Tier 4 Visa – Student - Points Based System

The key features of Tier 4 are as follows;

There are two types of student categories;

a) Adult student – for students coming to the United Kingdom for post 16 year old education

b) Child student – for children between 4 and 17 years old – those between 4 and 15 may only be educated at independent fee paying schools

Applicants must have met the requirements of the immigration rules and have 40 points in total;

30 Points which is proved by you having been issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) by your education provider

10 Points for you having enough money to cover the course fees and living expenses for the duration of your studies

The Education Provider otherwise known as the Sponsor
The school or college must have a licence from the UK Border Agency.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
The education provider (known as the Tier 4 Sponsor) will need to issue the student with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) online on the UK Border Agency’s Sponsor Management System. A CAS is essential an online letter of enrolment for a course of study.

Money required

The money needed must cover the course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months.

The money must be held in cash and have been in your possession for at least 28 days preceding your application.

The following amount of money must be shown to meet living costs (not including fees)

• £800 per month if living in London
• £600 per month if living outside London

Proof of the money can be shown by way of;

Cash in an account in your name or;
Cash in an account held by your parent/s or;

Cash in a joint account you hold with a third party;

A loan in your name or;
Official financial or government sponsorship

General conditions of stay in the United Kingdom

• If at a publicly funded university - work no more than 20 hours a week during term time
• If at a publicly funded FE college - work no more than 10 hours per week during time
• If at another institution - no work at all

No right to bring family members unless on a post-graduate course of more than 12 months