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Yes, if you are from outside the UK and Ireland.

You will need a UK Student visa if you are starting a full-time course of more than six months and you do not already have UK immigration permission that allows study (for example, a Dependant or BNO visa, or settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme).

If your course is less than six months, you may be able to use a Standard Visitor visa.

There are two main routes:

Student route visa, for full-time courses of more than six months at undergraduate, postgraduate taught or PhD level. This is what most Nottingham international students need.

Standard Visitor visa, for short courses (6 months or under), study abroad and exchange visits, summer schools, viva exams and short blocks of in-person teaching on distance learning courses.

EU, EEA and Swiss students need a Student route visa unless they have settled or pre-settled status. Students from Hong Kong with British National (Overseas) nationality may be eligible for the BNO visa instead.

Compulsory costs

• The visa application fee (set by UK Visas and Immigration, ). This now includes the cost of enrolling your biometrics.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which gives you access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the length of your visa.

Optional costs

For example the optional priority service, or additional fees for optional services at some visa application centres.

, we don't quote them here because they change. Budget for all three when planning your application.

Around three weeks for most applications from outside the UK, once you've attended any biometric appointment or completed identity verification.

It can take longer at peak times (July to September) or if your case is more complex. .

Up to six months before your course start date.

Don't apply earlier; your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the document you need to apply, is only valid for six months and cannot be issued sooner.

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), is the unique reference number you need to apply for your visa. It confirms that the University is able and willing to act as your immigration sponsor in the UK.

As an applicant, we issue your CAS once you have firmly accepted your offer, met all conditions and paid any required deposit. You don't need to request it; we'll email you when it's ready to check on your NottinghamHub.

As a current student, if you need a new CAS (following a transfer of course, interruption of studies or course extension) then you need to request a new CAS via the .

Your CAS is valid for one visa application and expires six months after we issue it.

Enough money to cover tuition fees for the first year of your course - or for the full course duration if it's a one-year course or shorter - plus living costs for the first nine months.

UKVI sets the living-costs figure (currently £1,171 per month outside London).  before you apply. The rules on how the money is held are strict - our Funding guide provides more detail.

If you are from a country UKVI classifies as 'differentiated' (sometimes called 'low risk'), you don't have to submit the evidence with your application, but you must still have it in the correct format in case it's requested.

Your visa start and end date depend on your course dates and academic level. Your visa should include a 'wrap-up period' after the completion of your course, when you can remain in the UK for travel, transition into work, leisure, to attend your graduation, or to make a new visa application.

If you are applying for your visa from overseas, and it's for an academic course of six months or more or a pressessional English course of any duration, you can enter the UK a maximum of one month before your course start date - or seven days before your intended date of travel as stated in your application form, whichever is later.

If your course is for less than six months and not a presessional English course, you can enter the UK up to seven days before the course start date.

Only in specific circumstances.

Only postgraduate research students (PhD / research master's) and those who are government-sponsored on a course of more than six months can bring dependants.  and contact our Visa and Immigration team if you need further advice.

If you can bring dependants, you'll need extra financial evidence: £680 per person per month for up to nine months.

Yes, but strict conditions apply, and you must check the detail before you take any work.

If you are studying a degree-level course, you can usually work up to 20 hours per week in term time and full time during vacations. For courses below degree level, the limit is 10 hours per week. You cannot be self-employed or run a business. Standard Visitor visa holders cannot work at all.

These rules are more complex than they look. What counts as vacation time depends on your course, not the University calendar. What counts as self-employment is not always obvious, and some freelance, contract or online work will breach your visa conditions without you realising. Breaching them is a serious matter and can affect your right to stay in the UK.

It is essential to read our full guidance before you accept any work, to make sure it is compliant with your visa conditions.

Only for selected science and technology subjects at master's or PhD level.

If ATAS applies to you, we'll tell you in a direct communication once you have firmly accepted your academic offer. Your CAS will also reflect any ATAS requirement. ATAS is free, applied for on gov.uk, and takes around six weeks (longer in peak season). Don't apply more than five months before your course starts; the certificate is only valid for six months.

Contact us immediately at immigration-support@nottingham.ac.uk with your refusal letter.

We can advise on whether to reapply or request an administrative review. We'll need to issue a new CAS if you reapply.

• Applying before your CAS is issued 
• Submitting financial evidence in the wrong format 
• Travelling before the start date of your visa i
• Using unofficial visa agents or WhatsApp “consultants” 

Real visas are only ever issued by the UK government via gov.uk.

We never charge for visa advice. The only payment we routinely require is your CAS or course deposit, paid through your University account. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay to 'fix', 'protect' or 'avoid a problem with' your immigration status, offers a 'guaranteed' visa, asks for payment outside official channels, or contacts you through unofficial messaging. That is not us.

If in doubt, email immigration-support@nottingham.ac.uk for advice before paying anything.

If your total time studying in the UK is six months or less, you'll usually apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

This covers study abroad, exchange and summer school students, students attending viva exams, students sitting external resit exams in the UK, and distance learners coming in for short blocks of teaching.

Visitor visa holders cannot work, and cannot extend or switch to a Student route visa from inside the UK.

If your visit is longer, you'll need the Student route visa.