From 31st March 2009 the UK government introduced a new Points Based System of immigration for all entrants to the UK from outside the European Union.

Students applying for entry clearance will be required to score 40 points to be awarded a student visa. In order to be granted a visa or entry clearance after 31st March 2009 you will need to:

• have sufficient funds to pay for one years tuition fees and living costs in the UK (10 points)
• hold an Unconditional Offer of a place on a course at an institution holding a sponsor licence (30 points)
• provide original and/or certified supporting documents, for example Degree or IELTS certificates.
• hold a valid passport

Full details of how to show that you have sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees and living costs can be found at the website of the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA).

•  UKBA Studying in the UK

Robert Gordon University holds a Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS) Licence which allows us to receive students coming to study with us under current visa rules. Our Sponsor Licence Number is EFAA7R620.

At Robert Gordon University, we don't provide you with a separate ‘visa letter' but all the necessary information for your visa application is incorporated into your Unconditional Offer letter; therefore your Unconditional Offer letter is your visa letter.

From 1 February 2010, there is a Sponsor Management System managed by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for International Students coming to study in the UK.

What Does this Mean? To apply for a student visa from 1 February 2010 onwards, a student must have a "Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies", or "CAS".

Robert Gordon University will be required to issue a unique Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies reference number (CAS) to each student who has confirmed their acceptance of an unconditional offer. The CAS will replace the visa letter in the student visa application process.

It is no longer necessary for us to give you a hard copy of your offer letter for visa purposes, as we provide the UKBA with confirmation of your Unconditional Offer and payment of deposit and tuition fees directly to them through the Sponsors Management System. However, if you need a copy of your offer letters, you can still download these from your Apply Yourself record. We will also email you an extract from the CAS record we create for you with the UKBA so you can approve the details we have provided them with.

• Find out more from UKBA
• Visa Update Information

You obtain your visa from your nearest British diplomatic post, such as the British Embassy or High Commission.

To find out where your nearest diplomatic post is in your country, visit check with the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

In many countries, applications are posted to Visa Application Centres (VAC), private companies who will receive your documents and pass them to the Diplomatic Post for the decision to be made. Please follow the link below to find your nearest VAC.

• Visa Application Centres

Due to recent changes by the UK Borders Agency both in the UK & overseas, please remember to allow sufficient time to apply for a student visa in order to ensure your application is successful.

As guideline, try to submit your visa applications a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the start date of your course to ensure any required medical checks, biometrics, and interviews can be completed.

When you apply for your visa you will need the following:

•  Visa application form - You can obtain an application form, and in some cases apply online through the UK Border Agency
• Your passport or travel document;
• Your biometric details
• A recent passport sized photograph
• All documents as specified in the Tier 4 Guidance as stated in the Immigration Rules. If you do not submit relevant documents, your application is likely to be refused.*
• Visa application fee. Details of the cost of applying can be found on the UK Visas website

*You should include originals of all documents specified. They must be on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation and have the official stamp of that organisation. You should also provide a copy of each document. Where a document is not in English, the original must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator. This translation must include details of the translator's qualifications and confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document

Visa applicants in some countries are required to take a TB (tuberculosis) test before applying for their UK visa. These regulations have changed recently in 2012, so please check with the UKBA website for the latest information.

The reason for this is that TB has been almost completely eradicated in the UK, however it is still common in some other countries. By asking people intending to come to the UK to be screened to see if they have the disease, it allows the UK government to monitor if people with this infection are coming into the country.

In May 2012, the UKBA announced that it would become compulsory for visa applicants from 67 countries to undertake a TB screeening as part of their visa application to come to the UK for any period longer than 6 months.

India became the first new country for this screening to become compulsory from 1 November 2012. Please check the UKBA website for accurate information relating to TB screening and applying for a visa from your home country.

UKBA TB Screening news - May 2012

If it is not necessary for your visa, but you would still like to be screened for TB, this can be done for free through the National Health Service (NHS) once you arrive in the UK.

Once you become a student here at Robert Gordon University, we have a dedicated team of International Student Advisers who can help you whilst you are with us.

They can provide advice from matters such as how to open a bank account in the UK to how to apply for a visa extension. To get a letter for the bank, visit the Student Help Point.

The International Student Advisers will also arrange for your orientation at the University before the beginning of your course. It is essential that you attend an orientation presentation. Full details of when these will be running will be provided in your Pre-arrival Guide, which will be emailed to you 8-6 weeks prior to your course starting date.

• International Student Advisers