Cranfield offers advice and guidance to international students who require a visa to study in the UK.

If you require a visa in order to study at Cranfield University, the Student Immigration and Funding Team can offer support and advise in the following areas:

  • Student visa;
  • PBS (Student) Dependant;
  • Studying at Cranfield with a visitor visa;
  • Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS);
  • CAS numbers;
  • Other visa categories on which you can study.

Students coming to Cranfield to study one of our full-time programmes, some part-time research programmes, or our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme, will need to apply for a Student visa. Students coming to Cranfield to study one of our short courses or most of our part-time programmes will need to apply for a visitor visa.

Please read the following information carefully, and if you have any questions regarding immigration please email us.

Q&As in relation to closure of visa application centres and travel restrictions due to Covid 19 emergency

Q/ I have received my visa (30 days vignette) but cannot travel to the UK because of the travel ban, how does this affect my course registration and arrival in the UK?

A/ It may be possible to register on your course and attend remotely if your supervisor or course director approves. Once the travel ban has been lifted you can then travel to the UK if your visa is still valid. If your 30 days vignette has expired then you should apply for a replacement (another vignette) to travel to the UK.

Q/ I have applied for visa from outside the UK and I am unable to obtain my passport because the Visa Application Centre is closed, how does this affect my course registration and arrival in the UK?

A/ It may be possible to register on your course and attend remotely if your supervisor or course director approves. Once the Visa Application Centre is open and you receive your visa you can then travel to the UK if your visa is still valid. If your 30 days vignette has expired then you should apply for replacement (another vignette) to travel to the UK.

Q/ How do I apply for a new 30 days vignette (visa) if my current vignette expires before I can travel to the UK?

A/ You will need to apply online for a transfer of conditions (vignette transfer), see the following link https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/uk-visit-visa. You should select the following options:

  • Confirm your visa type: BRP Vignette Transfer
  • Category of application: To transfer or replace your visa (vignette)

In the additional information section you should explain that you have been granted a Student visa to study in the UK but you need a new 30-day vignette as you have not been able (or will not be able) to travel to the UK before the end of the 30-day vignette that you have been issued.

Please visit the UKCISA’s website for more information.

New two-year post-study work visa launching in summer 2021

In a major boost for international students, the UK Government has announced a new two-year post-study work visa, expanding opportunities for international students to build successful careers in the UK. All international students who join Cranfield in the 2020/2021 academic year will be eligible for the new scheme.

Launching in summer 2021, this route will be open to all international students who have a valid UK immigration status as a student and have successfully completed their course at Cranfield. The visa will allow eligible students to work, or look for work, in any career or position of their choice, for two years after completing their studies. During the two years, they will be able to switch onto the ‘skilled work visa’ if they find a job which meets the skills requirements of the UK Government.

Further details of the scheme will be announced in due course.

Cranfield University is implementing a range of activities to enable its graduates to take advantage of Government proposals to allow international students to work in the UK after graduation.

Find out more about the support Cranfield offers

New rules for the use of eGates at the border

From May 2019, nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America will be able to use eGate entry at the border in 15 UK airports and the Eurotunnel.

If you are a national from one of these countries and you are coming to the UK for a study visit of 6 months or less:

  • Please DO NOT use the eGate entry. You are required to visit a border force officer to receive an entry stamp in your passport on arrival in order for you to register with us as a student on a Short Term Study visa.
  • Please DO NOT attempt to use the eGates to obtain a standard visit visa, as this visa is not accepted for study purposes.

If you are a national from one of these countries and you are coming to the UK for study using a Student visa:

  • You are eligible to use the eGates, however, we will require proof that you entered the UK during the validity period of your Entry Clearance stamp. As such, please be sure to have evidence such as your boarding pass, flight tickets or flight booking available at registration.
  • Alternatively, you can visit a border force officer on arrival at the airport and receive an entry stamp in your passport instead of using the eGate system.

All other nationalities and visa holders must use the standard entry points and be seen by a border force officer.

Download further details about the use of eGates

Student visa

We offer advice and guidance on how to apply for the Student visa from both inside and outside the UK. We can also help with the following visas:

  • Student visa for full-time and part-time students;
  • Doctorate Extension Scheme;
  • Schengen visa;
  • Studying at Cranfield on a visitor visa;
  • Skilled Worker Route (formerly Tier 2 visa);
  • Start-up visa (formerly Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur).

Studying at Cranfield with a visitor visa

Students can undertake study at Cranfield on a visitor visa in the below circumstances

  • If you are studying a short course of study for 6 months or less
  • If you are undertaking a period of research as a visiting researcher for 6 months or less
  • If you are studying a part-time course of study that is longer than 6 months and meets the definition of a distance learning course. For visa purposes a distance learning course is one where you do less than 56 days of study on-campus in the UK in any 6 month period.

If your study is one of the above options then instead of receiving a CAS and applying for a student visa then you will instead apply for a visitor visa or if you are a non-visa national you receive one when you arrive to the UK. If you are unclear on the visa type that is appropriate for your study at Cranfield please contact the Student Immigration and Funding team – studentimmigration@cranfield.ac.uk.

A visitor visa duration is normally a period of six months. However, a 'Standard visitor' can also apply for a visit visa with a two, five or ten year validity period. Whilst such visas will allow for multiple entry, the maximum duration of each visit will be restricted to six months.

You do not need to apply for a visitor visa before travelling if you are a non-visa national (check whether the country you are a citizen of appears on the visa national list), you can apply to enter the UK as a visitor on arrival at the port of entry unless you have previously been in breach of immigration law or have criminal record/s.

If you do not apply for a visitor visa before you travel, you will need to produce all the documents to support your application to enter the UK as a visitor to the Border Force Officer when you arrive at the port of entry to the UK. This includes evidence of the study that you wish to do in the UK as a visitor, an ATAS certificate if applicable and evidence of your finances in order to satisfy the genuineness requirement.

If you are a visa national then you must apply for entry clearance as a visitor before you travel to the UK. You have to fill the application in and pay for it online and submit the relevant supporting documents, including:

  • A valid travel document;
  • Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself while you are in the UK. You need to show that you can pay for any applicable tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. There are no specific requirements which state the amount of money you must show when you apply for a visitor visa. However you must show that you have enough money to cover your course fees plus accommodation and living expenses. Using the Student maintenance figures as a guide only, it would be reasonable to show that you have the equivalent of £1,023 per month for the duration of your studies. If you will be staying with friends or family while in the UK, which will decrease your living costs, you can include evidence of this;
  • Evidence of the study you will be undertaking and your acceptance onto this course;
  • ATAS certificate if this is a requirement for your course;
  • All other supporting documents as applicable as outlined in the Home Office's website on supporting documents for visitor applications to the UK. You will also need to provide a translation of any documents which are not already in English.

Application fees for six months visitor visa: £95

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

  • 2 years - £361
  • 5 years - £655
  • 10 years - £822

Application processing time: 3 weeks on average

When to apply for visitor visa: Within 3 months from course start/attendance date

Meet the Student Immigration Team

Mohammed Ali
 Mohammed Ali

Assistant Registrar
Head of Student Immigration and Compliance
Lucy
 Lucy Chappell

Student Immigration Advisor
Shah
 Shah Mahmood

Student Immigration Advisor