Student Visa

We understand that keeping up with immigration policies can be challenging. Our advisers are dedicated to providing you with the most accurate and current information on our website. However, it's important to keep in mind that changes in policies can happen unexpectedly, and our advisers have no control over them. We want to remind you that it's ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you comply with immigration requirements and verify that any previous advice or information is still valid before taking any action. Please know that we are here to support you through this process.

Effective 1 January 2024, only government-sponsored students pursuing a PhD, doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree will be permitted to bring dependants to the UK.

This means qualifications below a PhD, such as a Master's qualification, will not be able to bring dependants with them during their studies on a Student Visa. It is important to note that dependants already residing within the UK will be allowed to extend their stay.

Most international students, including EU students who do not currently live in the UK, will need a Student Visa to study at the RCA.

You will not need to apply for a visa if you:

• are an Irish national
• have indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• are an EU national who moved to the UK before 30 December 2020 and have received settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme 
• have indefinite leave to enter the UK, for example, if you have a Returning Resident Visa

You can only apply for a Student Visa after the following conditions are met:

• You hold an unconditional offer to study at the RCA
• You have paid all deposits due for your programme, and you must have firmly accepted your offer
• You have been issued a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number for your visa application

Please note that you may only apply for a Student Visa three months prior to your programme's start date if you are currently in the UK, or six months prior to the start date if you are applying for the visa from outside the UK. We will aim to issue your CAS in line with these dates.

Visit CAS number: frequently asked questions for more information on how and when you will receive your CAS number.

When applying for a visa you must demonstrate you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees and living expenses for one academic year.

How much money do I need?

From 2 January 2025, this will be increased to £1,483 per month for London up to a maximum of £13,347, in addition to the tuition fees for your first year of studies.

Providing financial evidence

You can show that these funds are available to you in the following ways:

1. Cash funds in your personal bank account e.g. savings or current account
2. Cash funds in your parent’s/legal guardian’s personal bank account. (You will need to provide Birth Certificate and consent letter from parents if you are using their bank statements.)
3. Official financial sponsorship
4. Specific types of student loans
5. The funds must be in a bank account in your name or Parent/Legal Guardian for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. The bank statement must to be no more than a month old from the date of your Student visa application. If the evidence is in another currency other than GBP, please use the currency conversion website OANDA to make sure that the funds are at the correct level

The funds must be readily accessible cash, for example in a current (chequing) account, savings account, or certificate of deposit. You can also supply a bank letter in place of a bank statement.

Unacceptable forms of financial evidence

It is important to be aware that the UKVI will not accept certain types of evidence as proof of financial evidence as shown below. This will result in your visa being refused.

Company or business accounts, another relative's account (only your parents' accounts are acceptable), unregulated accounts, poorly translated documents, unverifiable evidence, shares, bonds and pension funds

Examples of financial evidence

To avoid this we have produced a sample bank letter and statements that you may find useful:

• Example of an acceptable bank statement
• Example of a bank letter
• Example of a Certificate of Deposit
• Example of a sponsor letter
• Example of letter from parent or legal guardian
• Download template for spreadsheet with multiple accounts (If you intend to use multiple accounts, it is advisable to organise the balances in a spreadsheet and attach this information along with your bank statements to assist the caseworker in processing your application more efficiently. Download this spreadsheet template to help you.)

Differential evidence requirement

If you are a national of a country on the Government's 'differential evidence requirement' list, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, you are not required to submit evidence to show that you meet the financial requirements or provide your academic qualifications used to obtain an offer of study.

Although you do not need to provide this evidence of your finances you must confirm in your application that you meet the eligibility and financial requirements and have these documents. The Home Office will retain the right to request sight of these documents. For the full list visit gov.uk/student-visa/money

On 31 December 2024, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) transitioned to a digital visa system. Physical documents like Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) will be replaced by eVisas, providing a secure online record of your UK immigration status.

eVisa holders can access their immigration status and any attached conditions through the View and Prove service with their UKVI account.

If you have a Student visa valid after December 2024, and your BRP expires before that date, you must ensure that you transition to an eVisa.

To obtain an eVisa, you must create a UKVI account; without it, you may face travel difficulties in and out of the UK.

Creating a UKVI account

How do I create a UKVI account?

• To create your UKVI account, you'll need your BRP number or application number, which might be called a UAN or start with the letters GWF

If you don't have these, visit GOV.UK/eVisa for advice.

You'll need the following to get started:

• A smartphone, laptop, or any device with internet access. (Access to the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app from the Google Play Store or App Store.)
• Your identity document (BRP or passport)
• Your BRP or Application number
• Your date of birth
• Your email address
• A mobile phone number

This guide below outlines the steps for setting up a UKVI account for you to share and view your immigration status. Please ensure that you have the correct documentation in place to avoid complications when returning to the UK after the holidays.

• You can watch a video on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa
• You can watch a video on how to travel with your eVisa
• You can watch a video on how to prove your immigration status with an eVisa

Prove your immigration status

You will be issued with a digital status instead of a physical BRP then you will confirm your visa status by generating and sending a share code to rca-enrolment@rca.ac.uk

1. Go to the View and Provide Immigration Status on the government website, complete your details and click on "Start Now."
2. Select the document you used when applying for your visa (e.g. your passport).
3. Enter your document reference number and date of birth.
4. Choose how you would like to receive a security code. This will be sent to the contact details you provided during your application.
5. Enter the security code you received to log in.
6. Once logged in, the page will display your immigration status.
7. Click on "Prove your Status" located just below your details.
8. Select "Something Else" and then choose "Preview what the checker will see."
9. Click "Continue" to generate a Share Code, a combination of letters and numbers. Make sure to copy or take a screenshot of this code.

If you cannot travel to the UK before the latest acceptance date on your CAS you may need to defer the start of your course. If your arrival in the UK is delayed, you must contact the admissions team in your department or school to ask them if they can extend your latest arrival date. If you cannot arrive in the UK before this date then you may not be permitted to start your course.

You must contact your department and the admissions team if you are likely to face any delays.

If you have an offer to study for a part-time postgraduate Master's degree or a doctoral programme, you may be eligible to apply for a part-time Student visa. This option can be beneficial if you are working abroad and wish to pursue a part-time degree in the UK.

To qualify for this visa, your studies must last longer than six months and cannot be completed through distance learning. A full-time student has the option to switch to a part-time visa in the UK (and vice versa). However, you must continue to meet all UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) requirements, including academic progression (for example, by applying for a higher-level course).

It is essential to obtain your part-time Student visa before transitioning to part-time study.  

The UK Government imposes a number of visa restrictions on part-time studies:

Restrictions for Part-time Students

• No work is permitted at any capacity (including placements or work experience paid or unpaid)
• You cannot work remotely for an overseas company while in the UK
• You cannot bring/have any dependants in the UK (such as a visa-dependant partner or children)
• You cannot switch from full-time study to part-time study without leaving the UK to apply for a new student visa
• You must meet all visa requirements, including financial and English language
• Online/remote synchronous participation is not possible for student visa holders

The College’s Sponsor licence responsibilities still apply, including attendance monitoring and reporting duties.

Duration of a part-time Student Visa

You would be granted a visa for the length of your course plus two months if your course is less than a year in duration, or your course length plus 4 months if your course is longer than a year.

Visa application process

The visa application process is the same for part-time and full-time students. You can find the Student Visa application process above.

If you're unsure of your situation or would like to speak to our student support team directly, please join one of our free online Q&A sessions. Dates will be announced soon.