Make sure to read the list carefully so that you are fully compliant.

• Completed online application form (see ‘what is the application process?’ below). You can apply for this visa up to 3 months before your intended date of travel to the UK.
• Payment of £200 for the visa application and £776 for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) or equivalent in your local currency.
• Your current passport or other travel document which shows your identity and nationality (with a blank page for your visa).
• Letter of acceptance from the University of Reading confirming your course details.
• Evidence of your immigration permission to be in the country where you are applying if you are not a national of that country.
• Tuberculosis (TB) certificate if you are resident in any of the countries listed on the UK Government website. If you have lived for at least 6 months in a country where TB screening is not required by the UK, and you have been away from that country for no more than 6 months you will not need a TB test.
• Details of where you intend to stay and your travel plans - you should not pay for accommodation or travel until you get your visa.
• If applicable, fully certified translations.  
• Be a genuine Short-term student. The caseworker will consider whether they believe you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK as a Short-term Student to undertake the studies stated in your visa application. See page 12 of the Short-term Student guidance for further details.

Financial evidence

• You will need to demonstrate that you have the funds to:
o maintain and accommodate yourself for the duration of your trip; and
o meet the cost of your return or onward journey; and
o pay your course fees or have paid the course fees by the date of your visa application.
• There is no set amount stated in the Rules that you need to demonstrate for accommodation/living costs, but you may wish to aim to have £1023 per month for the duration of your stay, as this is the requirement for a Student visa.
• There is no specified minimum period the funds must have been held for in the Immigration Rules, but it is advised that you submit evidence covering at least 3 months. The most recent evidence must not be dated more than 31 days before the date of application. 
• The types of evidence that you can provide in support of your application can include payslips (showing 6 months), evidence of self-employment, savings, and bank statements.
• When using personal funds, the caseworker may make further checks to establish the origin of the funds especially if they have not been held for long. Therefore, it is advisable to provide evidence of where your income comes from. 
• The evidence you provide must meet the requirements in Appendix Finance of the Immigration Rules. 

Additional requirements if you are under 18 years old

• You must show that suitable arrangements have been made for your:
o travel to the UK; and
o arrival and reception in the UK; and
o living and care arrangements in the UK
• Your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) must provide their written consent to your application and the above arrangements.
• For further information on these requirements see pages 14-15 in the guidance.

Further guidance can be found in the Short-term Student modernised guidance.

You need to apply online from outside of the UK (entry clearance) via the UK Government website. When asked to 'Confirm your visa type' make sure you choose 'Short-term student visa'.

After you have paid to submit your visa application online you may need to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and upload copies of your documents. If you do not wish to self-upload your documents, you may be required to pay for the relevant additional service. Check with the VAC you are going to attend.

At your appointment, you will also need to provide your biometrics. To provide these you will need to:

• have a digital photo taken of your face; and
• put your fingers on a glass screen to be scanned; and
• provide your signature.

The next correspondence you receive should be your visa application decision.

The standard visa processing times for applications made outside of the UK is 15 working days from when you attend your biometric appointment. You might be able to pay extra for a faster decision (check with our VAC). You should allow a week for your passport to be endorsed with an entry vignette (visa sticker), and you must travel to the UK during the validity of the vignette. 

After you have arrived in the UK you will need to pick up your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)  from the location on your visa decision letter. If you use the University’s Alternative Collection Location code (which is what we recommend) that will be the Carrington Building at the University.

If your visa application is refused, make sure you contact the International Student Advisory Team and supply a copy of the visa refusal notice.

If clarification is needed on any aspect of the Rules or you have questions about your visa application, please email the International Student Advisory Team at immigration@reading.ac.uk where we will respond to you as soon as possible, alternatively telephone +44(0)118 378 8038.