Quick Tips and FAQ
Here are some top tips and frequently asked questions we think will help provide you with a clear understanding of Visa/Immigration and Practical Information on living in the UK.
Visa and Immigration
Do I need a visa?
Check if you need a visa using the UK government webpage.
How can I find out more about applying for a visa?
We have lots of information on everything related to applying for a visa on our Visas and Immigration webpages.
How do I apply for visas for my family?
You can learn more about applying for Dependant visas for your family on our Dependant Visa webpages.
Do I need a Student Visa or Visitor Visa?
Students who are studying for over 6 months in the UK, will need to apply for a Student Visa. A Student who will study for less than 6 months has the option of choosing the Standard Visitor Visa or Student visa. Please visit our webpages for more guidance and support through these visa options to study at UofG.
* Erasmus Mundus 2 year programme:
Erasmus Mundus students have the choice of whether to apply for a 2 year Student Visa or a Standard Visitor Visa. If you plan to study in the UK for less than 6 months, you can come on a Visitor Visa. The Student Visa has a high cost implication whereas the Visitor Visa fee is low. If you are a national of a country which does not need to apply in advance, you can request a Visitor Visa on arrival at the UK border for free.
The main benefit of choosing the Student Visa is whether you want to apply for the Graduate Route in order to work in the UK after completion of studies. It also may be easier for you to apply for other visas from inside the UK if you are in the UK on a Student Visa rather than in the UK as a visitor. *
Do I need to pay for IHS?
Every student must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their Student Visa application. You can check how much to expect to pay here - Calculate your immigration health surcharge
What is a visa vignette/sticker?
Most students will receive a visa sticker (visa vignette) in their passport once their Student visa application has been approved. This visa sticker will allow you to enter the UK.
Some students will recieive an eVisa instead. Please check your UKVI decision email once your Student visa application has been successful. Please read more about this on Applying for a Student visa outside the UK.
Is my Student Visa correct?
It is important that you check all the details are correct on your visa as soon as you receive it. If you have been issued a visa sticker (visa vignette), please check the information in the UKVI visa decision email is all correct, as these details usually match the information that will be printed on the biometric residence permit (BRP) which you will collect after you arrive in the UK.
If you have been issued an eVisa, make sure that the online checking system shows the correct details for you, including the type of leave you have applied for.
Why does my BRP expire on 31/12/2024?
When can I travel to the UK?
You must wait until your visa vignette is issued and placed in your passport, or until your digital eVisa status is issued, before you can travel to the UK. Do not travel to the UK before receiving your Student visa, or before it's start date.
Why does the University have to monitor attendance for Student visa sponsored students?
As a Student visa sponsor, the University must comply with the immigration rules and guidance published by the Home Office. One of our sponsor duties is to monitor attendance and act accordingly if a student reaches our minimum threshold of non engagement (please see more information about this on the Immigration Compliance webpages).
Do I need a TB test?
You will need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test if you're coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are a resident of certain countries. Please see the TB test government webpage for more information on this.
What happens if I need an ATAS certificate?
If the Admissions Team says ATAS is required, apply for ATAS certificate as soon as possible. You must apply for the ATAS certificate and receive this in time to submit this with your other visa application documents, and to be able to start your course at UoG.
What is visa registration at UofG?
You can find more information about visa registration on the Immigration Compliance Visa Registration webpages.
How do I extend my Student visa?
Please read our webpages on Applying for a Student Visa inside the UK.
Practical Information - Living in the UK
UK education and Scotland
The UK has a long reputation for having very good academic standards in higher education and for being a welcoming place to study. It’s also a diverse place with a range of natural beauty and other attractions. Scotland is a diverse place with an abundance of natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage, which will attract you to the whole country whilst living here.
What's Glasgow like?
Glasgow is a dynamic and culturally rich city known for its industrial heritage, Victorian architecture and thriving arts and music scene. It's also the gateway to Scotland's great outdoors, with beaches, castles and rugged coastlines to discover.
Finding Accommodation in Glasgow
Inernational Student Support do not offer advice or support with looking for accommodation. Please see information provided by our Accommodation Services at UofG. You can even chat with them in Unibuddy, as well as read about current students' experience. You can also find great support from the SRC (Student's Representative Council) on information around renting in the private sector in Glasgow.
How do I find a UK gurantor for acommodation?
If you don’t have someone who can serve as your guarantor then there are services that can act as a guarantor for you. There are private schemes that you can find online. UofG also has its own gaurantor scheme that you can look into to see if you qualify.
Can I receive a scholarship to help finance my studies?
You will need to check the Scholarship webpages to search for scholarship opportunites and contact the scholarship provider directly for more information.
What is the transportation like in Glasgow?
The SRC has great information about different public transport links in Glasgow.
Transport for Scotland have provided free bus travel for under 22s. Find out more information about this on their webpages - Free Bus Travel Scheme.
Travelling to another country from the UK?
If you are travelling to another country from the UK, please check GOV.UK to see if there are entry requirements for any countries you're travelling to.
If you are travelling to the Schengen Area, our team are unable to advise or check applications for Schengen Visas, but we can offer information and general Schengen Visa guidance on our webpages.
Glossary of Visa and Immigration Terminology
ATAS - Academic Technology Approval Scheme - A certificate needed for applicable overseas students and researchers to study certain sensitive subjects in the UK.
BRP - Biometric Resident Permit - A card showing your immigration status * UKVI are phasing this phyiscal document out from 2025 onwards, you can read more about eVisas on our eVisa webpage. *
CAS - Confirmation of Acceptance Studies
Curtailment - The curtailment of visa permission means that the expiry date of your Student visa is curtailed (or cut short) by the UKVI Home Office, effectively giving you a new, earlier visa end date. You can find out scenarios of when this might happen to you on our Changes to Studies webpages.
Entry Clearance - This is the name for a visa issued overseas to enable a foreign national to travel to the UK. It is in the form of a sticker placed in a passport by a British Embassy or High Commission. If you entry clearance has an incorrect endorsement, please look on UKVI webpages on what to do in this situation.
EU (European Union) - The EU is a group of 27 countries in Europe with a unique economic and political union between eachother.
eVisa - An eVisa is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.
IHS - The Immigration Health Surcharge is a fee that you pay at the same time as making your visa application in order to access secondary medical care through the National Health Service.
UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) - The UK's national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them.
UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration part of the Home Office) - opertates the UK visa system and is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the UK.
Visa nationals - People who always require entry clearance to enter the UK, even for a short visit.
Visitor Visa - This is a visa which is issued to people coming to the UK for tourism, business, study (on a course at UofG for less than 6 months) and other permitted activities. You can only apply from outside the UK and it's prohibited to work on a Visitor visa.