Apply for your visa

Once you’ve got a place to study at Manchester Metropolitan, you’re ready to start preparing to apply for your visa. In most cases, you’ll need to apply for a Student visa. In this section, you will find a guide to the UK Student visa requirements. 

What is a Student visa?

When you have been offered a place on a course, you can start to prepare to apply for a Student visa to study in the UK.

You will usually need a Student visa if one of the following scenarios applies: 

  • you are joining a full-time course at Manchester Metropolitan 
  • you have already enrolled and need more time on your course than you originally expected 
  • you are doing a Students’ Union sabbatical role 

If you’re still not sure which visa you need, or if you need one at all, check our visa and immigration guidance before you apply.

Applying for your visa

Guidance on how to complete a Student visa application form

Group of international students in a seminar room

What you need to apply for a visa

Submitting the right documents is crucial to making a successful application. Follow our helpful checklist to find out exactly what you need to meet the UK Student Visa requirements.
Three students in conversation walking through the business school

When and how to apply for your visa

Once you've got all the required documents, you're ready to apply for your visa. The timing of your application is important - we'll help you understand when and how to apply.

Your Visa Your Responsibility Guide

Important information on what we expect from you, and what you can expect from us, while you are studying at Manchester Met.

Two students working together on a laptop in a seminar room

Visiting visas

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.

Confidentiality 

The Visa Compliance Team provides a confidential advice service and any information it receives will not be disclosed to others outside the University. The only exceptions to this rule are: 

  • where you have given your explicit consent to disclose information to others
  • where you, or others, are considered by us to be at risk
  • if the provision of such information is required by the law
  • to meet compliance obligations for immigration authorities or the police under the Points Based System or Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) inspection 

Please be aware that our immigration advisers are employees of the University and information provided to us that could jeopardise the University’s Student Visa sponsor licence will be passed to the key contact named on our license.

Regulation of Immigration Advice

Immigration advice in the UK is regulated by the OISC and anyone providing immigration advice or services must comply with the OISC’s Code of Standards. Manchester Metropolitan also complies with the UKCISA Code of Practice.

The Visa Compliance Team is authorised to give immigration advice to students of Manchester Metropolitan and their family members and seeks to provide a fair and honest advisory service. Our advisers work within their level of competency; if your situation is complex, we may advise you to seek the help of a solicitor.