Non-student visas

Most types of visa allow you to study in the UK. But the type of study you can do may be limited if your visa is short term with restrictive conditions, such as the Standard Visitor visa. (Please note that the Graduate Route visa does not permit study of a course with UWE Bristol for which a Student visa would normally be required. This means that only courses that are recreational, informal or linked to professional development are allowed on the Graduate Route). If you are in any doubt, please contact a UWE Bristol Immigration Adviser.

As a student sponsor with a track record of compliance, UWE Bristol is allowed to advise on Student visas and closely related matters. Consequently, when enquiries fall outside our remit (for instance, if you have a complex question about one of the visas described below), we will suggest you seek specialist advice if you need detailed guidance.

In particular, if you are considering an asylum claim because you fear returning to any part of your country because of persecution on the grounds of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, such as your gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, we cannot advise you. For asylum applications, you are urged to appoint an adviser or lawyer to act on your behalf.

You can find local law firms which deal with immigration and asylum matters by searching the database of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).

Search for advisers registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Although the University is not required to register with the OISC, we remain bound by its Code of Standards.

Please note that UWE Bristol does not endorse any external body.

You can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa if you are 18 or older and you are either:

• a British National (Overseas), or
• the adult child of a British National (Overseas), and born on or after 1 July 1997.

You must be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong if applying outside the UK.

You must be ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Hong Kong if applying in the UK.

The BNO visa can lead to settlement after five years of residence.

Because the range of family members allowed to apply as the main applicant’s dependants is significantly greater than for other UK visas, the BNO visa may be of interest to adult children and other relatives of BNOs regardless of their own nationality (eg if they only have a Hong Kong SAR passport).

Although applicants must meet a financial requirement to prove you have enough money to support yourself and your family (dependants) for six months in the UK, there is no set level of funds you must hold. The test for adequate maintenance is whether you can show that, after your accommodation costs have been paid, you have at least as much money as you would if your family were receiving income support in the UK. See Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules for ways you can show this.

Our information on bringing your family will help you decide whether you are eligible to bring family members to live with you while you follow a course on a Student visa – and how to apply.

For information about the Graduate Route and Skilled Worker visas, please see our working after your studies information.

Refer to our travelling with your visa information for particulars of the Schengen scheme.

Students coming to UWE Bristol for short courses, distance learning or re-sits and retakes may be eligible to enter the UK as visitors. Our Standard Visitor visa information tells you what you need to know.

The UK Ancestry visa is restricted to applicants aged 17 and over (on the date you plan to arrive in the UK). You must be a national of a Commonwealth country, a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, British National (Overseas) or national of Zimbabwe. You must be able to prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK.

For the purposes of the UK Ancestry visa, your grandparent’s place of birth can include:

• the Channel Islands
• the Isle of Man
• Ireland (if your grandparent was born before 1922)
• a ship or aircraft that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK Government.

You must be able to provide your own full birth certificate, and the full birth certificates of the parent and grandparent on whom your application is based.

You must demonstrate that you are able to work and intend to seek and take employment.

The UK Ancestry visa allows you to bring family members with you as dependants. Each dependant must apply individually and must pay the application fee and immigration health surcharge.

The UK Ancestry visa can lead to settlement after five years of residence. You can also extend it for a further five years.

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is restricted to applicants aged 18 to 30 (on the date of application) of the following nationalities:

• British National (Overseas) - BNO
• British Overseas Citizen (BOC)
• British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC)
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• India (Young Professionals Scheme)
• Japan
• Monaco
• San Marino
• Taiwan
• Uruguay

It is available also to applicants aged 18 to 35 years (on the date of application) of the following nationalities:

• Australia
• Canada
• Korea (Republic of)
• New Zealand

You can be granted a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa only once, so previous YMS holders cannot apply successfully. 

To be eligible you must not have children under 18 who live with you, or children for whom you are financially responsible.

The YMS does not allow you to bring family members with you as dependants.

With a YMS visa you will be allowed to live, work and study in the UK for two years (regardless of whether you turn 31 during the period). Nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can extend their visa for one additional year if living in the UK with a valid YMS visa on the date of application.

Certain additional eligibility requirements apply which are nationality specific. See Immigration Rules appendix Youth Mobility Scheme for details.