Applying to enter the UK as a Tier 4 (General) Student

You need 40 points: 30 points are awarded for having a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and 10 Points are awarded for having the correct level of funds available.

You can check that you have sufficient points to be granted entry to the UK before you make your application by checking using the points based calculator and selecting Tier 4 General.

A CAS is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Study: a unique code which links you to Aston University on the UK Border Agency database.

A CAS confirms that Aston University is your educational "sponsor". Your CAS number is valid for six months. You can use it to apply for your Tier 4 visa no earlier than three months before the start date of your course.

You will be sent a pre-CAS questionnaire once you have accepted your place. Complete and return the questionnaire. The CAS will then be sent to you by email. Please use the detail in the CAS email in order to complete your visa application forms.

You will need to provide evidence that you have access to sufficient money. How much you need depends on the length of your course and on whether you have recently studied in the UK and completed a course. The UKCISA website has guidance on the amount you may need. If you are still unsure please contact us.  The amount of money students need to show for maintenance has been increased and will affect you if you are applying for your visa on or after 6th April 2012.  You will now need to show £800 per month for up to 9 months. 

If you have already paid money to Aston University towards your tuition fees then we can inlcude this information on your CAS. This will reduce the maount fo money you need to show in your bank account for your tuition fees. We can also inlcude information about money you ave paid to Aston University for your accommodation costs but the maximum amount that the UKBA will be able to take into account is £1000.  This means that the amount of money you need to show in your account for minatenance can be reduced by up to £1000.  Some students pay money to the University after receiving their CAS. Please contact us if you do this, so we can update your CAS.

You will need to show that you have had enough money in your account for a continuous period of 28 consecutive days which ends no mor ethan one month before you apply for your visa. You must declare on your application form that the money will continue to be available to you. This means that you need to be very careful to keep your money in the account after you have applied for your visa.

You can prove you have these funds available by providing:

• An original printed personal bank statement in your name OR
• An original printed personal bank statement in your parents' name provided you supply your birth certificate and an original signed and dated letter from your parent(s) confirming they are your parent(s) and they consent to their money being used to fund your UK studies OR
• There are other methods but the above options are the most common. Contact us for information if you are a sponsored student.

You must provide professional translations of documents which are not written in English.

If your bank account is not in the UK, you must include a conversion of the closing balance to Sterling quoting the OANDA website and the exchange rate on the date your bank statement or bank loan was issued. You will also need to provide an official translation of your bank statement.

On 24 November 2011 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) published lists of financial institutions you cannot use. They are in India, Pakistan and the Philippines. The UKBA has also published lists of institutions in those countries that do satisfactorily verify financial statements. Please contact us if your money is in a bank account in one of these countries and we will check the UKBA list for you.

Students from some nationalities considered to be "low risk" may not need to send every document with their application. Evidence is always required but not always requested, so please contact us before you send your application if you think this applies to you.

There are a number of documents you need to include in your Tier 4 application.

You will need to provide one photocopy of each document, as well as the original document. You will also need to provide professional translations of documents which are not written in English.

• Completed entry clearance (visa) application forms VAF 9 and Appendix 8

• The fee for your application 

• Passport 

• The original qualification (shown in your Aston CAS e-mail) that Aston used to assess your suitability for the course 

• Evidence that you have the correct amount of funds available to you 

• Your Biometric Residence Permit for the UK – but only if you already have one 

• You may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. ATAS only affects a few students, mainly research students studying in the School of Engineering & Applied Science or the School of Life & Health Sciences. Find out more about ATAS.  

The UKBA provide guidance on supporting documents on their website.

If you are currently outside the UK, you need to complete a VAF9 and Appendix 8 to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. You can download these forms from the UKBA website. In some countries, you might need to complete some or all of the application online.

There is an example of the online application form available available here (pdf)

For further information visit the UKBA website, which also explains if you need to apply for a visa.

An example of the latest appendix 8 form is available here (pdf)

VAF 9 to follow shortly 

Find out about bringing your spouse and/or children to the UK as your dependants under Tier 4 or arranging visas for your family to visit you in the UK.