School and university education in the UK
One needs a British residence permit to study without a UK student visa. But the country stopped issuing the Investor Visa Tier 1 at the beginning of 2022. Now foreigners use other ways to relocate to the UK with their families.
A second passport can make it easier for children to get an education in the UK. Learn which citizenship to obtain and what its benefits will be.
Visas required to study in the UK
A UK student visa isn’t required for participating in educational programs that take up to six months, for example, for language courses. But a visa is needed to enrol in a school or university.
The visa type depends on the student’s age and course duration:
A Short-Term Study Visa is for courses that take 6 to 11 months without an opportunity to change the course or study at a public school.
A Student Visa is for applicants over 16 willing to study at a school or university. In this case, a student visa is usually valid for 2 years if the course doesn’t lead to a degree and for 5 years to study at a university with getting a diploma after graduation.
A Child Student Visa allows children aged 4 to 17 to study at private schools. The visa validity period depends on the applicant’s age and course duration. The maximum is 6 years and 4 months.
The UK student visa application usually requires proof of admission to a course, school or university, health insurance and enough money for a child to live in the country during their studies. Depending on the visa type, it can be received either outside the UK or after arrival.
Second citizenship helps investors’ children take short-term courses in the UK without visas, while parents can freely and often visit them. If the main task is to get a British education, a Caribbean passport might be the most beneficial choice.
Material prepared by Julia Loko, Investment programs expert
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