The Short-Term Study Visa allows eligible people to come to the UK for an English-language course lasting longer than six months and no more than 11 months.
It is a specific study route rather than a general visa for short courses. Your course must consist only of English-language study and be provided by an accredited institution.
This guide explains the Short-Term Study Visa requirements, costs, financial evidence and application process, as well as the important restrictions to understand before applying.
You can apply for a Short-Term Study Visa if you are 16 or older and have been accepted onto an eligible English-language course in the UK lasting longer than six months and up to 11 months.
You generally need to show that:
Applications for this visa must be made from outside the UK.
The Short-Term Study Visa is specifically for studying English in the UK for longer than six months but no more than 11 months.
It cannot be used for other subjects or for an English course combined with other subjects.
This is an important distinction because the correct immigration route depends partly on the type and duration of your studies.
For English-language study lasting six months or less, you may be able to study as a Standard Visitor. Longer courses and other types of study may instead require a Student Visa.
Your course must:
An accredited UK institution must either hold a student sponsor licence or have valid accreditation from one of the organisations recognised for this route.
You may also qualify when studying at an eligible overseas higher education institution and completing part of an English-language course in the UK, as long as you meet the relevant conditions.
There is therefore no single “Short-Term Study Visa university list” that determines eligibility. What matters is whether your course and provider meet the rules.
Unlike the main Student route, the Short-Term Study Visa does not set a single fixed minimum amount that every applicant must hold.
Instead, you must demonstrate that you can:
Evidence can include bank statements or payslips. If another person is supporting you, additional evidence concerning their finances may be required.
Understanding the difference between a fixed maintenance threshold and evidence of sufficient funds is important when preparing proof of funds for your application.
You must provide evidence supporting both your personal circumstances and your proposed course.
This normally includes:
Your course evidence can include a letter of acceptance confirming details such as the course name, duration and cost.
Applicants aged 16 or 17 also need additional evidence concerning parental consent and their travel and living arrangements in the UK.
You must apply online from outside the UK before travelling.
The earliest you can apply is three months before your intended travel date. As part of the process, you will need to prove your identity and provide the required documents.
The basic process is:
You will usually receive a decision within three weeks after applying, proving your identity and providing your documents.
The Short-Term Study Visa currently costs £228.
You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application. GOV.UK currently states that this usually costs £776 for this route.
You should also budget for expenses such as:
Checking current visa fees before applying can help you plan for immigration costs alongside your course and living expenses.
You can stay for the length of your course plus up to 30 additional days, provided your total stay does not exceed 11 months.
The route is temporary and cannot be extended.
You should therefore make sure your proposed course fits within the permitted period before applying.
No.
You cannot undertake paid or unpaid work, work experience, work placements or business activities while in the UK on this route.
This makes the route very different from UK immigration pathways designed primarily for employment.
For example, the Scale-up Visa is a work route for eligible people with qualifying employment from an approved Scale-up sponsor.
Entrepreneurs seeking to establish and develop an eligible innovative UK business would instead need to consider a route such as the Innovator Founder Visa.
The purpose of your stay should therefore be clear before choosing which UK immigration route to pursue.
No. The Short-Term Study Visa does not allow you to bring family members as dependants.
Family members who want to travel to the UK would need to qualify under an appropriate immigration route in their own right.
This is another important difference between the Short-Term Study Visa and some longer-term study routes.
You cannot extend a Short-Term Study Visa. The Immigration Rules also require applications for this route to be made from outside the UK.
If you intend to undertake longer-term study after your English course, you should investigate the requirements of the appropriate route rather than assuming you can simply extend your existing permission.
For students considering their longer-term options, understanding post-study visa options can also help distinguish temporary English-language study from immigration pathways connected to qualifying UK higher education.
Although both routes involve studying in the UK, they serve different purposes.
| Short-Term Study Visa | Student Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | English language study | Wider range of eligible courses |
| Course duration | More than 6 months, up to 11 months | Depends on eligible course |
| Course type | English language only | Further and higher education courses and other eligible study |
| Work | Not permitted | Some students may work subject to conditions |
| Dependants | Not permitted | Permitted only in limited circumstances |
| Extension | Not available | May be possible if requirements are met |
The Short-Term Study Visa is therefore much narrower than the Student route.
There is also an important distinction around language requirements. The Short-Term Study route is for studying English itself; it does not impose the same separate English-language eligibility test used by some other immigration routes. Applicants researching broader immigration requirements can read our guide to English requirements.
Suppose you have been accepted onto a nine-month English-language course at an accredited UK institution.
Because the course lasts longer than six months but no more than 11 months and consists only of English-language study, the Short-Term Study route may be appropriate.
You would still need to show that you can pay for the course, support yourself during your stay and cover your onward or return journey.
Once in the UK, you could study the course for which permission was granted, but you could not take a job alongside your studies or switch to another course under the same permission.
Choosing the correct route therefore depends on what you intend to study, how long you will study and what you want to do while you are in the UK.
Despite its name, the Short-Term Study Visa is not a general visa for all short courses. It is specifically for eligible English-language courses lasting longer than six months and up to 11 months.
English-language study lasting six months or less can generally fall under the visitor rules instead.
Work is prohibited, including unpaid work, work experience and work placements.
There is no single fixed maintenance figure for this route. You need enough funds for your circumstances, including living costs, course fees and your return or onward journey.
The route cannot be extended. If your plans involve longer-term study, consider the appropriate immigration route before travelling.
If you are planning to study in the UK, these guides can help you compare routes and understand the financial and immigration requirements:
It is a UK visa for people aged 16 or older studying an eligible English-language course lasting longer than six months and no more than 11 months at an accredited institution.
The application fee is currently £228. You also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which GOV.UK currently states usually costs £776 for this route.
No. Paid work, unpaid work, work experience, work placements and business activities are prohibited.
There is no single fixed minimum maintenance amount. You need to show that you can support and accommodate yourself, pay your course fees and cover your return or onward journey.
You cannot extend a Short-Term Study Visa.
The Short-Term Study Visa is a narrowly defined route for people who want to spend more than six months and up to 11 months studying English in the UK.
Before applying, confirm that your course and institution qualify and make sure you can demonstrate sufficient funds for your studies and stay. You should also understand the restrictions: you cannot work, bring dependants or extend the visa.
If you are considering a Short-Term Study Visa and want help understanding the requirements and preparing your application, book a consultation with UKGIC. Our immigration advisers can review your course and circumstances and help you prepare the appropriate UK visa application.
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