Students

Those who want to study may be allowed to come here if they can show that they have been accepted for a full-time course of study at a recognised college or independent (fee-paying) school, that they have the money to pay the fees and to live here without needing to work or to claim benefits, and that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their studies. ‘Full-time’ normally means at least 15 hours of daytime classes per week, studying one subject or related subjects.

Overseas students have to pay fees that cover the full cost of their courses and are not usually eligible for local authority grants.

A student will normally be allowed entry for one year or the duration of the course, whichever is shorter, and can apply to the Home Office to extend this time to continue a course. If a student has not yet been accepted by a college he or she may be allowed in for a short time in order to enrol and can then apply to the Home Office for an extension.

A student wanting a short period of post-qualification training or on-the-job experience may be allowed to stay on as a trainee on the understanding that this is temporary and that a transfer to ordinary employment will not be allowed. If a student has spent more than four years on short courses of under two years, or appears to be chopping and changing courses with no end in sight, or has not been attending studies regularly, an extension will be refused.

Students are permitted to take part-time or holiday jobs provided their college does not object and provided permission is first obtained from the Department of Employment.

The spouse of a student and children under 18 may be permitted to live here for the period of study, as long as they can be supported and accommodated without recourse to public funds. The family of a student does not have a right to stay independently of the student. Where the student is to be here for more than a year, permission may be obtained for the spouse to take up employment.
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