What is a short period of study?

Information on this page is relevant to students from outside of the UK or Ireland who will be undertaking the following types of study at the International Business School, Manchester:

  • a short course where the duration is less than 6 months;
  • a short period of research as part of a degree at an overseas institution;
  • a part-time course where attendance in the UK is only required for specified short periods and the majority of study is undertaken overseas;
  • a student returning to the UK for their viva and to complete their studies;
  • a student granted an examination allowance to re-take part of their course or re-sit examination/s where the relevant period of study is less than 6 months.

Please check the most up-to-date guidance for short term study visas at the UK Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english

Visitor Route

A short period of study, as outlined above, can be supported under the visitor immigration route.

A status as a visitor in the UK has the following restrictions:

  • You cannot take employment in the UK;
  • You cannot undertake a work placement/internship (paid/unpaid) as part of the course of study;
  • You cannot work on a self-employed basis in the UK or be involved in business activities;
  • You cannot extend your stay in the UK;
  • You must demonstrate you have the funds to support yourself during your studies in the UK.

Entry to the UK as a visitor is at the discretion of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) based on information available to them. You can be issued a letter to support entry as a visitor for study purposes on applicable courses. The Admissions Office can provide guidance on entering the UK as a visitor, but the School cannot accept responsibility for decisions made by UK Visas and immigration (UKVI).

If you are coming as a visitor to the UK, you are advised to take out private medical insurance for your visit unless your country has a reciprocal agreement with the UK which may entitle you to free healthcare. Further information is on the UKCISA website.

Applying for a visitor visa

Whether you need to apply for this visa in advance (prior to travelling to the UK) or whether you can request entry as a visitor at immigration control on arrival in the UK depends on your nationality:

Visa nationals
Students from certain countries, i.e. visa nationals, are required to apply for, and obtain, a visitor visa before travelling to the UK. The list of visa nationals is outlined in the Immigration Rules.Information on the application, including the required supporting documents, is outlined on the Home Office website.The visa letter issued by the University or College should be submitted as a supporting document with the application.A standard visitor visa is usually granted for 6 months. Where you are studying a part-time course for longer than 6 months, this means you would need to reapply at the appropriate time during your studies for further visas to cover the full duration. It may be possible to request a longer-term visitor visa when you apply that covers the duration of your course, but please note that if this is granted as 2 year multiple-entry, or longer, it is not possible as a visitor on a course of more than 6 months to make the UK your main study location or residence, or make frequent or successive visits to stay in the UK for extended periods (see information below).
Non-visa nationals
If your country is not included on the list of visa nationals, you are not required to apply for a visa in advance of travelling to the UK. You can request entry as a visitor at immigration control on arrival. You may need to explain to a Border Force Officer the reasons for your stay in the UK and provide the visa letter issued by the University or your College. You will receive an entry stamp in your passport to reflect your visitor permission. If you are a national of the following countries you must apply and obtain electronic travel authorisation (ETA) prior to travelling to the UK: Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or UAE. Students from the EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA can use the eGates on arrival in the UK and have automatic entry as a visitor if they do not already hold alternative permission. If you use the eGates you will not speak to Border Force or receive a stamp in your passport. You will be required to provide evidence of date of entry to the UK (e.g. your boarding pass or flight ticket) to your host institution in order to verify your immigration status before commencing your studies.

On arrival

The School is required to verify the immigration status of students before allowing them to begin their studies, and to check the relevant documents and retain copies in accordance with Home Office requirements. Your host Institution will need to see your passport and ensure that you have the correct immigration status before you may start your course.

Further information on part-time courses

The visitor route is also used to support students on part-time courses longer than 6 months where the majority of the time is spent outside the UK and attendance in the UK is only required for short teaching sessions such as most part-time postgraduate diploma and certificate programmes. To meet the requirements of the visitor route for courses of more than 6 months, the majority of study must be taken outside the UK. Generally students will enter for the short teaching session and leave soon after. It is not possible as a visitor on a course of more than 6 months to make the UK your main study location or residence.

Further information for visiting students

The visitor route is also appropriate for students registered at a University overseas who are accepted by the IBS to visit for a short period of study or research. Your host department/centre will provide you with a letter explaining the purpose of the visit.

Visitor status not eligible for Graduate visa

Students on courses supported under the visitor immigration route will not be eligible to apply for the post-study Graduate route visa.