Applying for a Visa

Students from all over the world choose to study in England because of the opportunities it presents.

Upon receiving your offer of a place at Bellerbys College, the first step for some students will be to apply for a visa.  This will depend on your nationality or country of residence, and how long you will be staying in the UK.  Please bear in mind that if you do need a visa, the application procedure is time consuming.  Therefore, you will need to submit your application well in advance of when you wish to travel to England to start your course.  Visas cannot be obtained on arrival in the UK.

You can visit the UK visas website to find out if you need a visa, while the visa4uk website allows you to apply online.  For in-depth and up-to-date information, you should contact the British Embassy in your country.

Submitting the correct documents

It is important that you fill out your application form carefully and include all of the required documents when you submit your visa application.  These might include photographs, educational certificates, information about your accommodation in the UK, evidence that you can pay for your studies and your letters and offer of a place from Bellerbys College.  Many applications are decided on paper only so failure to include all the necessary information may result in your application being rejected.

Preparing for your visa interview

Some students are asked to attend an interview to explain their application.  It is important to prepare carefully for your interview and to be aware of the sort of questions you might be asked.  These might include:

• Why do want to study in the UK?
• What influenced your choice of college?
• What influenced your choice of course?
• How will the course help your future career?
• How many hours will you be studying?
• Will you be taking any additional English language tuition?
• What subjects will you study on your course?
• What qualification will you obtain at the end of your course?
• Where will you live during your studies in the UK?
• Do you intend to work in the UK during your course?
• How much does the course and accommodation at Bellerbys cost?
• Can you prove you have the finances to complete your studies?
• What will you do at the end of your course in the UK?
• Would you like to stay in the UK after your course?
• What job do you intend to do when you return home?

Take your time to answer the questions and don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you do not understand.