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Types of visas

Mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.

To Study at Cardiff University as an international student, you must hold a valid visa which entitles you to study at this university.

Most international students will need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa. Please read the information below to help determine which visa is most appropriate. If you are a national of an EEA country or Switzerland, you do NOT need prior entry clearance to enter the UK and this section will NOT apply to you.

If you require any further guidance on what visa to apply for or have any questions about your visa application, please do contact our International Student Support team on iss@cardiff.ac.uk.

Tier 4 Student Visa

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa and not a Tier 4 (Child) student.

If you apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa you'll receive a visa for the full length of your course and you will be allowed to extend your visa (this may not be the case if you apply under the child route).

If you are currently in the UK on a Tier 4 (General) Student visa for another University or College then you must make an application for a new Tier 4 visa before you enrol at Cardiff University. You can only do so in the UK, if you have successfully completed your previous course.

Short Term Study Visa

If you're coming to study an English language course that is a maximum of 11 months, or a degree course for a maximum of six months, you may hear that you can come to the UK on a Short Term Study Visa instead of a Tier 4 student visa.

If you choose to come using a Short Term Study Visa, you will be much more restricted than if you come on a Tier 4 student visa.

You won't be allowed to do any paid or voluntary work (even if it is part of a course) and you cannot extend your stay in the UK or bring your family with you. For these reasons, it is not usually appropriate to come to the UK using a Short Term Study Visa and we recommend that you apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

Eligible applicants

The exceptions to this are:

  • Students studying on distance learning courses who need to come to the University for an examination or to attend a short course of less than six months and do not want to work in the UK.
  • International Exchange students studying in Cardiff for one semester (less than 6 months), who do not wish to work or volunteer whilst in Cardiff. Further details for International Exchange students.
  • Students studying on the English for University Study Programme and who do not want to work in the UK.

e-Passport gates

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and USA are eligible to use the eGates at UK ports of entry when visiting the UK.

However students seeking entry to the UK under the short term study visa route should not use the e-Passport gates as you will not be able to obtain the correct entry stamp. Please pass through the manned immigration desk at UK Border Control, even if you are directed otherwise by immigration staff at the airport.

To help students needing to enter the UK as a short term student, the Home Office have provided information for students to show to UK Border Officers on arrival into the UK to help ensure that they receive the correct short term student stamp in their passports.

Tier 5 Visa

If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland and you are coming through the Erasmus+ Programme to complete a research placement at Cardiff University (Erasmus+ Traineeship placement), you will require a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa. To apply for this visa, you will first need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the British Council. Further details on how to apply for the CoS.

International students who will be joining Cardiff University for a course of over 6 months will need to apply for the Student Route visa. This is the most appropriate immigration route for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses delivered by Cardiff University.

If you apply for a Student visa, you'll receive a visa for the full length of your course plus an additional wrap-up period dependent on the length of your course. You will be able to reside, study, and in most cases, work part-time in the UK (with restrictions).

If you are currently in the UK on a Student Route Visa or Tier 4 visa issued for study at another university, college, or school, then you must make an application for a new Student Route visa before you enrol at Cardiff University.

You must meet strict requirements set by the Home Office if you wish to extend your visa in the UK. For more information, visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

For students aged 16 -17, you must apply for a Student Route Visa and not a Child Student visa to study with Cardiff University.

Access our downloadable guide for detailed guidance on applications under the Student Route.

The Short-Term Study visa is for English language study only.

This visa is for English language courses lasting longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.

You can find information about the requirements and application process for this route here:

A Short-Term Study Visa has more restrictions than a Student Route visa. You will not be allowed to do any paid or voluntary work and you cannot extend your stay in the UK or bring your family with you.

A letter detailing your programme of study will be provided to you by the university’s Student Visa Compliance team. This is required in order to apply for your visa.

For Information about English language programmes at Cardiff University, contact our English language programme team.

The Standard Visitor Visa permits study for up to 6 months in the following categories:

  • Students studying on distance learning courses who need to come to the university for an examination or to attend a short course of fewer than six months and do not want to work in the UK.
  • International Exchange students studying in Cardiff University for one semester (less than 6 months), who do not wish to work or volunteer whilst in Cardiff. Find out more about what studying abroad in Cardiff is like for International Exchange students.
  • Students studying on the English for University Study Programme for 6 months and who do not want to work in the UK.
  • Students conducting a short piece of research that's relevant to your course overseas.
  • Students sitting an entrance exam, retaking an exam or course module, or doing a PhD oral exam (a viva).

Further detail on permitted study can be found online at Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Visit to study - GOV.UK

If you are a non-visa national, including EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals without permission under the EU Settlement Scheme, coming to study for less than 6 months then you can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa on arrival in the UK. You can apply in advance if you wish.

Visa nationals must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa prior to travel.

A letter detailing your programme of study will be provided to you by the University’s Student Visa Compliance team. This is required in order to apply for your visa.

e-Passport gates

Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and USA and those from the EU/EEA are eligible to use the e-Gates at UK ports of entry when visiting the UK. If you enter in this way, your passport will not be stamped on entry. You must retain evidence of entry, for instance, your boarding pass, in order to enrol on your course and receive your student ID card.

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)

Nationals or citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates can apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Document, prior to travel. Holders of an EVW do not then need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa before travel but can enter with a permission as a Standard Visitor at the UK border instead. Permission to enter will be granted for a period of up to 6 months. See the information above about the Standard Visitor Visa.

Information about how to apply for the EVW can be found online at Get an electronic visa waiver to enter the UK - GOV.UK

If successful, an EVW document is issued electronically. The current price for an EVW is £30. You are permitted to apply for this document between 3 months and 48 hours before you travel.

An EVW document is valid for a period of single entry to the UK. You will not, therefore, be permitted to enter, leave and re-enter the UK using this document.

If you are coming through the Erasmus+ Programme to complete a research placement at Cardiff University (Erasmus+ Traineeship placement), you will require a Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa. To apply for this visa, you will first need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the British Council.

Further information about how to request the CoS and support with the visa can be found online at How to apply for T5 visa | Erasmus+ (erasmusplus.org.uk)

For more information regarding this route, please visit Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa - GOV.UK.

If you require any further guidance on what visa to apply for or have any questions about your visa application, please contact our Student Visa Support team.

Contact us

If you require further guidance on what visa to apply for or have any questions about your visa application, contact our Student Visa Support team

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