How do I get a visa?
You may need to apply for a visa to study in the UK if you are a national of a country outside the EEA or Switzerland. There are various options and you will need to check your individual UK immigration status in order to decide which type of visa you require.
Students with Tier 4 Student Visas can currently work for up to 10 hours per week during term time, depending on the visa they are issued with. If your English course is less than 11 months long, you can apply for an Extended Student Visitor Visa, but this does not allow part-time work, and to extend your studies you must return home to apply for a visa.
There have also been recent changes that affect Tier 4 Visa renewals. Please click here to download a fact sheet.
If you are a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can enter the UK without any immigration restriction, and generally have a right of residence as a student.
To find out more about your visa requirements, please go to the UK Border Agency website www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
Your nearest British Embassy should also be able to provide you up-to-date information about visa requirements. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office website will provide you with contact details.
Inside View
Amancay Tapia, HNC in Media Production
"I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker and wanted a practical course where we had the chance to get involved in all aspects of film production. During my course I have been editing, directing, writing, producing and even acting in my own films. My dream came true in 2008 when I directed what is now my first feature film “Campo de Batalla” (Battlefield) showing in Spain. I was selected by the Spanish film academy as one of twenty young Spanish filmmakers to watch, and I’m currently writing my next feature film which is set in London and Bolivia. It's been a long time since I left South Thames but that course was truly the beginning of what is my career today as a filmmaker."
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