International student support

Visiting UoG: Student or Academic Visitor?

Check with your UoG School College to confirm if you're coming as a student (e.g., for study, research, or medical electives) or as an academic visitor.

A Standard Visitor Visa does not allow you to work, whether paid or unpaid.

Study Options

With a Standard Visitor Visa, you can study short courses in the UK for up to 6 months (excluding English language courses). You’re not limited to one course and don’t need a course offer before arriving.

Additionally, you can:

• Participate in educational exchanges or visits

• Attend recreational courses (no qualifications or English language training) for up to 30 days

If you're 16 or older and studying a course equivalent to a UK degree abroad, you can also:

• Do research or be taught research at a UK institution

• Complete unpaid medical electives at UK universities (only for medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry students, and if the electives are relevant to your studies abroad)

Important Note

If you apply for a Standard Visitor Visa to study a University of Glasgow Masters (e.g., Erasmus Mundus 2-year program) and your study in the UK is less than 6 months, you may not be able to apply for visas from inside the UK for other countries.

To apply for a visa for partner countries, you’d need to request a CAS from UoG and apply for a Student Visa from outside the UK.

You cannot switch to a Student Visa while in the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa.

Research
If you are coming to the UK for research or research-related study, your overseas course provider must confirm that:

• The research is relevant to your course abroad

• You will not be employed at the UK institution

This information will be included in your Visa Letter issued from your College at University of Glasgow.

Eligiblity for the Standard Visitor route: You can find the eligibility requirements for the Standard Visitor visa on the UKVI website.

How to Apply: You application process depends on whether you're a "Visa national", a "Non-visa national" or eligible to use eGates.

• Visa Nationals: Visa nationals are from countries listed in Appendix Visitor: Visa National List. To apply for a Standard Visitor visa, you can find details on the UKVI website,  including application forms, fees (£115), and processing times. Visa nationals must apply for the visa before travelling to the UK, and will receive a visa sticker placed in their passport.
• Non-visa Nationals: Non-visa nationals are not listed in the Visa National List. If you're a non-visa national and plan to study as a Standard Visitor for up to 6 months, you can:

1. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling, or
2. Apply for entry as a Standard Visitor at UK port of entry, or
3. If eligible, use the eGates to automatically receive Standard Visitor leave.

If applying at port of entry or using the eGates, carry your visa application documents and Visa Letter (from your School / College) in your hand luggage.   

Electronic Travel Authorisation: Check the UKVI website to see if you need an Electronic Visa Authorisation before travelling.

Apply for Standard Visitor Leave at the Port of Entry: At the UK port, you'll receive a stamp in your passport showing the date you entered and the type of leave granted. You will be allowed to stay for up to 6 months.

Enter the UK via eGates: Nationals from the following countries with biometric passports can use eGates to enter the UK:  

• Australia, Canada, EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the USA. If eligible, you can enter as a Standard Visitor for 6 months without seeing a Border Force Officer or receiving a stamp in your passport. Visitors aged 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Applying for a Standard Visitor Visa (Visa Nationals): You should apply for your visa early enough to receive it, so you can:

• Travel to the UK on your visa, and
• Complete Visa Registration before the latest course start date on your Visa Letter.

Applying for Standard Visitor leave on Entry to the UK (Non-Visa Nationals): You must travel on the passport that qualifies you as a "non-visa national" and: 

• Apply for Standard Visitor leave when you enter the UK at a port of entry, or
• Receive Standard Visitor leave by using the eGates, and
• Complete Visa Registration before the latest course start date on your Visa Letter.

Check the UKVI online guidance and Appendix Visitor for the documents you need to prepare.

Commonly required documents include:

• A valid passport or travel document

• Proof of your studies (Visa Letter from your School/College at the University of Glasgow)

• Financial evidence to show you can support yourself (e.g., bank statements, return flight booking)

• ATAS certificate (if applicable)

• Proof of your intention to leave the UK after your visit

• Translations of any documents not in English or Welsh

• Currency conversions for financial documents not in GBP

While UKVI doesnt specify an exact amount, you can use your Student Visa maintenance requirements as a guide. For example, ensure you have enough money (in GBP) to cover:

• any unpaid tuition fees for UoG, plus

• £1,136 for each month of your course for living costs.

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required for al non- visa national wishing to visit the UK. 

The ETA is not permission to enter UK but allows travel to the UK. Upon arrival travelers must go through immigration. Airlines will check the ETA before boarding.

• When to apply: Apply for the ETA before booking travel.

• Validity: The ETA is valid for multiple trips over two years, or until your passport expires (whichever comes first). If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new ETA.

• Rollout dates:

  • From 8 January 2025, non-Europeans will need the ETA to travel.

  • From 5 March 2025, eligible Europeans can apply, and will need an ETA from 2 April 2025.

By April 2025, all visa-exempt visitors will need an ETA to travel to the UK.

Important: Before traveling, ensure your ETA details (personal info, entry type, and travel dates) are correct.

Further information: Check the UKVI website for more details on the ETA and immigration rules.

Visa nationals

If you're a visa national, you must apply and receive a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling to the UK. With a valid visa, you can enter the UK through Ireland/Dublin without issues. However, your visa will not be stamped upon entry to the UK, so keep proof of your travel dates (like flight tickets) in case you need to confirm when you entered. Check the Immigration Compliance Team's webpages for Visa Registration details.

Non-visa nationals

When entering the UK via Ireland / Dublin you will not have the opportunity to apply for Standard Visitor leave at the UK Border or receive this by entering via the eGates, as there is no immigration control within the Common Travel Area (including between the Republic of Ireland / Dublin to the UK).

You may choose to therefore apply for and receive a Standard Visitor Visa in your home country before travelling.

However, most non-visa nationals who enter the UK via Ireland / Dublin would expect to automatically receive immigration leave that allows them to enter the UK as a visitor for 6 months.  Please see the information on the UKCISA webpages about when someone may not be automatically granted 6 months leave to enter the UK.

You should keep evidence of the dates you travelled to the UK (such as flight tickets etc) safe in case you need to confirm the date you entered the UK in the future. Please also see the Immigration Compliance Team's webpages for the documents you will need to complete Visa Registration.

Family and friends visiting you in the UK

If your friends or family are visiting you in the UK for less than 6 months (e.g., to attend your graduation), they might need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. To check if they need a visa and learn more about the application, they can visit the UKVI webpages.

International Student Support cannot provide an invitation letter, but you can create your own Visitor Invitation Letter using this template.

Documents you can give to your visitors for their visa application include:

• A copy of your passport ID page

• A copy of your current visa (BRP, digital visa status, or visa sticker)

• A Certifying Letter confirming your student status,  Certifying Letter if you are a former student or graduation date if you're inviting them to your ceremony

• Confirmation of your graduation enrollment (from the Graduations Team)

For the invitation letter, include details like your UK address, graduation date and whether they will stay with you. If you use a University Accommodation address, get permission from Accommodation Services first.

Note that these letters are only for Standard Visitor visa applications, not for those applying for a 'Dependant' visa.