LWA - London Waterloo Academy | Pre-arrival information

Entry clearance and visas

Students who plan to stay in the UK to study for more than six months must apply for entry clearance, commonly known as a general student visa, before travelling to the UK.

Students applying for entry clearance must score 40 points in the UK Points Based Immigration System to be awarded a student visa.

You will need to:

-have sufficient funds to pay for one year's tuition fees and living costs in the UK (10 points)
-hold an unconditional offer of a place on a course at an institution holding a sponsor licence (30 points)
-provide original and/or certified supporting documents, for example degree or IELTS certificates
-hold a valid passport

10 points - Funds

If the course you are applying for is nine months or less, you will be required to evidence sufficient funds to pay the full cost of your course fees, plus £800 per month.

If the course you are applying for is more than nine months, you will be required to evidence sufficient funds to pay the first year of fees, plus £7,200.

30 points – Sponsorship

You need to present original Visa Letter from the institution holding a sponsor licence (30 points)

Students on courses of less than six months may apply for a Student Visitor visa, which is currently outside the points-based system.

It is no longer possible to change from a visitor visa to a student visa while you are in the UK in any circumstance.