International Students - Visa Information

The GSoM International Student Declaration Form

All applicants holding passports issued from any country outside of the European Union (EU) are required to complete the GSoM International Student Declaration Form which must then be returned to Greenwich School of Management (GSoM) with your application form.

Click here to download a copy of the International Student Declaration Form.

Please click on one of the links below for more information on obtaining and applying for your student visa:

• Applying for a student visa
• Extending a student visa in the UK
• Tuition Fees and Living Expenses
• Changing Institutions
• Applying for a Student Visa from outside the European Economic Area
• The application process
• Greenwich School of Management assistance

Applying for a student visa

• If you are an international student and not a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national you will need to apply for entry clearance (commonly known as a visa) before coming to study in the UK.
• If you are an EEA or Swiss National and have been accepted on to a programme of study, you are entitled to enter the UK freely and have the right of residence for the duration of the course.
• A Student Visa cannot be obtained on arrival in the UK: it is important that you do not enter the country on a visitor's visa if you intend to study. See below for further information on making an application.
• Please visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk or www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk for more information.

Extending a Student Visa in the UK

If you are already in the UK and want to change or extend your stay, please contact the UK Border Agency. If you are not on a Student Visa or a Prospective Student Visa you will have to return to your home country to change your visa status.

Tuition Fees and Living Expenses

Changing institutions

Applying for a Student Visa from outside the European Economic Area

• To show that you have a relevant and proven track-record of study prior to your application.
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from a licensed sponsor; Greenwich School of Management is a licensed Highly Trusted Sponsor: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent...
• To show you have enough finances to cover your course fees and monthly living expenses for up to 9 months (known as maintenance). Thus,
  
  For a course of less than 9 months, you will be expected to show that you have sufficient funds to cover all of your tuition fees plus £600 per month for each month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months for your living expenses. *
  
  For a course of more than 9 months, you will be expected to show that you have sufficient funds to pay your first year’s tuition fees only, plus £5,400 to cover nine months living expenses.

As Greenwich School of Management is located in the London Borough of Greenwich students are required to have £600 per month (as opposed to £800 per month). Please click here for further information.

Students applying must show that they have held the required money (tuition fees and maintenance) for a 28-day period ending no more than one month before the date of their application.

The Application Process

• http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/...
• http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs...

Before doing this, please read the Points Based System guidance notes which you can download from:

• http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/...

You can also get these application forms and guidance notes free of charge from your nearest visa application centre (UK Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and some commercial partners). When submitting the forms you will need to include:

• The application fee
• A current passport or travel document
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from Greenwich School of Management (only valid for 6 months)
• Originals of the documents requested by Greenwich School of Management when they accepted you on to the course;
• Documents to show that you have the correct finances available prior to your visa application.
  The following documents can be used to show evidence of your available finances:
  • Your personal bank or building society statements, OR your parents/Legal guardians personal bank or building society statements.
  • Your personal building society passbook or your parents/Legal guardians personal building society passbook.
  • A letter from a bank (yours or your parents/Legal guardians) confirming funds are in place.
  • A letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that funds or a loan will be released to you when you have your visa.
  • A letter from an official sponsor; this must be an international company, that is, have offices in more than one country.
  • A letter of government sponsorship

    IMPORTANT NOTES

  • If you use a bank account which belongs to your parents or legal guardian as evidence of funds then you will ALSO have to provide EVIDENCE of your relationship to them.
    EVIDENCE could be in the form of your birth certificate showing the name of the parent, OR a certificate of adoption, OR a court document stating the name of the legal guardian.
    IN ADDITION you will have to provide an original signed and dated LETTER FROM THE PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN which a) confirms your relationship to them, and b) confirms that they give their consent to the funds for study in the UK being available to you.
  • Statements in currencies other than pounds sterling (GBP) must show (it can be in writing) the closing balance in pounds sterling (GBP), (see http://www.oanda.com/ for current exchange rates).
    Be aware that currency exchange rates can fluctuate, so ensure that any exchange rate movements occurring between the production of the statement and the application being considered are accounted for.
    All the above documentation that is not in English must be translated into English AND authorised as a true copy by a professional translator (signed, dated by the translator, with their qualifications and contact details shown)

PLEASE NOTE - all the above documentation that is not in English must be translated into English and authorised as a true copy by a professional translator (signed, dated by the translator with their qualifications shown)

Take or (optionally) send your visa application form, fee and supporting evidence to the visa application centre. (If you fail to send the above documents, your application will be rejected without contact by the visa application centre) It will be considered by an Entry Clearance Officer who will make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.

Biometrics

You will also need to give your biometrics as the application process requires you to provide biometric data. This consists of 10-digit finger scans and a digital photo. You will have to go in person to your nearest visa application centre to provide your biometrics. In those countries where there is no visa application centre, you will need to go to the British mission. Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided the necessary biometric information.

Further Advice

You can obtain more advice about studying in the UK from the following organisations:

• The UK Border Agency

The UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the UK borders and controlling migration in the UK. They manage border control for the UK, enforcing immigration and customs regulations. They also consider applications for permission to enter or stay in the UK. See http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

• The British Council

The British Council provides information to help international students prepare for study in the UK. See http://www.britishcouncil.org

• Ukvisas

You can get more advice and information about visas from: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk