Q. I am an Adult student planning on attending a pre-sessional course at a non-partner college/institution followed by my main course of study. What visa should I apply for?

A. As the organisations are not partner organisations, we can only issue a visa for the pre-sessional course. Therefore, you should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) to do the pre-sessional course. This is so you can apply for a new PBS Tier 4 student visa inside the UK to do the main course. This is the same whether the main course offer is conditional or unconditional.

All courses must lead to an approved qualification and be at CEFR Level 2 or higher for English studies and at NQF Level 3 or higher for other courses. If the pre-sessional course is below this level, you may be able to apply for a student visitor visa or as a child student under PBS Tier 4 if you meet the requirements for those visas. Note that you cannot change from a student visitor visa to a student visa without leaving the UK.

Q. I am an Adult student planning on attending a pre-sessional course at a partner or the same college/institution followed by my main course of study. What visa should I apply for?

A. Adult students going to the UK who are doing a pre-sessional course and have an unconditional offer from a 'partner organisation' for their main course should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) to do both courses. They will be issued with a student visa for both courses if they meet the requirements. Students going to the UK who are doing a pre-sessional course and have a conditional offer from a ‘partner organisation’ for their main course should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) for the pre-sessional course. This is so they can extend their student status inside the UK to do the main course once they have an unconditional offer (and before their pre-sessional course visa expires). Note that the pre-sessional course provider must be named on the main course provider’s licence, otherwise it is not considered to be a pre-sessional course.

All courses must lead to an approved qualification and be at CEFR Level 2 or higher for English studies (and at NQF Level 3 or higher for other courses. If the pre-sessional course is below this level, you may be able to apply for a student visitor visa or as a child student under PBS Tier 4 if you meet the requirements for those visas. Note that you cannot change from a student visitor visa to a student visa without leaving the UK.

Q. I am a CHILD student planning on attending a pre-sessional course at a non- partner organisation before my main course. What visa should I apply for?

A. You may only be issued a visa for the pre-sessional course and will need to apply for a visa for the main course once you arrive in the UK. Therefore, you should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) to do the pre-sessional course.

Q. I am a CHILD student planning on attending a pre-sessional course at a partner institution or at the same institution as my main course. What visa should I apply for?

A. Child students going to the UK who are doing a pre-sessional course and have an unconditional offer from a 'partner organisation' for their main course should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) to do both courses. They will be issued with a student visa for both courses if they meet the requirements. Child students going to the UK who are doing a pre-sessional course and have a conditional offer from a ‘partner organisation’ for their main course should apply for a full student visa (PBS Tier 4) for the pre-sessional course. This is so they can extend their student status inside the UK to do the main course once they have an unconditional offer (and before their pre-sessional course visa expires). Note that the pre-sessional course provider must be named on the main course provider’s licence, otherwise it is not considered to be a pre-sessional course.

The main course must be taught in line with the National Curriculum, or taught in line with the National Qualifications Framework, or accepted as being the same academic level as the National Curriculum or the National Qualification Framework by the relevalt Inspectorate, or taught in line with existing independent school education inspection standards.

Q. How should I define my nationality if I a) hold a HKSAR passport b) hold a BNO passport; c.) hold a mainland Chinese passport but am a Permanent Hong Kong resident.

A. Your nationality should be defined by what it says on the passport you intend to use for travel on this visa to the UK. When advising your educational institution of your nationality, it is very important that you give them this precise information as the Visa Letter they issue needs to state your nationality. If information on your Visa Letter is inconsistent with what is on your passport, then your visa application is likely to be refused.

Q. I am a non-visa national and I plan to study a short course (less than 6 months) in the UK. What Visa do I apply for?

A. You do not need to make a visa application to study in the UK prior to departure if you do not intend to work in the UK and if you do not intend to go on to further studies in the UK. You may travel to the UK without a visa and declare your intention to study a short course to the Immigration Officer at the UK port of entry. You will need to provide evidence that you meet all of the requirements for a Student Visitor entry clearance. If you meet the requirements, you will be given a Student Visitor entry clearance by the Immigration Officer.

The student visitor route is likely to be appropriate for those going on short language or other course and then returning to Hong Kong (or otherwise leaving the UK) after the course. As they are given entry clearance valid for six months, they may also combine studies with a general visit.  This will include students going on short exchange programmes in the UK where they are part of their studies in Hong Kong if they do not want to work in the UK and will return to Hong Kong to continue their studies.

Students should be aware that some exchange programmes may require them to apply under Tier 4 because there is a work placement included. This is permitted if they apply under Tier 4, regardless of the duration of the course. Note that the work placement must not be more than 50% of the course unless there is a statutory requirement for it to be otherwise.

Q. I am a visa national and I plan to study a short course (less than 6 months) in the UK. What Visa do I apply for?

A. Providing you plan to take a short course of not more than six months, you do not plan to take up employment, and you do not intend to go on to further studies in the UK, you should make an application for a Student Visitor Visa prior to departure. If you are not sure whether you will work or extend, you could also apply under PBS Tier 4.

The student visitor route is appropriate for those going on a short language or other course and then returning to Hong Kong (or otherwise leaving the UK) after the course. They may also combine studies with a general visit. This will include students going on short exchange programmes in the UK where they are part of their studies in Hong Kong if they do not want to work in the UK and will return to Hong Kong to continue their studies.

The student visitor route will not be appropriate for those wishing to work (even on a part time basis or on a work placement which forms part of the course). Students should therefore be aware that some exchange programmes may require them to apply for a full student visa under PBS Tier 4 because there is a work placement included. This is permitted if they apply under Tier 4, regardless of the duration of the course.

Q. What arrangements are now in place for Macau students who are unable to leave their passports with you for the processing period because they cannot travel without them?

A. Students visas are non-settlement visas so the following procedure applies if you do not want to stay in Hong Kong for the time it takes to process your application:

1. Apply online and make an appointment online in the normal way. When you come in for your appointment, you will submit all documents (including your passport), pay the fee and have your biometrics taken. We can then return your passport to you immediately and you can travel back to Macau the same day.

2. You must then give an original, signed letter of authority to someone who is able to submit your passport to the VAC in Hong Kong, in person, within 2 working days. The letter should authorise that person to submit your passport to us and to collect it again once the visa decision has been made.  The nominated person must submit your passport to the VAC within 2 working days. On receipt of your passport, your application will be sent to Manila for processing.

3. On receipt of notification from Manila that your visa decision is ready to collect, you should ask the nominated person to return to the VAC on the following working day or on a working day thereafter with the same letter of authority, your collection slip and receipt and the nominated person’s ID. We will return everything to them when they come to the VAC.

Q. If students are 16/17 years old, t hey can choose to apply for either a child or adult student visa. However, if students are over 17 but not yet 18 at the date they submit their visa application, are they entitled to apply for a child student visa?

A. Students aged 16 or 17 may apply either as a Child Student or an Adult Student. This means students applying on or after their 16th birthday and before their 18th birthday. Whichever route they chose, they must fulfil the requirements of that route.

For the purposes of determining the student’s age, it is the age they will be on the date they submit their application and pay the fee at the Visa Application Centre that is the relevant age.

Go to the UK Border Agency website (www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/faqs/) for more answers to frequently asked questions in relation to making a visa application.