There are three main visa types for those wishing to come to the UK to study. The International team at Edinburgh College will assess the most appropriate visa route for your studies and provide more detailed advice about the visa application process. 

Check if you need a visa on the UK government website.

Standard Visitor Visa

For studies of up to six months
(Overseas cost £115)

• You can study any type of short course (full-time or part-time) for a maximum of six months.
• No minimum English language requirements.
• You cannot work whilst in the UK.
• You must be 16 years old or over.
• Nationals of certain countries can enter the UK without making a visa application in advance. Check if you need a visa on the UK government website.
• Nationals of some countries will not need to make a visa application but will need to have a valid ETA (|Electronic Travel Authorisation)  to travel to the UK. Check if you need an ETA to come to the UK: ETA.
• If you are 16-17 years old you must provide a letter from your parent/guardian confirming details of your care and accommodation arrangements in the UK.
• The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. 
• If you need to apply for a Visitor Visa in advance, you should provide supporting documents as part of your visa application to evidence that you have sufficient funds for living expenses and accommodation during your time in the UK. There is no fixed amount stated in the Immigration Rules. We recommend that you show £1000 - £1,500 per month of your stay in the UK, including any time you plan to spend in the UK before or after your course. 
• You must leave the UK by the end date shown on your visa.
• You cannot extend your visa or make a new application from within the UK.   

For further information on the Standard Visitor Visa, visit the UKVI website

Short-Term Study Visa

For studies up to 11 Months, for English language courses only. 
(Overseas cost £200) 

• You can study for 6 to 11 months, but English language courses only.
• No minimum English language requirements.
• You cannot work whilst in the UK.
• You must be 16 years old or over.
• If you are 16-17 years old you must provide a letter from your parent/guardian confirming details of your care and accommodation arrangements in the UK.
• You’ll need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your online application. This usually costs £776. This allows you to access free NHS health services while studying in the UK. Check how much you’ll need to pay on the UK Government website.
• You should be able to provide supporting documents as part of your visa application to prove that you have enough funds for living expenses and accommodation during your time in the UK. There is no fixed amount stated in the Immigration Rules. We recommend you show £1000 - £1,500 per month of your stay in the UK, including any time you plan to spend in the UK before or after your course. 
• You must leave the UK by the end date shown on your visa. 
• You cannot extend your visa or make a new application from within the UK. 

For further information on the Short-Term Study Visa visit the UKVI website

Student Route Visa 

For studies up to 2 years, for our eligible Access, HNC and HND courses (SCQF levels 6, 7 and 8)  
(Overseas and in the UK cost £490) 

• You must be 16 years old or over. 
• You can study for up to two years below degree level (SCQF levels 6, 7 and 8).
• You can work up to ten hours per week during term time.
• You can work full-time during College holidays, see the College calendar for holiday details.
• You cannot bring dependents.
• You must meet the minimum English language requirements by: 
  • passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider 
  • have gained one of the following qualifications through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18:  
    • GCSE 
    • A-Level
    • Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 or Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher, in English (language or literature) 
  • If you are from one of the following countries or territories, or you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of the following countries or territories, you do not need to prove your knowledge of English. If you have studied in any other country you will need to provide proof of English language level even if your studies were conducted in English: 
    • Antigua and Barbuda 
    • Australia 
    • the Bahamas 
    • Barbados 
    • Belize 
    • Canada 
    • the British overseas territories 
    • Dominica 
    • Grenada 
    • Guyana 
    • Ireland 
    • Jamaica 
    • Malta 
    • New Zealand 
    • St Kitts and Nevis 
    • St Lucia 
    • St Vincent and the Grenadines 
• You must have a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) from Edinburgh College  
• You must have sufficient funds in your bank account for a minimum of 28 days before your Student visa application date. Edinburgh College will check your supporting documents for evidence of sufficient funds before issuing the CAS. Edinburgh College will support you by ensuring you have met all of the financial document criteria for making a student visa application.  

Duration	Fee
One academic year	£10,224
One semester	£1,136 per month

• If you are switching from a Child Student Visa, or a Student Visa from a Higher Education provider, you will be able to apply from within the UK. 
• If you already hold another kind of UK visa (except Visitor Visas), you may also be able to apply for a student visa from within the UK. 
• You can extend your visa from within the UK if you are continuing your studies at a Higher Education provider. 
• The time it takes to get a decision on a visa application will be different in each country. Follow this link for visa application processing times and information on fast-track services.  
• Immigration Health Surcharge - You’ll need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your visa application. This usually costs £776 per year. This allows you to access free NHS health services while studying in the UK. Check how much you’ll need to pay on the UK Government website.

Please note that not all courses on the Edinburgh College website meet the requirements for student visa sponsorship.  

All applicants will be carefully considered in line with relevant Student visa policy and guidance to assess their suitability for a Student Visa. We cannot guarantee you will be granted sponsorship. 

For further information on Student Visas, visit the UKVI website   

Contact the International team

For further advice and support 

Email international@edinburghcollege.ac.uk 

Phone +44 (0) 131 297 9995 

Once the International team has helped you to identify the visa type most suitable for you, we will send you further detailed guidance on how to apply for your visa type and the supporting document requirements.  

We offer a Visa Support Service to provide advice and guidance on which visa you should apply for and to check your documents before you submit your visa application. 

More information on studying and living in the UK can be found at:  

• UKCISA – the UK council for international students. 
• The British Council - for useful advice for international students coming to study in the UK.    

Information Updated in December 2024 

This information is correct at the time of the last update and is relevant only to studies at Edinburgh College. However, you should always check the UKVI website for up-to-date information.