Check if you need a student visa
Most international students need a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to study in the UK. It allows you to study on a course that is longer than six months and it's the most common student visa.
Make sure that you read this information about how to apply for a Student route visa carefully. Your visa will be refused if your application is not completed correctly.
Prepare for your visa application
All students who apply for a Student route visa under the sponsorship of Middlesex University must agree to our conditions of Student Route sponsorship.
Find out more about how to apply for your visa by watching our video. You can also attend our webinar to help prepare you if you need to complete a visa interview.
Most international students need a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to study in the UK.
It allows you to study on a course that is longer than six months and it's the most common student visa.
Make sure that you read this information about how to apply for a Student route visa carefully.
Your visa will be refused if your application is not completed correctly.
Our visa advisors can help you with any aspect of your application, visas, and immigration.
All students who apply for a Student route visa under the sponsorship of Middlesex University must agree to our conditions of Student Route sponsorship.
If you're an EU or EEA national who was resident in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 and are now considering studying with us, you'll need to ensure that you have Settled or Pre-settled Status to continue living, working and/or studying in the UK after 30 June 2021.
If you are an EU national who does not have settled or pre-settled status or are a national of any other country, you may need a visa to study in the UK. You need a Student Route visa if you want to study a course for longer than six months.
Remember, some other types of visa can be used for study. This depends on your individual circumstances and what type of visa you have. You can discuss this with us by emailing our International Advice team before applying for your course.
We will send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) when we offer you a place to study and have confirmed that we will be able to sponsor you.
Your CAS will have a reference number which you must state on your visa application form. Your caseworker will check it when they process your visa.
Your Student Route visa only allows you to study at the institution which issued your CAS. If you move to another institution, you must apply for a new visa, even if your current one is still valid.
The CAS includes:
You will receive a copy of this information when your CAS is issued. Please check it carefully and contact us if there are any mistakes.
Your university or college will act as your Student route visa sponsor. This will be Middlesex University if you are accepted onto courses at our campus in London. Your visa is issued under your institution's 'sponsor licence'. This means that the institution is responsible for you while you are in the UK, and must guarantee your student status with UK Visas and Immigration.
All UK Visas are issued by a government agency called UK Visas and Immigration (formerly the UKBA). If you are overseas, your visa application might be managed by an agency such as VFS Global. The agency will manage the application process, but the final decision on your visa will still be made by UK Visas and Immigration.
Your Student Route visa will be valid for the duration of your course, plus a short amount of time afterwards.
The amount of time your visa is valid for after graduation depends on the length or type of your course:
If you are already in the UK, working or studying or as a dependent (but not as a visitor), you may be able to apply for a Student Route visa to study at Middlesex University. We have free advice and support to help you with your application and visa
After your course is finished, you can also search for a job with an employer who can offer you a Tier 2 (General) visa. The UK Visas and Immigration website has more information about work visas.