How students meet entry requirements and prepare their documentation

Each course has its own entry requirements. You should advise your students to check the entry requirements for their chosen courses. They can do this by:

  • looking at the profile information in our Course Search;
  • checking the course prospectus;
  • asking the university or college admissions department.

Your students should check their qualifications with the universities and colleges they want to apply to. They will also need certificates that show that they have passed all of the required exams. They may be asked for the certificates in English, so please advise your students to check with their university or college if they need the originals or certified photocopies.

One of the first steps that you should take is to check that the qualifications you hold are recognised in the UK and that they would be considered by higher education institutions as being suitable for entry into UK higher education.

UK NARIC is the UK's national agency responsible for providing this information to individuals from outside of the UK who wish to come to the UK to work, study or train. They will be able to provide you with a statement about the comparative level of your qualification to the UK's qualification frameworks. This statement is recognised by universities, colleges and employers throughout the UK.

UCAS also provides a Qualifications Hotline tel: +44 (0)871 468 0472 or email: qualsenquiries@ucas.ac.uk.

student reading a book

Essential documents for entry into the UK

Everyone who comes to study in the UK needs a valid passport. If your students do not have one, they should apply for one as soon as possible.

Please note: From 1 September 2007 there have been several changes affecting the Student Category regarding visas and entry clearance. For more information, please go to the Visa Services guidance page for students.

People from certain countries also need visas before they come into the UK. They are known as 'visa nationals'. Advise your students to check if they require a visa to travel to the UK by visiting the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website and selecting "Do I need a UK visa?".

If your students are visa nationals, they can find out how to apply by visiting the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website.

BIOMETRICS - All visa applicants are required to submit their biometric details. Click here for more information about this programme.

If your students are not visa nationals, they do not need a visa to come into the UK, but they may need an entry clearance. They may also want to contact the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in the country where they live, or where no VAC is in operation, the British Embassy or High Commission to confirm that they will be able to come to the UK as students.

When they arrive in the UK, whether or not they are a visa national, they must show certain documents and declare their intentions to study as a student to the immigration officer. They will need:

  • a valid passport;
  • a visa (if a visa national);
  • a letter from the DCSF-registered institution that confirms they have been accepted unconditionally for a full-time course;
  • evidence that they have enough money to pay for their course.

It may take them some time to get these documents. They should start as early as possible by checking the website of the Visa Application Centre or the UK Border Agency - Visa Services website guidance for students for what documents they will need, how to get them and where to get them from. Guidance information for international students is available from UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs).