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Before departing for the UK, you will attend a mandatory pre-departure meeting where logistics and visa requirements will be thoroughly reviewed. The UK visa process differs if you go abroad for one semester vs. for the academic year. If you are studying abroad for the academic year, a UK visa is needed. Emma Meade (Assistant Director of Study Abroad) will contact you and walk you through each step involved, and if you are an international student (non-US passport holder), please contact her in advance.
Studying in the UK for one semester
Studying in the UK for one semester
If you are a US passport holder attending a UK institution for one semester, then you will pursue the "Visitor Route - Upon Arrival." The Visitor route allows people to enter the UK for 6 months and allows them to study during this time. All US citizens are classed as "non-visa nationals" by the UK government. There is no fee associated with being a Visitor, nor do you need to obtain a visa. However, you may be asked to show certain documents at immigration when you arrive in the UK, such as evidence of what you will be doing there, so remember to have them handy:
Your passport (valid for at least 6 months from the end of your program)
Proof of your travel out of the UK (i.e., your round-trip plane ticket back to the US or a plane or train ticket to Europe if you intend to travel at the end of your program)
HC Affidavit letter (provided to you by the HC Study Abroad Office)
Acceptance letter from your British university
US bank statement or evidence of your student loan – to show you can support yourself while in the UK
Upon arrival, you will use an eGate - these are electronic gates where you simply scan your passport and will then be allowed into the UK as a Visitor. You will not receive any sort of stamp to indicate this, so you must keep your boarding pass as evidence of your entry date. Your host institution will need to use a copy of your boarding pass for their records, so don’t lose it!
Sometimes the eGates are not working, or you may be from a country that can obtain a Visitor entry at the airport but cannot use the gates. In this case, you should go to one of the immigration desks and speak to an Officer. They will ask to see the documents above, and should then stamp your passport to grant you entry as a Visitor.
You are able to leave and re-enter the UK during your term of study. If you do so, it is very important to ensure that you bring all documentation listed above with you during each exit and re-entry. Your permission to re-enter the UK is always at the discretion of the entry clearance officer, so you should ensure you have all the information you need in order to prove that you are a current student in the UK.
Please note that if you enter on the Visitor Route, you are not permitted to work or to participate in an internship. You are also not allowed to extend your study period without first departing the UK.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
This is a new, REQUIRED, step for those who will spend a semester in the UK. It does NOT apply to those who will spend an academic year in the UK.
Applying for the ETA takes place in the month before you depart for your study abroad semester. The ETA went into effect for the first time in January 2025. A UK ETA is valid for two years from the date it is approved, and the cost is £10. You should email Emma Meade, Assistant Director of Study Abroad, a copy of your ETA approval once received.
Studying in the UK for the academic year
Studying in the UK for the academic year
Obtaining a UK Student Visa is mandatory for academic year students and requires a good amount of time to complete. Please refrain from international travel during the summer leading up to your fall semester abroad since your passport will be mailed to NYC for visa processing. Rest assured that Assistant Director Emma Meade will help you through this process over the summer.
Here is a summary of what to expect:
The first step involves accepting your offer at the UK university that you applied to. Following that, you will receive an email from the host institution asking you to complete a data entry form and/or share a copy of your passport.
Basically, your information is shared with the UK Government, and then the host institution can produce a CAS number and letter. "CAS" stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and is typically emailed to you from the university-- it's the first piece of documentation you'll use to begin your online visa application. Do not begin your visa application until you have your CAS.
You will also receive important supporting documents from our Study Abroad Office, such as your International Health Insurance letter and HC Affidavit letter. These two documents are mailed to the home address listed on your HC study abroad portal.
To summarize the entire Visa process: You'll first apply online for the visa, then attend an in-person biometrics appointment in the US. Depending on which type of biometrics appointment you select, you'll either mail your application and documents to the Consulate in NYC or leave them with a VFS Premium Center, which will mail them on your behalf to NYC. When your passport is returned to you, it will have a "90-day vignette" inside. Once you arrive at your destination in the UK, then you can use this vignette to obtain your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which allows you to stay in the UK for the academic year.
Visa price: For 2024, the total cost is approximately $800 at minimum, which is a combination of the Visa fee (£490) and the Healthcare surcharge fee (estimated £470-£700). Paying the healthcare surcharge fee is mandatory regardless of whether you have private health insurance. There are also additional costs associated with using the VFS Center that vary depending on which service package you purchase.
The benefit of the healthcare surcharge fee is that you can use the National Health Service (NHS), which is the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. All appointments and treatments (including accident and emergency) are free to the patient, as are almost all prescription drugs and dental care. Despite having this national health care coverage and insurance via International SOS Health Insurance (though Holy Cross), it is imperative that you do not cancel your US health care coverage. Neither insurance is valid in the US, and should you, for any reason, have to return to the US, you would likely be outside the "enrollment period" and, therefore, unable to rejoin your policy.
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