Advice & Support at York

Applying from outside the UK

Step 1: Check if you need a visa.

Step 2: If so, check what to do if you are entering the UK as a student for the first time or renewing your Student Visa from outside the UK? Visit our Apply for a visa from outside the UK page.

Applying from inside the UK

You may be eligible to apply for a Student Visa from inside the UK. For more information, please visit our Applying for inside the UK page to find out more about how to renew or extend your student visa when you're in the UK, and what to do if you're changing course.

We advise that you begin the application process at least 3 months before your student visa is due to expire. 

A dependant is one of the following:

• Your husband, wife or civil partner;

• Your unmarried or same-sex partner, with whom you have been in a relationship similar to marriage for at least two years. There is no requirement to have been living together;

• Your child under 18 years old.

You can apply to bring a dependant to the UK if you're:

• studying a postgraduate research-based course that lasts one year or more;

• a government-sponsored student on a course that lasts six months or longer.

If you are applying from outside the UK, please find more information on our Dependants applying from outside the UK page. 

If you are renewing your Dependant Visas, please find more information on our Renewing dependant visas page. 

If you want to apply for a Graduate Visa, you do not need to let us know. Once your Academic Department has asked for your student record to be updated with your final award results, the Visa Compliance team will report your successful completion to UKVI, if you have achieved your intended award and meet other eligibility requirements. You will be notified automatically when this happens by email. Once you receive the email from the Visa Compliance Team, you can then apply inside the UK. 

Important:

• You have the right up until your Student Visa expiry date to submit your application. As long as you submit your application before your Student Visa expires, your immigration status is protected until you receive a decision on that pending application.

• Please avoid leaving the UK after submitting your Graduate Visa application, as if you did, UKVI would likely cancel the pending visa application you have.

• If you do not successfully complete your course within the usual time frame, it may be more difficult for you to apply for a Graduate visa.

We recommend that you take a look at the following sources of information on the Graduate Visa: our own pages about working in the UK after graduating, and UKCISA's Graduate Route page. 

The UK Home Office has introduced a new digital visa system, called the eVisa. This changes the way you view and share your UK immigration status.

Why It Matters

• Your eVisa is the official way to prove your immigration status.

• Linking your passport ensures smooth travel and prevents delays.

• Taking action now means you’ll have uninterrupted access to your immigration records.

Who needs to set up an eVisa account?

• You currently hold a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and your visa is still valid.

• You recently entered the UK using a vignette (a visa sticker in your passport).

• You have recently been granted a new visa and are required to register for an eVisa account.

What do you need to do?

1. Set up your UKVI account to access your eVisa.

2. Link your current passport to your account if you registered with your BRP card. This is essential before any international travel to avoid problems at the UK border.

Guidance and Support

• University of York eVisa information page

• UKCISA eVisa guidance page

• Step-by-step Guide: Setting Up Your eVisa

Standard Visitor Visa or ETA can be used if you are studying in the UK on a course of six months or less, or by family or friends who wish to visit you while you're studying - for example, to attend graduation. 

Before applying, please check which visa you need using the UKVI - check if you need a UK visa page.

For more detailed information, please visit our Visitor page, the UKCISA's Visitor page, and the UKVI's ETA page.

Working in the UK as a student can be a rewarding experience. It’s important to understand and comply with your immigration rights and restrictions and any limits to working that your institution might have. 

Our working in the UK during your studies page has a lot of useful information, from how many hours you can work to what work you can't do. UKCISA's working as an international student page also has some useful information. 

Absences

If you are thinking about taking time away from your studies, please first discuss this with your academic supervisor. There are two main options:

1. Authorised absence (short-term absence)

2. Leave of Absence (for PGR or taught students)

Absences & Your Visa

• Absences of 60 days or less will not affect your visa;

• Absences of more than 60 days will require the University to withdraw visa sponsorship. This means UKVI will cancel your visa, and you will normally need to return to your home country.

  • You would need to apply for a new CAS (subject to approval) and a new Student visa before returning.

  • You would also need to pay another Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee. Please note that the IHS you paid for your first visa is non-refundable.

If your Leave of Absence is for medical reasons, you may be asked to provide evidence that you are fit to return to study before you can re-enroll.

Accommodation considerations

• On-campus accommodation: It may be possible to leave your contract early if you take a Leave of Absence. You must complete a “Request to Vacate” form, which requires an 8-week notice period. Contact: accommodation@york.ac.uk | +44 (0)1904 322165.

• Private accommodation: Speak to your landlord or housing provider. Often, you can only leave your contract early if you find a replacement tenant. For advice, contact the Student Support & Advice Team via the Student Hub.

Withdrawals

We’re sorry to hear that you are considering withdrawing from your studies. Please:

1. Speak to your academic supervisor first.

2. Make an appointment with the International Support Team by completing the self-referral form.

You can also find further information here:

• Withdrawing from a Programme – Taught Students

• Withdrawing from a Programme – Research Students

Visa Impact of Withdrawals

• Once your withdrawal is processed, the University must withdraw sponsorship of your visa and notify UKVI.

• UKVI will then cancel your visa and normally allow 60 days to leave the UK. You will receive this notification by email. Please check your emails carefully, as overstaying a visa (even by accident) has serious consequences.

• You will not receive a refund of visa fees or IHS fees already paid.

• Having your visa cancelled will not prevent you from applying to return to the UK in the future on a new visa.

Practical considerations

• Tuition fees: Your department will confirm your last date of engagement. This date will be used to calculate any refund or fees owed (see: tuition fee refund policy).

• IT access: Your University IT account will close 90 days after withdrawal. Please back up any important files or emails.

• Accommodation:

  • On-campus: Submit a “Request to Vacate” form as soon as possible. An 8-week notice period applies. Contact accommodation@york.ac.uk | +44 (0)1904 322165.

  • Private housing: Speak with your landlord. Early release is usually only possible if you find a replacement tenant. For advice, contact the Student Support & Advice Team in the Student Hub.

Next steps

If you decide to withdraw after considering the above, you will need to submit a withdrawal request via e:Vision.

We are happy to discuss your options with you. Please complete the self-referral form to arrange a conversation.

Different course changes affect your visa in different ways. Please read the scenarios below carefully:

1. Changing from a 4-year programme with placement to a 3-year programme

• You do not need to apply for a new Student visa.

• The Visa Compliance team will update your record and report this to UKVI as an early completion at the appropriate time.

• Your current visa will remain valid until your new course end date, plus an additional 4-month wrap-up period.

• If you complete your course successfully, you will still be eligible to apply for a Graduate visa.
  
  

2. Adding a Placement Year (extending your course)

• You will need to apply for a new Student visa.

• Once your request has been approved by your department and the Visa Compliance team, you can request a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your e:Vision account.

• Please apply for your new visa as soon as possible.

a. Applying inside the UK:

• Standard processing time is 8 weeks.

• You cannot leave the UK once you have applied, but you may continue to study and work under your current Student visa conditions until a decision is made.

b. Applying outside the UK:

• Standard processing time is 3 weeks (priority services may be available at some visa centres).

• You cannot return to the UK or attend classes until your new visa has been approved and issued.

• Because of this, we usually recommend students apply from inside the UK.
  
  

3. Changing from a PhD to a Master’s programme, or from a Master’s to a Bachelor’s programme

• You do not need to apply for a new Student visa.

• The Visa Compliance team will report the change to UKVI as an early completion.

• Your current visa will remain valid until your new course end date, plus a 4-month wrap-up period.

• You will not be eligible to apply for a Graduate visa in this case.

Received a new passport? Update your UKVI Account:

• Please update your passport information on the UKVI "Update Your Details" page.

• Please also remember to update this information in your e:Vision account. If you encounter any issues while updating, please send a copy of your new passport and your student ID to the Visa Compliance team at student-visa@york.ac.uk. They are responsible for managing student visa and passport records.

Changed address and phone number, what should I do?

• Please update them on the UKVI "Update Your Details" page.

• Please also remember to update this information in your e:Vision account.

• If you're registered with a GP, inform the NHS of your new address. You may need to register with a new GP if you've moved to a different area.

• Update your bank and other services.