Immigration and Visas
If you live outside the UK, you may need a Student Visa to enter and study in the UK.
As of 1 January 2021, students holding an EU passport may need to secure a visa to study in the UK.
Those currently in the UK under another immigration category which covers the duration of their course may not need a student visa. Depending on individual circumstances, international students may not be able to enrol on a course unless they have secured a Student visa.
According to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations, international students wishing to study in the UK will usually need to apply for a Student visa. To do so, you must be allocated an individual ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) number, issued to you by an institution on the register of licensed sponsors. This will usually be a UK educational institution confirming that you have been accepted to enrol on a course of study at that institution.
After you accept an offer at Central, you will need to verify your details. This is so Central can submit your CAS number request. We may need to contact you for more information that was not included in your application.
As part of this process, you will need to prove that you have the funds to support studying at Central. This will include evidence of enough money in your own bank account to cover your tuition fees and living costs for at least the first year of study. If you have already been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to do this.
For the most up-to-date guidance and information on the key points in the visa application process, see the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Arrival Process
All visa students will need to collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card within 10 days of arriving in the UK. You can collect your BRP card at a branch of the Post Office. Your visa decision letter will include the address of the Post Office at which you must collect your BRP card. Your BRP card contains your full visa information so you must collect this promptly to ensure that you are able to legally stay in the UK. If you do not collect your BRP card you may be required to leave the UK and this may affect your ability to re-enter the UK at a later date.
If your BRP card is due to expire on 31 December 2024, don’t panic! This is because the physical card is being phased out in favour of an online immigration status. If you are currently studying at Central, you will need to share the details of your online status with us before the end of December.
Please note that some new students may only receive an online immigration status rather than a physical BRP card. You will be able to send us a share code so that we are able to view and prove your immigration status online before registering.
If yo do receive a physical card, keep a note of your BRP number and other details in case you lose the card. Although you need to carry the card with you at all times, you do not need to carry your passport. If you move address later, while registered as a student at Central, you should let us know to amend your details. You will also need to leave us with a forwarding address once you have completed your studies.
For further information contact Central’s Admissions Office on +44 (0) 20 7722 8183 or email admissions@cssd.ac.uk.