Short-term Student visa
You will not need to apply for a Short-term Student visa to study at Kent as it is only required for studying English language programmes (English as a Foreign Language - EFL or English to Speakers of Other Languages - ESOL) for between six and eleven months.
What is a Standard Visitor visa?
You can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor to study a course of no more than six months in length.
You will need to calculate your time in the UK so that you can make sure you don't come to the UK too early and can stay until your course has finished.
Check if you need a visa to visit the UK
Visa nationals
If you a national of a country included on the GOV.UK Appendix Visitor Visa National List, you can apply for entry clearance to visit the UK as a Standard Visitor to study a course of less than six months in length (unless it's a distance learning course).
Non-visa nationals
If you are a national of a country NOT included in the list above, you can enter the UK without a visa in advance and will be admitted as a visitor upon entry (either by a stamp in your passport or via eGates if eligible).
Full information on coming to study as a visitor can be found on the Standard Visitor visa webpage.
Electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
An ETA gives you permission to travel to the UK.
You can apply now if you are a national of:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
You must be a national of one of these countries and travel using a national passport. You cannot use other types of passports or travel documents.
European exchange (six months or less): EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
My exchange is for less than six months. What options do I have?
EU/EEA nationals do not require immigration permission in advance and can use e-Gates to enter the UK. This will give Visitor immigration permission for a maximum of six months. You should keep hold of your boarding pass as proof of your date of entry for enrolment and registration purposes.
Study for more than 6 months
I am a visiting researcher/incoming exchange student and I will be at Kent for a period of more than six months. What options do I have?
If you are planning to undertake a visiting research period or exchange of more than six months, you will be required to apply for the Student route visa. You will not be able to study for the full length of your time at Kent without obtaining immigration permission in advance.