How students meet entry requirements and prepare their documentation

Each course has its own entry requirements. You should advise your students to check the entry requirements for their chosen courses carefully. They can do this by:

  • looking at the profile information in our Course Search
  • checking the course prospectus
  • asking the university or college admissions department.

Your students should check their qualifications (including any for which they are currently studying) with the universities and colleges they want to apply to. They will also need certificates that show that they have passed all of the required exams. They may be asked for the certificates in English. Please advise your students to check with their university or college whether they need the originals or certified photocopies.

One of the first steps that your students should take is to check that the qualifications they hold or are studying for are recognised in the UK and that they would be considered by higher education institutions as being suitable for entry into UK higher education.

UK NARIC is the UK's national agency responsible for providing this information to individuals from outside of the UK who wish to come to the UK to work or study or for training. NARIC will be able to provide your students with a statement about the comparative level of their qualifications to the UK's qualification frameworks. Such statements are recognised by universities, colleges and employers throughout the UK.

UCAS also provides a Qualifications Hotline tel: +44 (0)871 468 0472 or email: qualsenquiries@ucas.ac.uk.

Essential documents for entry into the UK

Everyone who comes to study in the UK needs a valid passport. If your students do not have one, they should apply for one as soon as possible.

Please note: From 1 September 2007 there have been several changes affecting the Student Category regarding visas and entry clearance. For more information, please go to the Visa Services guidance page for students.

People from certain countries also need visas before they come into the UK. They are known as 'visa nationals'. Advise your students to check if they require a visa to travel to the UK by visiting the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website and selecting "Do I need a UK visa?". There they will find a useful list of Frequently Asked Questions including advice on how to apply for a visa.

If your students are visa nationals, they can find out how to apply by visiting the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website.

BIOMETRICS - All visa applicants are required to submit their biometric details. Click here for more information about this programme.

If your students are not visa nationals, they do not need a visa to come into the UK, but they may need an entry clearance. They may also want to contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the country where they live, or where no VAC is in operation, the British Embassy or High Commission to confirm that they will be able to come to the UK as students.

When they arrive in the UK, whether or not they are a visa national, they must show certain documents and declare their intentions to study as a student to the immigration officer. They will need:

  • a valid passport;
  • a visa (if a visa national);
  • a letter from the DCSF-registered institution that confirms they have been accepted unconditionally for a full-time course;
  • evidence that they have enough money to pay for their course.

It may take them some time to get these documents. They should start as early as possible by checking the website of the Visa Application Centre or the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website guidance for students for what documents they will need, how to get them and where to get them from. Guidance information for international students is available from UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs).

Identity cards for foreign nationals

The following information has been provided by the UK Border Agency.

From 25 November 2008, UKBA will start issuing identity cards to non-EEA foreign nationals, and their dependants, who are granted further leave to remain in the UK within certain categories (student and marriage / civil partnerships / unmarried couples).

All those applying for further leave to remain under the categories above will be required to enrol their biometric details at one of our seven offices. Successful applicants will then be sent the card by secure delivery.

As well as showing the holder's photo, name, date of birth, nationality and immigration status, the credit-card sized document has a secure electronic chip for biometric details. Using fingerprint technology and digital facial images we can lock an individual to a single identity, helping to strengthen border control, prevent identity fraud and illegal working or immigration.

The card will help to confirm a person's immigration status and eligibility to entitlements in the UK. It will also help employers, educational establishments and other public service providers to understand a migrant's immigration status via a single document.

For further information about the identity cards for foreign nationals and guidance on checking the card please visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/idcardsforforeignnationals/.