The United Kingdom has a very rich culture in excellent education. The U.K. is a well-known destination for Nigerians to study especially for Undergraduate and Post graduate degrees. Incredibly, the standard of education in the UK is top notch, such that it has attracts nearly half a million of international students each year all over the World. The overall education system in the UK is divided into primary, secondary, further and higher education. U.K. universities are among the most reputed and highest ranking in the world. The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

Interestingly, the UK is one of the most popular destination of Nigerian immigrants, either for residence or schooling. How to get UK student Visa to study in UK from Nigeria is one of the most asked questions by Nigerians. This article focuses more on Undergraduates and Post-graduates study in the UK. A typical Undergraduate degree is 3 years (except in Scotland where it is 4 years), and the typical post-graduate degree is 12 months.

The visa required to study in the UK at any level is called the Tier 4 Visa.

What is the Tier 4 visa?

The Tier 4 Visa also known as Student Visa is a permit that allows a non-UK to enter the UK as a student, usually either at a school, college, or university. This Tier 4 immigration permission was re-named Student immigration permission on 8 October 2020. A Student visa is not generic permission to study in the UK as you wish. It is issued for a specific course of study at a specific institution.

The Tier 4 visa is divided into two:

• The Tier 4 (child student) visa: for students under 18 years of age who want to study in an independent school. Independent schools are non-state owned schools where parents of pupils are charged school fees, unlike state schools where school fees are paid by the government.
• The Tier 4 (general student) visa: The Tier 4 (General) student visa is suitable for international students studying a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught program lasting longer than six months. This is for students aged 18 and above.

Eligibility for Students Visas

Student visas can only be issued for particular courses; so you must have applied to an education provider. Your education provider refers to the school you are applying to in the UK. If your course is eligible, your education provider also called your Student sponsor will give you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you’ll use to apply for a Student visa.. Your course details will be included on the CAS. You must also have a valid International Passport.

NOTE: Check with the education provider where you intend to study that they have the appropriate license to sponsor a student visa for the course you wish to do

Applying for a Tier 4 visa:

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. The UK uses a points-based system for student visa applications and 40 points are needed to qualify for a Tier 4 visa. Points are awarded as follows:

30 points for having a valid CAS statement.

10 points for having enough money to support yourself and pay for your course

This means that people who will be accepted are those who have enough money to cover their course fees and costs of living or those whose parents or guardian can sponsor through their schooling and living in the UK.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• give biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre. Your Visa application centre is stated below.
• use the ‘UK Immigration website: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document – you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Required Payments

Currently, it costs £348 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK. If anyone is coming to join you such as your spouse, etc. you must pay the visa fee that person.

Healthcare surcharge: You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts, dependants with you, location of study, etc. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply here https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply for your Student visa you must provide:

• International passport or other valid travel documentation (if requested).
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
• Proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – this will vary depending on your circumstances
• A valid ATAS certificate for post-graduate students. ATAS means Academic Technology Approval Scheme. It is for international students intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects
• Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18
• Proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18
• Your tuberculosis test results
• Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months.

Getting your CAS

Once you have an offer from your chosen school, and you have paid your tuition fee deposit, you will get your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies statement (CAS).

Your CAS will include the following details:

• Your unique CAS reference number.
• Your name, date of birth, and passport number.
• Your offer – the title and length of the course and the university’s details.
• Why you have been accepted – the certificates you have provided, your English language ability, and if you have studied in the UK before.
• The course tuition fees and how much you have paid already.
• Your Tier 4 sponsor license number.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks, though You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer. This case includes if:

• Your supporting documents need to be properly verified
• You need to attend an interview regarding your application.
• There are personal circumstances (for example if you have a court case).

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, kindly contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. If your application is successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa.

Living in the UK after Visa is granted

How long is Tier 4 visa valid for?

A student visa will be valid for the duration of your degree and for a further four months after you complete your course. You can use this extra time to look for work or apply for further study. However, you will normally need a new visa to carry out either of these activities.

Can I study part-time?

Yes. Students can study a part-time course under Tier 4 (General) visa that leads to a Post graduate qualification. However, part-time students are not allowed to work (including work placement) or apply for a visa extension in the UK or have dependants in the UK under PBS dependant leave. Students with current Tier 4 Visa studying a full-time course are not allowed to switch to part-time whilst in the UK, they must return to their home country and apply for a new visa.

How long can you stay?

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed in the UK. If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK. You can switch to a General Student visa from another Child Student visa if you’re already in the UK. For graduates, you can switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course.

How many hours can I work on a Tier 4 student visa?

Students on a Tier 4 visa are limited to certain time restrictions for the work that they do: no more than 10 hours per week in term-time if your course is below degree level (e.g. a Foundation or Pre-Sessional course) and no more than 20 hours per week in term-time if your course is at degree level. However, you cannot work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, neither can you be self-employed.

Are Your Dependants allowed?

Your dependants are allowed to come live with your during the duration of your stay in the UK. A dependant partner or child is one of the following:

• your husband, wife or civil partner.
• your unmarried partner.
• your child under 18 years old – including if they were born in the UK during your stay

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply, for example, a marriage legal certificate for your partner and a birth certificate for your child.

UK Visa Application Centers In Nigeria

The UK Visa application centres in Nigeria are located in Lagos (Ikeja and Victoria Island) and Abuja. To know the one closest to you, kindly check the link https://pos.tlscontact.com/nigeria

Embassy Address for UK Student Visa in Nigeria

The British High Commission in Abuja

Address:19 Torrens Close, Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria

Email: PPAInformation.abuja@fco.gov.uk

Hours of Operation:Monday – Thursday: 8AM – 4PM, Friday: 8AM – 1PM

The British High Commission in Lagos

Address: Consular, and Visa Sections, 11 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Email:consular.lagos@fco.gov.uk

Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday: 8.30 AM – 12:00PM, Friday: 8.30 AM to 11 AM

Note: Most people who already have immigration permission to the UK, for example as a worker, a dependant, under the EU Settlement Scheme, or in most other categories, can study with that existing visa. Some immigration categories do restrict the study you can do.