The UK is an exciting option for students or professionals who want to experience life abroad. Whether you plan to study or work in the UK, bustling cities, diverse communities, new opportunities and easy access to the rest of Europe are just some of the reasons the UK is the destination of choice for many.
Make sure you understand the UK visa application process before you apply by reading the guide below.
Biometrics for Students and Skilled Workers
When you apply for a student or skilled worker visa, you will need to make an appointment to have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. Biometrics refer to information about a person’s external physical characteristics and are used by immigration for identification verification. Find out more about biometrics on the UK visa and immigration website.
Learn more about UK visa requirements specific to students and professionals below.
Study in the UK
If you plan to do a short course that lasts 6 months or less, you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa. If your course will take between 6 and 11 months to complete, you should apply for a Short-term study visa. For any longer courses, a Student visa is required and applicants must be sponsored by a college or university. Read more directly from the UK visa and immigration website.
When to apply for a student visa
The earliest you can apply from outside the UK is six months before you start your course. It usually takes around 3 weeks to receive a decision, but you can find out more about how to receive a faster result here.
Before you apply, you can start gathering the relevant documents and book your IELTS test. You can expect results in 1-2 days when you take IELTS with the British Council.
Required documents
The ability to speak, read, write and understand English is essential for anyone who wants to study at a UK institution. An IELTS test will form part of all visa application requirements and universities will also expect to see IELTS results as part of their application process. We can send up to five copies of your IELTS Test Report Form to institutions on your behalf once you take the test.
If you plan to apply as an undergraduate or postgraduate student in the UK, you will take IELTS Academic. In some cases, you will be expected to take IELTS UKVI or IELTS UKVI Life Skills. Confirm with the institution you plan to apply to before you book your IELTS test.
You will also be required to have a valid passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider.
Once you have your student visa, be aware of what the visa enables you to do in the UK. Full time students are allowed to work for limited hours after school hours and during holidays. The student visa opens up a world of opportunities for international students who are also looking for work experience.
After you graduate, IELTS can open doors for you as a skilled worker in the UK and beyond too. Book your IELTS test now and go further than you ever dreamed.
Work in the UK
If you plan to gain career experience in the UK, start by confirming which industry you will work in so you can apply for the correct visa. Apply for a Skilled Worker visa if you have applied to work for a UK employer who will sponsor your stay and can offer you a certificate of sponsorship. Your IELTS test will give employers confidence that you will thrive professionally when communicating in English.
Eligible jobs include finance and management roles, travel and tourism, engineering and more. Find the list of occupations that require a Skilled Worker visa here. If you plan to work in healthcare, you can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. Be sure to read the IELTS band score requirements for the Health and Care Worker visa so you know what to aim for when you take IELTS.
When to apply for a Skilled Worker visa
You can begin the visa application process up to 3 months before the day you are due to start working in the UK. Make sure you have enough time to gather all your required documents and prepare for your IELTS test. The British Council offers free preparation tools to help you succeed when you take IELTS.
Required documents
IELTS will be a requirement as proof of your knowledge of English. You may be required to take IELTS UKVI as part of your UK visa and work application process, or IELTS General Training. Confirm which IELTS test you should take with the organisation you have applied to work at. The required IELTS score will depend on the type of work you aim to conduct in the UK.
Other documents required included your certificate of sponsorship reference number, a valid passport, your job title and annual salary, your job’s occupation code and the name of your employer along with their sponsor licence number. Find out more about potential additional required documents on the UK visa and immigration website here.
Keep up to date on your visa requirements and make sure you know when to renew your visa or make updates if you change jobs or graduate from university.
Go further with IELTS in the UK and book the world’s most trusted English test!