study at the Summer School before attending full-time studies in the UK, your options depend on when and where you will be completing your full time studies.

Summer School/Methods Summer Programme as a condition of your offer for an LSE programme.

Your ability to be sponsored under Tier 4 for the Summer School/Methods Summer Programme will depend on:

• Which session of the Summer School you are attending;
• When your Tier 4 visa for the Summer School would expire;
• When your main degree programme is due to begin.

This can be quite complex, so you should contact the International Student Visa Advice Team for advice on your options.

Attending Summer School/Methods Summer Programme if you have an unconditional offer for your LSE programme.

If you have an unconditional offer for your  main LSE degree programme, we may be able to issue you with a CAS which covers all of your programmes. Contact Graduate Admissions to request a joint CAS.

If you are issued with a joint CAS, you must register for and attend the Summer School.Non-attendance may affect your ability to join your main degree programme.

Summer School/Executive Education Coursel/Methods Summer Programme before starting a degree at another institution.

We are unable to provide a CAS number for Summer School students who do not intend to complete their full time studies at the LSE. If you already have a Tier 4 visa which will cover the period of study at the LSE, read the information on supplementary study.

Case Three: Supplementary study to your main degree in the UK.

The UKVI permits supplementary study at any point of your valid Tier 4 visa so long as:

• it does not affect your main degree programme;
• it does not delay your departure from the UK (you cannot extend your Tier 4 for supplementary study).

If you have a Tier 4 visa for another institution,  you will be able to attend on the basis of it being supplementary study.  We may require evidence that you are still studying/have finished your programme to be able to register you on a Tier 4 visa for another institution. 

Applying for a visa for Executive Masters and part-time programmes

Who should Executive Masters students contact for immigration advice?

The International Student Visa Advice Team (ISVAT) are the only team who are trained to provide immigration advice to our students.  If you have any questions about visas to attend teaching, please contact us directly using our online query form.

Short Term Student

LSE advises that if you require a visa to attend teaching, you apply for a Short -term Student visa. Choose the "Short-term Student visa" section on this web page for more advice.

If you are going to come to the UK several times over the period of your programme, you can apply to enter the UK as a Short-term Student. This allows you to stay in the UK for up to six months and is also permitted for 'distance learning' programmes.

The Short-term Student route is advisable for the following programmes:

• TRIUM Global Executive MBA
• MSc Health Economics, Policy and Management (modular)
• Executive MSc Health Economics, Outcomes and Management in Cardiovascular Sciences 
• Executive Global Masters in Management
• Executive LLM
• Executive MPA
• Executive MSc Behavioural Science
• Executive MSc in the Political Economy of Europe
• Executive MSc in Cities

Information on applying for the Short-term Student visa can be found on the Short-term Student section of this page.

FAQ: I'm a student on the Executive MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy. Can I use a Short-term Student visa for this programme.

No.The Short-term Student visa is not suitable for this programme because  it is a full time programme, which is eligible for Tier 4 sponsorship.  If you do not already hold immigration permission for the UK which permits you to study, you may be eligible for a Tier 4 visa.  Contact us for more information on your options.

Work visas

If you have immigration permission to work in the UK, this means that you also have permission to study. This includes:

• Tier 1 routes
• Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (ICT)
• Tier 5 Youth Mobility

As long as you are able to fulfil the requirements of your work and will continue to have immigration permission until the end of your programme, you will be able to study at LSE. 

Diplomatic status

If you are posted to the UK on diplomatic business, you can study on any of the programmes at LSE as long as your term in the UK lasts until the end of the LSE programme.

If you are based outside the UK, you will need to obtain immigration permission to study in the UK. This usually means applying to enter the UK as a Short-term Student for the periods of study in London.

Information on applying for the Short-term Student visa can be found on the Short-term Student section of this page.

Studying on a Standard Visitor Visa

If you are on a part-time or executive Masters programme, you will be unable to study on a multi-entry visitor visa as these are not short-courses.  More information is available in the Home Office guidance. 

The LSE advises that you should obtain a Short-term Student visa to attend part-time teaching as this grants permission to study in the UK for up to six months. Please read the next section on having two visas in your passport at the same time.

Can I have two different UK visas in my passport at the same time?

The UKVI have recently changed their guidance on holding two types of immigration permission in a passport at the same time.  The previous guidance stated that two forms of entry clearance could be held as long as one was for a short time e.g. six months.

A recent change means that if you hold a long-term visitor visa and apply for a new entry clearance, if your visitor visa is still valid at the point the new visa is issued then it is likely to be cancelled with no refund.

We have been advised that there may be a concession in this policy, but this has not been published as yet.

Re-registering with the LSE

If you require immigration permission to study at the LSE, you will be required to show that you have a visa which allows study when returning for teaching.  If you do not obtain immigration permission which allows you to study your programme, you will not be able to attend teaching.

Applying for a visa for the Language Centre

Students on English for Academic Purposes (EAP)Foundation programmes 

If you are coming to LSE to attend the whole EAP programme, you can come to the UK as a Short-term Student or as a Tier 4 Student. 

Information on applying for a Tier 4 for the Language Centre can be found on the following web page:

How to Apply for a Tier 4 visa for LSE

Information on the Short-term Student visa can be found in the Short-term Student visa section of this web page.  If you are only studying an English language programme, you may wish to look at the extended 11 month option of the Short-term Student visa.

LSE EAP programme before study at another institution

If you are going to study in the UK after attending an LSE Language Centre course, you need to plan your visa very carefully because the rules about studying at different institutions are very complex. 

Study in the UK for less than 6 months

If you plan to study in the UK for less than six months in total, you can apply to come to the LSE Language Centre and remain in the UK for six months.  The Short-term Student visa is not tied to one institution so you can study at LSE and then study at a different institution. For example, you may study at the LSE Language Centre and then study for one term on a Study Abroad programme at a different institution.

Study in the UK for more than 6 months

If you plan to study at the LSE Language Centre before attending a full time course elsewhere, you can come to LSE as a Short-term Student but you will then need to return to your own country to apply to return to the UK under Tier 4 to study on your full time course. 

The rules about switching between institutions if you hold a Tier 4 visa are extremely complex and problematic.  You must inform your new institution that you are attending an EAP programme at LSE if you have attended on a Tier 4 visa.  

Modern Foreign Language Programmes

If you are attending one of the Language Centre's Modern Foreign Language (MFL)programmes and require a visa to be in the UK, you will need immigration permission which permits you to study.

We are unable to sponsor students under Tier 4 for a MFL programme at the LSE.  If you do not already hold immigration permission which permits you to study in the UK, you can apply for a Short-term student visa to attend your programme. More information is available on the Short-term Student section of this page.

If you hold a Tier 4 visa for another institution, you may be able to attend a MFL programme on the basis of supplementary study.  You will be required to provide a letter at registration which confirms you are still registered for your main degree programme.

Courtauld Institute of Art students

The LSE Language Centre provides bespoke MFL courses to first-year undergraduate students from the Courtauld Institute of Art as part of their BA History of Art degree. You will continue to be sponsored by the Courtauld Institute at this time.

If you are a studying another programme at the Courtauld Institue, you will be able to attend an MFL programme on the basis of supplementary study. 

Immigration documents to register at the Language Centre

Tier 4 Visa for LSE	You will need to show your passport and valid visa/BRP.  You will be unable to register solely on the basis of your passport and decision letter from UKVI.  If you are required to collect a Biometric Residence Permit from the Post Office, you must do this before registering for your programme.
Tier 4 visa for another institution (supplementary study)	You will need to show us your passport and valid Tier 4 visa. You will need to provide a letter from the institution you are registered at to confirm you are still registered or have completed your programme.
Non-student visas	You can register to study at LSE if you have a valid visa in the following immigration categories: Tier 1 visa routes Tier 2 (General) - you must provide evidence that you have permission from your employer to study full time during working hours Dependant (of any category) - you must provide evidence that the main visa holder is in the UK and you live with them Tier 5 categories EEA Family Permit/ Residence Permit - you must provide evidence that that the EEA national is accessing their right to free movement and will be living in the UK Short-term student You will need to show us the sticker in your passport or the BRP card showing your immigration permission.

 

EU/EEA Immigration

If you hold EU/EEA or Swiss nationality you do not require a visa to study a programme at LSE.  

Dependants of EU/EEA or Swiss nationals

ISVAT specialises in the UK student immigration rules, so we are unable to assist with applications for dependants of EU/EEA or Swiss nationals.

General information can be found on the following web pages:

UKCISA

GOV.UK

Health Insurance whilst in the UK

You must obtain an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your home country before travelling to the UK.  This will enable you to access free medical treatment whilst in the UK. EHIC covers the requirement for Comprehensive Sickness Insurance if you only intend to access your right of free movement on a temporary basis.

EHICs have an expiry date so you must ensure that you have a valid card throughout your studies.  You cannot apply for your EHIC in the UK.

If you are a dual national but are not ordinarily resident in the EU country of your dual nationality, you are unlikely to be eligible for an EHIC.  In this case, you will need to obtain Comprehensive Sickness Insurance  to cover any healthcare if you plan to enter the UK using your EU/EEA nationality rather than Tier 4.

We are unable to recommend medical insurance, but you must obtain this before travelling to the UK. You can find government information on Comprehensive Sickness Insurance on the following web pages:

UKVI