Applying for your Student visa from outside the UK

You must apply for and have been granted your Student visa before you travel to the UK and start your studies at Ulster.

You will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) in order to apply for a Student visa. You should apply for your Student visa as soon as you have received your CAS.

If you are applying for your Student visa in August or September, we recommend that you use the Priority/Super Priority visa application service to ensure that you receive your visa in time to travel to the UK and start your studies at Ulster.

UKVI aims to process Student visa applications submitted through the standard service within 15 working days. The 15 working days does not start until after you have attended your biometrics appoint. However, it can take longer than this depending on when and where you make your application. During peak period for Student visa applications, this can take much longer. We recommend that you submit your Student visa application as soon as you receive your CAS.

If you verify your identity at a visa application centre, you may be able to have your visa application fast-tracked. This is known as the Priority/Super Priority visa application service. You will have to pay an additional fee for these services. The Priority/Super Priority visa application services may not be available at some visa application centres.

Standard application

1. Step 1 - Check the Student visa guidance.
2. Step 2 - Apply online for a Student visa.
3. Step 3 - Follow the instructions to either:
   • Attend a visa application centre to submit your supporting documents and/or provide your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph); or
   • use the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app to scan your identity document - you will also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.
4. Step 4 – Receive your documents and your visa. You may be able to choose to collect your documents or have them delivered to you by post or courier.

Check the advice and different services available for a Student visa application from your country

Priority application

If you are eligible, you will be given the option to select the Priority Service when you are making your online Student visa application.

You will receive a decision on your Student visa application within 5 working days. The time starts from either:

• the day of your appointment if you prove your identity at a visa application centre; or
• the working day after you finished uploading your documents, if you use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app.

You will be advised whether you can prove your identity at a visa application centre or using the app when you make your application.

Super Priority application

If you are eligible, you will be given the option to select the Super Priority Service when you are making your online Student visa application.

You will get a decision:

• By the end of the next working day after your appointment. If your appointment is on a weekday; or
• 2 working days after your appointment, if your appointment is at the weekend or on a bank holiday.

You cannot get a decision by the end of the next working day if you use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’.

The UK has a healthcare system which is paid for through taxes. All UK nationals and most residents have equal access to the National Health Service (NHS) without being charged each time they visit a doctor or hospital.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) helps fund the NHS, and will give you the same access to the NHS as UK citizens. You will pay the IHS when you apply for your visa.

Who has to pay the IHS?

If you make your visa application outside the UK, you will have to pay the IHS when you apply for a visa for a period of longer than six months. You do not need to pay if you are applying for a visitor visa.

If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you only need to pay if you are applying to come to the UK from 1 January 2021.

If you make your visa application within the UK, you will have to pay the IHS when you apply for a visa of any length.

How much does the IHS cost?

As a Student, you will pay £470 for each year of your visa. You will pay £235 for part of a year that is less than six months.

For example, if you are studying a three-year course, you will be charged £1645 (£470 for each year of the course, plus £235 for the four-month period at the end of your visa).

Dependants usually need to pay the same amount as you.

You can check how much you will have to pay using the IHS calculator

When do I pay the IHS?

You will make your payment as part of your online visa application. If you are making an immigration application by post, you must make your payment before you complete your application.

You must pay the IHS by debit or credit card.

For more information on the IHS, please see link below:

• Information about the IHS

You may be asked to attend an interview when you go to the Visa Application Centre to submit your documents as part of your Student visa application process. The interview will be conducted by a member of Home Office staff, who will assess whether you are a 'genuine student' and have the required level of English language proficiency.

You may be asked questions about:

• why you have chosen to study in the UK
• any previous study in the UK
• any gap in your studies
• Ulster University and why you have chosen to study there
• your course and why you have chosen to study it
• how you will fund your studies
• what you plan to do when your studies are over

These are questions that you will already have thought about before applying to study at Ulster University, but you may still like to prepare for your interview by reading as much as you can about Ulster University and your course.

It is important that you answer all questions in as much details and as clearly as possible. If your answers are too vague or too brief, the interviewer may not believe that you are a 'genuine student'. You may then be given a second interview or your visa may be refused.