Many students who want to study in the UK need a visa to live and study here.
If you are from a European Union or EEA country YOU DON’T NEED a visa to come to the UK for courses of up to 24 weeks. Should you stay longer - from 24 to 44 weeks - YOU WILL NEED to apply for the Short-Term Study Visa.
If you are NOT from an EEA (European Economic Area) country then YOU WILL NEED a visa. We can help you to obtain a visa since Accreditation Services For International Colleges (ASIC) accredits us.
Types of visa
There are currently 3 main types of UK student visa which LBA CAN HELP YOU TO OBTAIN. LBA will issue an Acceptance Letter for those students who need to get a UK Student visa after completing the payment of their tuition fees.
Getting Student Visitor Visa
This is the normal process, although it might be different for you depending on which country you are from. If you want help, just contact us by email.
ENROL and PAY for your course. We recommend a course of more than 16.5 hours per week (20 or more lessons per week) to support your visa application. Please note that less than 20 lessons per week might result in refusal.
- Accommodation: We also recommend that you pay for homestay accommodation unless you already have somewhere to stay in the UK.
- Documents to be submitted: We will send you any letters and documents you need, such as the Visa Acceptance Letter, Invoices, Course Confirmation Letter and Accommodation Booking Confirmation where appropriate.
Submit your documents to the UK Embassy or Consulate with other evidence you might be requested. Hopefully, you will get your visa granted within the next 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how busy they are. - Visa Grant: Once your visa is granted, and the start date finally set, the Reception will provide you with your timetable.
- Visa Rejection: If your visa application is rejected you can try again or ask us for a refund.
Other evidence
For official guidance please read this government publication. You can also visit the UK Visas web page. The information below is only a guide. Generally to obtain a student visa for the UK you generally need to show 4 things:
- you have enough money to pay for your food, accommodation etc. (Around GBP 1000 a month if you don’t have accommodation yet; GBP 500 a month if you already have accommodation reserved before departure).
- You want to return to your country after you have finished. Some examples are: I have a job in my country; I have a house in my country; I have to finish university in my country; I already have my flight tickets booked.
- You have a good reason to study English. Some examples are; if I learn English I can get a better job in my country; I want to learn English so I can study in an English university, I need English for a Master’s Degree.
- You are enrolled on a course at LBA English Academy. We highly recommend booking either our Intensive course – 20 to 26 lessons per week – or Super Intensive course – 28 to 34 lessons per week. This will increase your chances of obtaining the visa. You must come to school for at least 80% of the course or the school must inform the Government that you are absent.
Can I work with a student visa?
No, you cannot work with any kind of UK Student visa from London Beacon Academy.
How long does it take to obtain a student visa?
How long it takes you to obtain a Student visa depends on your situation. There is no way to predict how long it will take, but it is generally between 4 and 14 weeks.
Can I get a refund if my visa application if rejected?
Yes, we will refund all fees minus a fee of £250 and (plus £55 Accommodation Booking Fee when applicable), although there are exceptions to the rule, i.e. we will make no refunds if we regard the student to be held liable for the refusal of the visa application (for more details, see our REFUND PAGE).
How long does it take to obtain a student visa?
How long it takes you to obtain a Student visa depends on your situation. There is no way to predict how long it will take, but it is generally between 4 and 14 weeks.