Updated information: June 2024
The majority of Commonwealth Scholars require a Student visa to study in the UK. There may be other options available if you will be studying in the UK for less than six months. If this is the case, or if you already have a UK visa, you should contact the admissions team at your UK university to check that they will accept this for the purpose of studying in the UK. You should also inform your Programme Officer if you do not intend to apply for a Student visa.
The following FAQs are for Commonwealth Scholars who will be applying for a Student visa.
Please note that due to ongoing global restrictions some UKVI services may need to close. If this affects you, you will need to speak to your university and inform the Senior Welfare and Immigration Office by emailing welfare@cscuk.org.uk
This is general information only and may change at short notice.
What is a visa?
When do I apply for a Student visa?
Where do I need to make my visa application?
Do I need to be tested for tuberculosis?
Do I need an ATAS clearance certificate?
Do I have to take an English language test?
Will I need to pay a visa application fee?
Will I need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
What is a CAS and when will I receive it?
Can I bring dependants with me to the UK?
How do I make a visa application?
Can I apply for my visa outside of my home country?
Will I be interviewed as part of the application process?
Who is my visa sponsor? Who is my financial sponsor?
What option should I select for collecting a biometric residence permit (BRP)?
What do I put as the date I plan to arrive in the UK?
What should I do if I am concerned about my immigration history or criminal convictions?
What supporting documents do I need to include with my visa application?
I am being asked to submit my final award letter and letter to prove official financial sponsorship. What do I need to submit?
Do I need to translate my documents?
Am I required to provide any bank statements to prove that I have enough money to cover all course fees and maintenance (living costs)?
What if I have made a mistake on my visa application?
What biometric data will I have to provide?
Am I from a ‘low risk’ country?
How long will my visa application take to process?
How will my visa be issued?
What if my visa application is refused?
How long will I be granted permission to stay in the UK for?
What should I do if I think I will arrive in the UK later than expected?
When and how do I collect my biometric residence permit (BRP) when I arrive in the UK?
Why does my BRP expire on 31 December 2024?
What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission?
What duties does my university have in reporting immigration matters to the Home Office?
Any further questions?
What is a visa?
A visa, also known as entry clearance when applied for from outside the UK, gives you permission to enter the UK for study related purposes. You will need to make an application for a Student visa and this guide covers this visa category
When do I apply for a Student visa?
You must wait until you have received your Confirmation of Award (CoA) before you apply for your visa. In addition, you must make sure that you have:
- Read and understood the Home Office guidance on Student visas
- Checked the visa process in your country of residence
- Checked that you meet all the requirements for a visa
- Taken a TB test, if required
- Obtained an ATAS clearance certificate, if required
- Received a CAS from your university
- Collected all the evidence in the exact format required by the Home Office
You must also make sure that the date that you apply for your visa is:
- No more than six months before the start date of your course
- No later than six months after your CAS was issued by your university
Where do I need to make my visa application?
You must apply for a visa in the country where you normally live. As part of the application process, you will be required to attend a visa appointment at your local visa application centre.
Do I need to be tested for tuberculosis?
You will need to provide a medical certificate confirming that you are clear of tuberculosis (TB) if:
- You are coming to the UK for more than six months and
- You have been resident in one of these specified countries for more than six months immediately preceding your Student visa application.
Only certificates issued by approved test clinics will be accepted. You can find out where your local test clinic is on the GOV.UK website, by clicking on your country of residence. You should be aware that some countries do not have an approved testing centre and you may need to travel to a neighbouring country to have the test.
You should contact the test clinic directly to make an appointment as soon as possible. Please be aware that in some cases, test results can take weeks, or even months, particularly if initial tests are inconclusive, and you will not be able to apply for your visa until you have received your medical certificate.
You should seek advice from your university about the most appropriate time to book your TB test as your medical certificate will be valid for six months only.
Do I need an ATAS clearance certificate?
For some courses, security clearance is required from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) before you can study in the UK. Find out more about ATAS
Your university will know if your course requires an ATAS certificate, so you must check with them prior to making your visa application. If you do need to obtain an ATAS certificate, you must apply online.
An ATAS certificate usually takes at least 30 working days to process. However, it can take much longer at busy periods. You should apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as you have received your offer from your university and up to 6 months before you course start date.
If your ATAS certificate is refused then you will not be able to make a new ATAS application for the same course details for 90 days.
You must have received your ATAS certification before you apply for your visa, otherwise your application will be refused. Possession of an ATAS certificate does not guarantee you a visa or extension of stay. When applying for a visa, you must also provide evidence that you meet the usual student criteria.
On your ATAS application, you will be asked to provide details of your financial sponsor. If you are still waiting for confirmation of your award, include this information and note that the decision is pending. You will also be asked for the following details:
- Name of your financial sponsor: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- For the email address you can use your Programme Officer’s details
- Conditions of your sponsorship:
- You must receive an unconditional offer of admission from your university
- You must return to your home country upon completion of your course
If any of your personal or course details change after you have received your ATAS certificate then you may be required to apply for a new one. Please check with your university if this becomes the case.
Do I have to take an English language test?
Unless you fall under one of the exceptions, you will need to demonstrate a certain level of English language proficiency in order for the university to issue you with a CAS. Universities can choose their method of assessment but will usually state on the CAS how they have carried out their assessment.
You should check directly with your university whether you need to take an English language test and what test you should take.
Will I need to pay a visa application fee?
As a Commonwealth Scholar, you will not need to pay a fee for your visa application if you are applying for an entry clearance visa (from outside the UK). If you are applying for leave to remain (inside the UK) then you will need to pay the visa and IHS fees up front. If you are a new Scholar, we will be able to reimburse you for this cost after you have enrolled on your course.
In order to bypass the payment pages for the entry clearance visa, you will need to make sure that you select ‘yes’ to the question ‘Do you have a Marshall, Chevening or Commonwealth Scholarship?’
You should make sure you provide your Confirmation of Award as part of your supporting documents as evidence that you are a Commonwealth Scholar. If you are making an entry clearance application and are asked to pay for your visa application, you should query this with the visa application centre immediately and inform the CSC and your university.
Will I need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
You will need to register for an IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) number as part of your visa application. IHS registration enables you to use the UK National Health Service (NHS) – read more out more about the IHS here.
As a Commonwealth Scholar, if you are applying for a visa from outside the UK, the IHS fee will be paid for by the FCDO. You still need to make sure that you select ‘yes’ to the question ‘Do you have a Marshall, Chevening or Commonwealth Scholarship?’ If you are asked to pay the IHS fee, you should query this with the visa application centre immediately and inform the CSC and your university. If you apply for the wrong visa category or answer ‘no’ to the question ‘Do you have a Marshall, Chevening, or Commonwealth Scholarship’ then we will not be able to reimburse you the IHS cost.
What is a CAS and when will I receive it?
A CAS – Confirmation of Acceptance for Study – is an electronic document produced by your university of study. Your university will give you a unique reference number that you must include in your online visa application.
Your CAS will be issued by your university after you receive an unconditional offer. You cannot make your visa application until you have received this. Your university will be able to tell you if there is anything you need to do to get your CAS (such as confirm that you have accepted their offer or show evidence of your scholarship). You should check with your university directly if you have any questions about this process, as university policies will vary.
Most universities will also send you a CAS statement, which is all the information they have used to generate your CAS. The statement is not required for the visa application, but it gives you information about your course, your visa sponsor, and some of the financial information that you need to complete your application form.
You should check the CAS statement carefully to make sure that all the details are correct. If you have any questions or notice any errors, you should notify your university immediately. If there are any discrepancies between the information used by your university to generate the CAS and the information on your application form, then your visa application may be delayed or refused.
Can I bring my dependants with me to the UK?
Bringing dependants with you will depend on your own circumstances and your dependants’ ability to meet UKVI visa requirements.
Please see the Dependants and CSC Family Allowances FAQs on the pre-award page for more information.
How do I make a visa application?
You will need to fill in an online application form and then book an appointment to attend your local visa application centre (VAC). You can find a visual step-by-step guide and an accessible version of the step-by-step guide on completing your visa application form on our website.
The CSC will not reimburse the costs of travel to any visa application centre within your home country. If you have to travel to another country to provide your biometrics, the CSC can arrange a return flight for you via our travel provider.
Can I apply for my visa outside of my home country?
You must apply for your visa in a country where you are legally resident. This will be a country which you hold a passport for, or for which you have permission to reside in (i.e. not a temporary, visit, or tourist visa). You must attend a visa application centre to submit your biometric data in the country where you are applying from. Not all countries have a visa application centre, in which case you will be required to travel elsewhere to submit your biometric data. The UK Government website, and the application form, will tell you which country you will need to travel to.
Will I be interviewed as part of the application process?
You may be asked to attend an interview before your application is decided. The purpose of the interview is to ascertain whether you are a genuine student and that your level of English is high enough for your level of study. During the interview, you may be asked about the university you will be attending and for details of your degree programme. A transcript of the interview will be given to the officer assessing your application and will be used in deciding the outcome. If you are asked to attend an interview, you should contact your university in case they are able to help you prepare for your interview.
Who is my visa sponsor? Who is my financial sponsor?
Your UK university is your visa sponsor and will issue the CAS which you require to make your visa application. This means that they take some responsibility on behalf of the Home Office to make sure that you comply with the conditions of your visa once it is issued. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is your official financial sponsor and will issue you with a Confirmation of Award (CoA) letter to submit as proof of funding for your visa.
What option should I select for collecting a biometric residence permit (BRP)?
When you complete your visa application, the form will give you the choice to collect your BRP from a UK Post Office or if your university offers a collection service, you can choose ‘Alternative Collection Location’ and give the code provided by your university.
If you have any questions about which option to select, you should contact your university for further advice.
What do I put as the date I plan to arrive in the UK?
Your 90-day vignette will start a maximum of one month before your course start date, or seven days before your intended date of travel as specified in your application. Please select the date most appropriate to your circumstances.
What should I do if I am concerned about my immigration history or criminal convictions?
The visa application form asks questions about your immigration history and any criminal convictions that you have. It is important that you read the questions carefully and answer them honestly, as not doing so can have very serious consequences.
The Immigration Rules include provision for an application to be refused under the ‘general grounds of refusal.’
If you have any concerns, you should contact the immigration adviser at your university for further advice and guidance before you submit your visa application.
What supporting documents do I need to include with my visa application?
You must meet all Student visa requirements and be able to provide evidence in the required format in order to make a successful application. You can find general information on evidence on the UKCISA website. You should also check with your university for advice on specific documents that you should submit, but you should bear in mind that CSC advises all Commonwealth Scholars to submit their Confirmation of Award with their visa application. This is required by UKVI to show that you are exempt from visa application fees and IHS charges.
I am being asked to submit my final award letter and letter to prove official financial sponsorship. What do I need to submit?
This is you confirmation of award letter (COA). When you look at your COA you will notice that it comes in two parts. The first part is the confirmation of award, which may also be known as the final award letter, and the second part is a letter that contains information confirming the details of your official financial sponsorship. You can either upload these documents separately or upload the full COA twice.
Do I need to translate my documents?
If any of your supporting documents are not written in English (or Welsh), they must be accompanied by a full translation that can be independently verified by UKVI. The translation must contain the following:
- Confirmation from the translator or translation company that it is an accurate translation of the document
- Date of the translation
- Full name and signature of the translator or of an authorised official of the translation company
- Translator or translation company’s contact details
Am I required to provide any bank statements to prove that I have enough money to cover all course fees and maintenance (living costs)?
As you are in receipt of a full Commonwealth Scholarship, and if you are not bringing any dependants with you, you do not need to present any bank statements. You will need to show your Confirmation of Award letter as evidence that you are in receipt of a fully funded scholarship.
If you are applying for visas for dependents, you should read the information on financial requirements that dependants need to meet.
What if I make a mistake on my visa application?
You can edit the information on the application form up until the section where you complete the details relating to the Immigration Health Surcharge. If you have completed this part of the online application, you will not be able to make further changes. If you have made an error on your application form and cannot change it, please contact international student advice team at your university for support.
What biometric data will I have to provide?
As part of the Student visa application, you are required to provide your biometric data which will be – your facial photograph and fingerprints. Your biometric data will be taken when you attend the visa appointment.
Am I from a ‘low risk’ country?
There is a list of countries that have been identified as ‘low risk’ countries for visa application purposes by UKVI. You can find this list in paragraph 22 of Appendix ST of the Immigration Rules. If you are applying from one of these ‘low risk’ countries, you still need to meet all of the visa requirements, but you might not be required to send in documents such as evidence of qualifications. You should still submit your Confirmation of Award letter with your application, as you may be charged the visa application fee and IHS without it.
Even though you may not need to send all the documents initially, UKVI reserves the right to request them at any time, so you must ensure that you have them and that you are able to show that you met the Student visa requirements on the date that you made your application. If you cannot provide the documents when asked, your visa application may be refused.
If you are not applying from a ‘low risk’ country, you will need to provide all required documents with your visa application.
How long will my visa application take to process?
The CSC liaises with UKVI on behalf of Commonwealth Scholars to share details of Scholar visa applications. This is to support UKVI in confirming that you are in receipt of a scholarship from the CSC and help with the smooth processing of your visa. Whilst no specific priority is given to Commonwealth Scholar visa applications, sharing this data can nonetheless speed up the processing of your visa. You should ensure that you complete the short survey sent with your Confirmation of Award so that the CSC has all the relevant details about your visa application and can share this with UKVI. Please note that we do not have any direct influence over the way that visas are decided.
Please be aware that visa processing can still take longer than expected due to issues outside of our control. Please be patient and keep your university and your Programme Officer updated if there are any delays and you think you may arrive later than expected in the UK due to processing times.
How will my visa be issued?
If your visa application is successful, you will receive a 90-day vignette in your passport. You will also be emailed a visa decision letter. This letter included the full length of your visa, any conditions attached to the visa and the location where you collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from. Please make sure that you keep hold of this email as you will be required to send it to your CSC Programme Officer at a later date.
You should check that all the information in the vignette and letter is correct, including your name, date of birth, and the Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) of your university. If any of this information is incorrect, you should seek advice from your university about correcting the details before you make arrangements to travel to the UK.
You must arrive in the UK during the 90 days given on your vignette and by the latest start date communicated to you by your university. If you do not travel within the dates provided on your vignette, you will need to apply for another in order to travel to the UK.
When you enter the UK, you should show the immigration officials your vignette and the letter of notification from UKVI. After arrival in the UK, you will then need to collect a BRP, which is proof of your right to stay and study in the UK.
What if my visa application is refused?
If your application is refused, you should contact your university sending them a copy of the refusal notice as a matter of urgency. Please also send a copy to the welfare and immigration team.
There is no full right of appeal for visa applications made outside of the UK. If you think the refusal was incorrect, based on the evidence you submitted with your application, you can ask for an ‘Administrative Review’ of the decision to refuse it. You must request the Administrative Review within 28 days of the date you receive your refusal notice. You cannot produce any new or different documents for an Administrative Review. There is further information in the Home Office guidance. Your university may also be able to provide further advice.
You cannot submit a new entry clearance application at the same time as requesting an Administrative Review of an earlier entry clearance application. You can only use a CAS once. If your immigration application has been refused, and you wish to submit a new application, you will need to find out if your university will give you a new CAS.
How long will I be granted permission to stay in the UK for?
For a postgraduate course lasting at least twelve months, your visa will expire four months after the end date of your course stated in your CAS. You cannot ask for it to end later. If your course lasts more than six months but less than twelve months, your visa will expire two months after your course end date. For example, if your course is 12 months long and ends on 30 September 2024 then your visa should expire on 30 January 2025. However, you will still be required to return home within 1 month of the end of your award, as per the conditions of your scholarship.
What should I do if I think I will arrive in the UK later than expected?
If you think that you might arrive in the UK after your expected date of enrolment at your university, you should make sure that you contact your university and your Programme Officer to check that this is acceptable.
The latest possible date that you will be allowed to start your course will usually be given on your CAS. If you have not received your visa and booked your travel to arrive and enrol by this date on your CAS, you should contact the person at your university who issued the CAS immediately to inform them that you have made your application but have not yet received your visa. Otherwise, the university may assume that you will not be coming to the UK and cancel your CAS, and your visa will be refused.
When and how do I collect my biometric residence permit (BRP) when I arrive in the UK?
Your letter of notification from UKVI will give the university or Post Office address in the UK where you should collect your BRP. You must collect your BRP within ten days of entering the UK, or before the end of your vignette, whichever is later – you can find out more about BRPs here.
After you receive your BRP, you should check it carefully. If you notice any errors, you should contact your university for further advice and guidance.
Why does my BRP expire on 31 December 2024?
The system of using BRPs as a visa document is due to be replaced by a system of eVisas in 2025. Students who collect their BRPs from September 2024 will be invited by email from UKVI to set up an online account to access their eVisa information. Please check the email account you used to apply for your visa once you have arrived in the UK to access this invite.
The full status of your visa will be contained on the visa decision letter which was emailed to you so please keep this document to hand.
What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission?
Your Student visa permission has some conditions. The restrictions applied to each condition will be stated on your visa.
Study at your intended institution
You must enrol and study at the university that issued the CAS, and whose Sponsor License Number is printed on your visa. If you change your mind before travelling to the UK, and you wish to study at a different university, you must make a new entry clearance application using a new CAS from your new university.
‘No recourse to public funds’
Your immigration conditions prohibit you from accessing ‘public funds’, which means certain welfare benefits and local authority housing. Using the National Health Service, sending your child to a state school, being exempt from the Council Tax, and paying ‘home’ fees for study do not count as accessing ‘public funds’.
If you claim ‘public funds’, the UK immigration authorities can refuse your immigration application or remove you from the UK. You may be banned from returning to the UK for a certain period.
Working conditions
Most Scholars will have the standard student work condition which is 20 hours per week. Please refer to the CSC policy on working in the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars.
For more information about any of these conditions please visit the UKCISA website.
What duties does my university have in reporting immigration matters to the Home Office?
All Student Sponsors have specific sponsor duties. These duties are outlined in The Student Sponsor Guidance. Your university must notify the Home Office if:
- You do not enrol on the course before the last day of the enrolment period.
- You withdraw from your course before you travel to the UK.
- Your start date is delayed before you enter the UK but after your visa has been granted.
- You fail to attend a class or lecture, or fail to submit work for a specific number of times, and your institution has not agreed to your absence or non-submission of work.
- You defer, postpone, or take a break from your studies.
- You change to a shorter course, or you complete your studies early.
- You withdraw from your studies before you have finished your course.
- Your visa is refused.
- You significantly change your circumstances (e.g. your study location changes or you change to a course which requires ATAS clearance or a work placement).
- They have any reason to suspect that you are not compliant with your visa conditions (e.g. if the university has reason to believe that you are working more than the hours you are permitted to).
Your university will usually inform you in writing if they have made a report to the Home Office, particularly where the report may result in your visa being curtailed (cancelled). If you have any queries about reports submitted to the Home Office, please speak with the international student adviser at your university.
The Home Office may curtail your visa early if they are notified of one of these issues. This means it is very important that, as far as possible, you attend all your classes and lectures and submit coursework when it is due. If you have problems doing this, you should let your tutor or student advisers know as soon as possible.
It is very important that you notify your university if you are ill and cannot attend or submit work, or if you have to miss your academic commitments for any other reason. Your university may ask you to submit further evidence to confirm the reason for your absence, for example a letter from your doctor. You should also alert your Programme Officer.
If you decide to leave your course early, you must tell your university. Your university will need to report this to the Home Office, and the Home Office may curtail your visa to 60 days, unless you already have fewer than 60 days remaining on your visa. You must leave the UK or make a new immigration application within this time. The Home Office will send the curtailment letter to your address, which will tell you when you must leave the UK. For this reason, it is important to always ensure that the Home Office and your university have your current address. The international student adviser at your university can advise on how to submit a change of address.
Any further questions?
If, after reading the information on this page and reviewing the guidance for students on the gov.uk website, UKCISA website, and your university’s website, you have any further questions, you should contact the person at your university who issued your CAS. Your university is your visa sponsor and is best placed to respond.
If your university is unable to assist, you can also contact the CSC Senior Welfare and Immigration Officer at welfare@cscuk.org.uk or using the details contained in your client care letter.
