Depending on your nationality and country of residence, you might need a visa to study at the International Study Centre. Find out if you require a visa by using the UK Visas questionnaire.
In 2009 the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) introduced a points-based system for visa applications.Within this new system, Tier 4 relates to overseas students (not Home nor EU) who want to study in the UK.Tier 4 visa applicants need to be sponsored by an institution registered with the Border Agency.The University of Sussex International Study Centre is a registered Highly Trusted sponsor, accredited by the British Accreditation Council.
All Tier 4 visa applications need to include a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number. This is issued by the International Study Centre.
Once we have received your confirmation payment and your completed Acceptance Form, we will send you a Certificate of Enrolment and, if you need a visa, a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number.
You will be asked to enclose supporting documents with your application to prove the information that you have supplied is correct. If you do not submit all the necessary supporting documents, your visa application may be rejected. The documents that you submit with your visa application form are called supporting documents because they help show that you qualify to enter the UK as a student. These documents vary from case to case but they usually include:
These documents MUST be ORIGINAL not PHOTOCOPIES
NB: Ensure that your supporting documents correspond with what you have written on your visa application form. This must also be the same as what is on the Documents Assessed section on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement.
Proof of funds is the evidence that you submit to the UKBA to show that you have enough money to pay for your studies, accommodation and other expenses while in the UK. The UKBA need to see this proof before they can give a student visa. A guide to working out the amount you will need can be found on the UKBA website. Below have listed the usual things needed for proof of funds when submitting your student visa application:
After gathering all the supporting documents and filling out the application form, you can then complete your visa application by submitting it to your nearest British Embassy, usually in your country. You need to submit your application at least four (4) weeks before your course entry date. The address of your local British Embassy can be found on the following websites:
If you got your visa in or after October 2009 you have to apply for a new student visa (Tier 4) to study at the International Study Centre. However, if your visa was issued before October 2009 you may only need to notify the UKBA of your change of institution. We advise you to check with the International Study Centre where our Student Enrolment Advisers will tell you exactly what to do.
All payments are refundable in the event that a student is unable to meet visa entry requirements, subject to a visa rejection letter.
You may need to extend your visa at some point during your course. Speak to the Programme Manager a month before your visa ends. We will give you a visa extension form, part of which we need to fill in with details of your course, attendance, etc. If you have not attended a minimum of 80% of your classes, your request for an extension may be rejected.
UKBA website: Applying for a Tier4 visa
UK Visas website: guidance for students coming to the UK to study