You must provide written proof of the course you’re studying. For example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course’s name, duration and cost (including accommodation).

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances, such as evidence of your:

• permission to be in the country you’re applying from (if you’re not a national)

• financial sponsor’s occupation, income, savings or funds that will support your studies

If you’re under 18

If you’re under 18 you need to provide additional documents if:

• you’re travelling on your own

• you’re travelling with someone who is not your parent or guardian

Travelling on your own

You can travel to the UK without an adult (someone 18 or older).

You must have written consent from both parents (or one parent if they have sole responsibility) or your legal guardian. This must confirm they consent to:

• your visa application

• your living arrangements and care in the UK

• your travel to the UK

They also need to provide proof that you have somewhere suitable to live during your stay in the UK, including:

• the name and date of birth of the person that you will be staying with

• an address where you will be living

• details of your relationship to the person who’ll be looking after you

• consent in writing so they can look after you during your stay in the UK

Your parent, guardian or school must tell the relevant local authority about your visit if either of the following are true:

• you’re under 18 and have a disability

• you’re going to be looked after for more than 28 days by someone who is not a close relative (called ‘private foster care’)

You should provide a reply from the local authority if you have one.

Travelling with an adult

If you travel to the UK with an adult (someone 18 or older), you need to identify them in your visa application.

Their name will appear on your visa, and you’ll be refused entry to the UK if you arrive in the UK without them.

You can identify up to 2 adults in your visa application, and your visa will only be valid if you travel with at least one of them.

The adult can apply for a visa at the same time, but you must each complete separate applications.

You can stay in the UK for the length of your course plus an extra 30 days as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.

You cannot:

• study on any other course or change your course while in the UK

• study at a state-funded school

• work or carry out any business (this includes paid or unpaid work, work experience or work placements)

• extend this visa

• bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on this visa

• apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension

Once you’ve applied, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

An accredited institution must either have a student sponsor licence or have a valid accreditation and be listed by one of the following:

• Accreditation Service for International Colleges

• Accreditation UK

• British Accreditation Council

• Education and Training Inspectorate (in Northern Ireland)

• Estyn (in Wales)

• Education Scotland

• Independent Schools Inspectorate

• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)

• Office for Students

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education