The Home Office announced on Thursday 10 September that student visa applications via the new 'points-based system' would open for applications on 5 October.

We have updated the Study UK page for EU students to reflect these changes. We'd be very happy for you to share this page with students from Europe who are thinking of moving to the UK for their studies from 1 January 2021 onwards.

You can also download a government guide to the new application system for EU students here.

Key points:

  • Students from EU countries (including EEA and Switzerland) will need to successfully apply for a visa through the new system if they are coming to the UK from 1 January 2021 onwards. 
  • The government has stated: 'UK's new and improved ‘Student Route’, which falls under the UK's new points-based immigration system, will open to international students on 5 October. It improves on the previous Tier 4 route, making for a more streamlined experience for both sponsoring institutions and students.'
  • The requirements for the visa on the part of the student are quite similar to that of Tier 4.
  • For EU students, in the majority of cases, the full application process can be done via a Smartphone app.
  • The visa application fee is £348 for students; students will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, but the cost for a student next year has not been confirmed;
  • The government has not published any policy suggesting that there will be exemptions for students who start courses before 1 January 2021 date but need to come to the UK after this date due (e.g. due to Covid-19 travel restrictions).
  • EU/EEA/Swiss students who are already in the UK before 1 January 2021 should apply for the EU Settlement Scheme - they won't need a visa as long as their application for the EU Settlement Scheme is successful.
  • The new ‘Graduate Route’ will be available to international students (including EU students) who have completed a degree in the UK from summer 2021. Students will be able to work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two years, or three years if you are a PhD graduate.

If you have any questions about the British Council's work in higher education in the EU Region, please contact Almut Caspary.