| Applying for Entry Clearance / Leave to Remain in the Country where you Normally live |
Do I need to get a visa
(Entry Clearance) before I come to the UK?
If you
want to come to the UK as a ‘student’ you will need to
apply for ‘entry clearance’ no matter what your nationality is.
If I am not a ‘visa national’ do I still have to obtain ‘entry
clearance’?
If you
want to enter the UK as a ‘student’ then it is compulsory for you to get
‘entry clearance’.If you
are coming to the UK to study a course which lasts 6 months or less you
may be able to come as a ‘student visitor’.
If you come to the UK in this category you will not be allowed
to work or do any work placement, you cannot remain in the UK after your
6 months has finished, nor can you ‘switch’ into student status in the
UK.
How do I know if I am a visa national?
If you are unsure as to whether you are a ‘visa national’ please have a
look at the following list at: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals
Can I come to the UK if I do not have a place on a course?
Yes you can but you will need to get ‘entry clearance’ as a ‘prospective
student’. You will have to show that you
have been in contact with UK institutions such as showing letters
inviting you for interview. As a ‘prospective
student’ you will be able to remain in the UK for 6 months to
make arrangements for your studies and once you have enrolled at a
University you will have to apply to extend your leave in the UK as a ‘student’
under Tier 4 (G).
If you came to the UK with ‘entry clearance’ as a ‘student visitor ’ or
‘visitor’, you will have to return to the country where you normally
live apply for ‘entry clearance’ as a student.
|
Life in the UK |
Life in a new
country can be exciting but also brings some challenges. If
you have any concerns about cultural differences, need local tourist
information, want suggestions on how to integrate with home students,
please ask us at the IAU! Keele also has its own
International Student Officer, who can help with any problems you have
settling in. You may hear people talking about ‘culture
shock’. This is what can happen, usually a few days or weeks after
arriving in a new country and realizing how different it is to home!
UKCISA have prepared a useful guide on how to deal
with culture shock
Culture
Shock information Sheet
These websites have lots of useful information about
living and studying in the UK
Useful information about studying and living in the UK
A free web learning resource for international students coming to study in the UK
For local tourism ideas, please click on the links below:
Stoke Tourist Information Centre
Wedgwood Museum
Alton Towers
Stoke Museums
Newcastle
Under Lyme Borough Council
Trentham Leisure
Enjoy Staffordshire
The Peak District
Chester
If you have any problems or queries please do not hesitate to contact the Advice Unit, Top Floor of the Students' Union!
VAT Refund for students travelling home at the end of their studies
If you buy goods in the UK you will more than likely be charged 'VAT' (Value Added Tax) as an international student you may be able to claim back VAT after you have completed your studies and are leaving the UK to return home.
If you want to find out if you are eligible for the scheme the main criteria is that you are an overseas visitor / worker/ student who is not from a European Community, which means the following:
- Your normal permanent address / home is not in the European Community (EC/ EU / EEA) and:
- You intend to leave the UK for a final destination ouside the EC / EU / EEA with the goods, by the last day of the 3rd month following that in which the goods were purchased, and:
- You export the goods, be able to show them, their receipts and your VAT refund documents to Customs at the point of departure.
To enter into the scheme when you purchase goods advise the retailer that you want to enter the Retail Export Scheme for the goods, the retailer should then ask to see your passport to prove that you are eligible. You will then be asked to complete and sign a simple refund form.
You will need to produce the items brought, receipts and VAT refund forms given to be eligible for your refund when leaving the UK at the Customs department of the airport you are leaving from BEFORE YOU CHECK YOUR BAGGAGE IN.
Full information and details of the scheme can be found and downloaded here
Freight
If you are from a Non-EU country and want to move any personal items home during the vacation time or at the end of your studies you can use freight companies to do this, a list of companies are below.
Mondial Forwarding (Greece and Cyprus Only)
There are lots of shipping companies, please do check with the British Association of Removers if they are a legal company before booking your removal with any company. The Advice Unit can help you with this is necessary.
You should also make sure that your insurance covers the cost of any lost or broken items.
Storage
You may want to store items in the local area whilst you are here studying or whilst you go home for the vacation or on holiday!
Some local storage companies include:
