Visa and Immigration
Do I need to apply for a visa?
A visa (also often referred to as 'entry clearance') gives you permission to enter the UK. If you intend to travel to the UK to become a student you may need to apply for a visa. If your passport was issued by Switzerland or an EEA country (all the EU countries plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) then you are free to enter the UK and do not require a visa. If your passport was issued by any other country then you will need to apply for entry clearance to study here. Whether you apply for entry clearance prior to travel or upon arrival in the UK will depend on the type of course you are going to study, its duration, and whether you are categorised as a visa national or non-visa national.
The
Do I need a Visa? page
on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website will help you to identify whether you are a
visa national or
non-visa national. It also provides information about how to apply for a UK
visa in your home country and has a list of visa application centres and contact details
should you wish to contact the British Embassy in your home country.
The UK immigration system can be subject to change at very short notice. It is therefore
vital that you keep yourself informed by checking the
UK Border Agency and
UKCISA websites regularly. If you have any questions
about the above information please contact Sarah Ward, Assistant Registrar (International and
Student Experience) via
international@rcs.ac.uk
