Immigration

If you are applying for a Student visa of six months or more, you will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) when you make your visa application. The IHS fee is £470 per year of your visa, £235 for any part year up to six months. It entitles you to healthcare under the National Health Service (NHS) in the same way as any UK permanent resident. You will have to pay this fee even if you have private medical insurance.

You will also need to pay a Visa Application Fee of £348 (outside the UK) or £494.20 (inside the UK).

If you are already in the UK with immigration permission as a Student, you will need to apply for an extension to continue your studies. It is not always possible to do this, particularly if you did not complete the course that your previous visa is for or if there is a gap between the date that your visa expires and the start date of your new programme. You should refer to our Student visas guide for detailed information about the criteria for making a visa application.

We strongly recommend that all students applying for visas from within the UK, apply for their visa extensions through International Student Support. This free service checks and advises on applications and is undertaken by qualified immigration advisers. If you submit your application independently, it may make it more difficult for you to register.

You should contact International Student Support at visaadvice@ exeter.ac.uk as early as possible to discuss the details of your visa application and arrange an appointment to submit your application if appropriate.

You can check the process for applying for a visa in your country on the UK government website.

You will need to complete an online application form and pay the visa application fee. You will then usually need to submit your supporting documents (by post or in person depending on the country) and enrol your biometric information, which includes your fingerprints and a digital photograph at a UK visa application centre. Most EU, EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to do this via an app. In some countries additional documentation will be required, such as a tuberculosis test certificate.

At the same time, you may be asked to complete a credibility interview. This will usually take place in the visa application centre via a videoconference link. It is a short interview that aims to test that you are a genuine student. You will be expected to have a good understanding of the course you are planning to study and the university that you are going to study at.

You may also be asked about your qualifications, your finances, and any plans to work in the UK (remember that you can only work 20 hours per week on a Student visa and that you cannot solely support yourself by working in the UK). Try not to be nervous, but do ensure that you prepare in advance so that you are confident discussing your proposed course and plans in English. If you have any problems following the credibility interview, please contact the University immediately at visaadvice@ exeter.ac.uk and we will do our best to help.