Visit visas for study
This visa option is suitable for shorter periods of study, such as returning to resit parts of your degree or students visiting the UK on an exchange. Find out if you need one and how to apply.
Short-term study visa
You can use a visit visa to study if one of the following scenarios applies:
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you are coming to the UK for up to six months to do a short course
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you are a visiting PhD student coming to the UK for up to six months
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you are an exchange student joining us for less than six months
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you are returning to the UK to resit exams or repeat a module, sometimes called resitting without attendance
Visit visas cannot:
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be extended
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be used for employment in the UK
Who needs to apply?
Certain nationalities can get visiting permission on arrival in the UK, and do not need to apply in advance. You can check if this applies to you by using the UK visa tool.
If you are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state and have pre-settled or settled status, you do not need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. You may need to prove your immigration status to the University online.
You’ll need to show a letter of acceptance from the University as evidence to enter the UK when you go through border control.
If your nationality allows you to use an ePassport gate at the UK border, please keep a copy of your boarding pass or travel ticket. You will be required to provide this to the Visa Compliance Team.
If you are applying to study an English Language course
If you are coming to the UK to complete an English Language course between 6 and 11 months in length, you will need to apply for a Short-term Study visa rather than a Visit visa.
Apply for a visit visa
You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa up to three months before your studies start.
If you have checked the UK visa tool and you need to apply in advance, you must get a letter of support from the University before you make your application.
The department issuing your letter of support will depend on your situation.
Short course
Your letter of support will be issued by our admissions team.
Please contact direct@mmu.ac.uk
English language course
Your letter of support will be issued by our international admissions team.
Please contact them directly.
Visiting researcher
Your letter of support will be issued by the Graduate School once your admissions application is processed.
Please contact GSresearchdegrees@mmu.ac.uk.
Visiting exchange student
Your letter of support will be issued by our exchange team once your admissions application is processed.
Please contact exchanges@mmu.ac.uk.
Resitting exams or units
If you had a Student visa that is no longer active and you need to attend a re-assessment, you can apply for a visit visa.
It won’t count towards the time cap on your visa permission. If you pass your re-assessment, you’ll be able to apply for a new CAS to make a new Student visa application from your home country if you need to return to the University for your next academic year.
Your letter of support will be issued on request by our Visa Compliance team.
Please contact visacompliance@mmu.ac.uk
This letter will include details of your study, including dates, so please check it to make sure it is accurate.
Supporting documents
You will need to show evidence you can fund your time in the UK, such as your personal bank statements.
You will also need to show proof of residency if you are applying from a country where you are not a national.
Visa fees
The current application fees can be found on the Standard Visitor visa application webpage.
