Hoping somebody can clarify whether a short term study visa is needed for a semester abroad in the UK?
The gov.uk website seems to indicate it’s not needed, but to see the student visa section for what documents to bring to show at the borders. So, not sure if that means they’ll issue a short term study visa on entry to the UK? And if so, do you need to go through this every time you come into the country, for example, if you visit France during your stay. The documents needed seem to be passport and proof you can support yourself during your stay. Assume this means a bank statement in students name, but not sure what $ amount they are looking for.
they won’t issue a student visa at the airport, but if you’re from the U.S. or another country which I allows visa free travel to the UK, they may issue with admission for up to six months.
Ok, wasn’t clear if visa isn’t needed, then what documents are required other than passport on each entry to UK during the semester abroad.
Financial info, e.g. Bank statements to show you can cover living costs, paperwork for your course, and a return ticket home. I don’t know offhand exactly how much money is needed but maybe the study abroad office at your current school can advise.
Oh, and you’ll need proof of medical/health insurance.
Thanks for the info. If he visits another European country during his stay, will he need to show all this paperwork on each re-entry into the UK?
It would probably be safest to have it with him just in case.
DD spent last semester studying in Edinburgh and traveled in Europe while she was there. She got a short term student visa stamped into her passport when she first entered the country (not through Dublin!!). They looked at her letters from both her home college and University of Edinburgh when she entered. She had her financial statements with her as well as doctors notes for her medication but they never looked at those (but still good to have). She brought all her paperwork with her each time she left by says they only looked at the Edinburgh letter when she re-entered each time. I gave her a special envelope that held all her papers and that she could just grab and stick in her backpack every time she traveled. It was important for her to have all the papers with her even if immigration only looked at the one letter each time.