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Short-term Study Visa
VisasUnited KingdomShort-term Study Visa
United KingdomUnited Kingdom•Europe
Open

Short-term Study Visa

Study

At a Glance

Processing Time

15-21 days

Application Fee

2,504 GBP

Stay Duration

11 months

Renewable

No

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

No

Remote Work

Not Required

Apply Now Official Information
United Kingdom flag

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living
2% cheaper than United States
Avg Salary£31,200
Quality of Life
176/200
Full Country Guide

Overview

For short courses or English language training up to 11 months.

The UK Short-term Study Visa allows students aged 16 and over to take English language courses lasting between 6 and 11 months at an institution accredited by the British Council, Ofsted, or QAA. No minimum English proficiency is required to apply — the visa exists precisely to develop it.

Stay is limited to the course length plus 30 days, capped at 11 months. The visa cannot be extended from within the UK, carries no PR pathway, and prohibits all forms of work including unpaid placements. Costs are £228 application fee plus a £776 Immigration Health Surcharge; standard processing takes 3 weeks.

This visa is ideal for adults who want to study English in the UK for 6 to 11 months and do not need work rights or a route to permanent residence.

Fee Breakdown

Visa application fee
228 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge (approx.)
776 GBP
Expedited processing (5 working days)
500 GBP
Expedited processing (24 hours)
1,000 GBP

Processing Tracks

Standard2 weeks – 3 weeks
Priority (5 working days)5 days
Super Priority (24 hours)1 day

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant11 months

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be 16 or older

Accepted onto an English language course lasting more than 6 months and up to 11 months

Course must be at an accredited institution (Ofsted, British Council, or QAA accreditation)

Sufficient funds to support yourself without working or using public funds

Ability to pay for return or onward travel

Under-18s: travel/stay arrangements made, written parental/guardian consent

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Current passport or valid travel document

Bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months

Letter from institution confirming course name, duration, and cost

Evidence that course fees have been paid or funds to pay them

Details of accommodation and travel arrangements

TB test results (if applying from a designated country)

Certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh

Under-18: parent/guardian contact details and written consent covering visa, travel, and living arrangements

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Specifically designed for English language study up to 11 months
  • No minimum English proficiency required to apply
  • Application can be saved and resumed online
  • Passport returned same day at visa application centre appointment
  • Expedited processing options available

Worth Knowing

  • Only for English language courses — no other subjects permitted
  • Cannot work in any capacity: paid, unpaid, work experience, or placements
  • Cannot extend from within the UK — must leave and reapply or switch to a Student visa
  • Cannot bring dependants
  • Cannot study at state-funded schools
  • Cannot access most public benefits
  • For courses under 6 months, a Standard Visitor visa is used instead
  • For courses over 11 months, a Student visa is required

Application Process

1

Check eligibility and confirm this visa (not a Visitor or Student visa) is correct for your course length

2

Gather required documents, including TB test certificate if applying from a designated country

3

Apply online up to 3 months before travel at the UKVI portal

4

Book and attend a visa application centre appointment with your passport

5

Receive decision by email from the Home Office

6

Obtain eVisa online record and link your travel document

7

Travel to the UK and check visa details on arrival

Application Forms

Go to application portal
Online application via UKVI portal—

Verified Claims (19)

Last verified May 31, 2026
Application StepsCheck eligibility and confirm this visa (not a Visitor or Student visa) is correct for your course l…gov.uk
Fee BreakdownVisa application fee: 228 GBP; Immigration Health Surcharge (approx.): 776 GBP; Expedited processing…gov.uk
Fees£228 application fee + £776 healthcare surchargegov.uk
FormsOnline application via UKVI portal (no specific paper form number)gov.uk
Included Nationalities—gov.uk
Job Offer Requiredfalsegov.uk
Application Portalhttps://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/short-term-student-oocvisas-immigration.service.gov.uk
Official Infohttps://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-englishgov.uk

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