Student visa application process

If you need a Student Visa to study at Northeastern University London you will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) in order to apply for your visa.

The CAS is an electronic reference document that Northeastern University London produces and is essential for your visa application. This document contains all of the information about you and your programme of study and advises UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that Northeastern University London is sponsoring your visa for the duration of your programme of study.

In order to obtain a CAS from Northeastern University London, you must provide supporting documents to the Visa Team. Once you have provided us with the required  documentation and we are satisfied that they meet UKVI and Northeastern University London requirements we will issue you with the CAS document.

When you complete your Student Visa online application form you will need to provide your CAS number and use the information which is provided in your CAS statement.

The CAS statement includes

• Your name, nationality, date of birth and passport number
• The title, level and dates of your course
• The tuition fees for your course and any tuition fees that you have already paid to the University
• The qualifications that the University has used to assess whether you are qualified to study your course.

Maximum time limit (“cap”) on studying at undergraduate level with a Student Visa

There are limits to the amount of time a Student Visa holder can spend in the UK studying at undergraduate level or below. This is two years for courses below undergraduate level and five years for undergraduate level study. There is no limit for postgraduate study. If this is a concern, please email visa@nulondon.ac.uk to discuss your options with a Visa Compliance Officer.

Important: Please do not make a Student Visa application with the UKVI before you receive your CAS from Northeastern University London. If you do so your Student Visa application will be refused and may impact any future UK visa applications.

Your CAS can only be used for one visa application.  If you have applied for a visa, and it has been refused, you must apply to the Visa Team for another CAS.

If you require a Student Visa to study at Northeastern University London, the Visa Team will contact you with instructions regarding your CAS once you hold an offer to study at the University.

1. A valid passport

Your passport must be valid at the time of your planned entry into the UK. The UK does not require that a passport is valid for any particular period of time after arrival in the UK, but it must be valid when you make your application and when you arrive in the UK.  If your passport is due to expire soon after you arrive in the UK, you may find it easier and less stressful to renew your passport before you make your visa application and travel to the UK.

You can apply for a Student Visa in your home country. Normally you cannot apply for a Student Visa in another country unless you have a residence permit/visa for that country. If you are applying for your visa in a country other than the country of your nationality, you must also provide your visa which allows you to reside in that country. (e.g. if you are applying for a Student Visa with your Brazilian passport in Canada, you must also provide your Canadian residence visa).

2. Qualifications

You will need to provide a copy of all the qualifications detailed in your offer letter with the official translation (where applicable).

You must have passed all of your examinations,  met your offer requirements, and have provided us with your official final results from the awarding body. Provisional results are not acceptable for CAS and Visa purposes.

Your certificate or transcript must clearly show all of the following information:

• your name
• the title of the award or course
• the date of the award
• the name of the academic/awarding institution 

3. Unconditional offer

Your offer from the Northeastern University London Admissions Department must be unconditional for the Visa Team to issue your CAS.

4. Deposit (NOT applicable to London Scholars students).

You must have paid your CAS Deposit (£3,000) before we can issue your CAS. Information on how to pay your CAS Deposit can be found in your offer letter provided to you by the Admissions Department.

For information regarding the refunds of CAS Deposits for unsuccessful candidates, please read our Cancellation, Withdrawal, Refund and Compensation Policy.

5. Proof of English language

You will need to provide evidence of English language qualifications (if specified in your offer letter). For a list of acceptable English Qualifications, please see our entry requirements.

Your English language qualification must be awarded within the last two years and meet our entry requirements. If your existing English language qualification does not meet these requirements you will need to complete another qualification in order to obtain a CAS.

6. Financial Requirements

You must have enough money to support yourself while you are studying at Northeastern University London.

Please see our dedicated Financial Requirements information.[1] 

7. TB Certificate

Some students are required to take a tuberculosis test as a part of their visa application. 

If you are from a country listed in Appendix T and are making an application to come to the UK for more than six months, you must present a valid medical certificate confirming that you have been tested for TB.

Please be aware that you will need to provide a TB test from a UKVI-approved testing clinic.

8. Translation of documents

If you are providing documentation that is not entirely in English, you will need to also provide a full official translation of the documentation. 

The translation must meet all of the following UKVI requirements:

• be made by a professional translator or translation company, and
• include confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document, and
• include the date of the translation; and
• include the translator’s full name and signature OR the full name and signature of an authorised official of the translation company; and
• include the translator/translations company’s contact details.

The key financial documents that are accepted by the UKVI include:

• Bank Statement
• Bank Letter
• Sponsorship Letter
• Educational Loan

Bank statement

Bank statements of a personal account should contain:

• your name (as per your passport) or your parent’s/legal guardian’s name; and
• account Number (fully visible); and
• print date or period date; and
• balance column; and
• the name and address and logo of the financial institution; and
• that you have held the required amount for a consecutive 28 day period; and
• opening and closing balance; and
• show the closing balance is not older than 31 days from the day of the online visa application submission.

If you are using multiple bank accounts the statements must cover the same issue date.

Business and Trust accounts are not acceptable. The funds must be able to be withdrawn at any time. We will accept formal bank statements issued by the bank.

Bank Letter

Letter from your bank confirming funds have been held in a personal account for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application. Your letter from a bank or building society must show:

• your name (as per your passport) or your parent’s/legal guardian’s name; and
• the account number; and
• the date of the letter; and
• the financial institution’s name and logo; and
• that you can access the funds at any time; and
• that there is enough money in the account (to cover your course fees and living costs); and
• statement confirming the funds have been held for 28 days.

Business and Trust accounts are not acceptable. The funds must be able to be withdrawn at any time.

Official Financial Sponsorship Letter

Official sponsorship must be from His Majesty’s Government, your national government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, University or Independent School.

The letter must show:

• your name (as per your passport); and
• the name and contact details of your official financial sponsor; and
• the date of the letter (can’t exceed 6 months); and
• the length of your sponsorship; and
• the amount of money the sponsor is giving to you or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover all of your fees and living costs.

Educational Loan

The student loan letter must confirm that the provider of the loan is one of the providers accepted by the UKVI and that it is regulated by the appropriate regulatory body for student loans.

The loan providers accepted are: 

• a government 
• a government-sponsored student loan company 
• an academic or educational loans scheme which is provided by a financial institution regulated for the purpose of issuing student loans by either the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or, in the case of an overseas loan, the official regulatory body for purpose of issuing student loans in the country in which the financial institution is located and where the money is held. 

Any  letters from a regulated financial institution confirming an Educational loan must state:

• your name (as per your passport)
• the financial institution’s name and logo;
• the date of the letter (no more than 6 months before the date of your visa application);
• the money available as a loan;
• that the loan is an Educational Loan
• confirmation the funds will be:
  • available to you before you travel to the UK; or
  • paid directly to the Northeastern University London before you travel to the UK, with any living cost portion of the loan being made available to you by the time you arrive in the UK; or
  • available before you begin your course if the loan is provided by the applicant’s national government.
• lenders must confirm they are a regulated loan scheme.

You cannot use loans held in the name of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as evidence of money held by you.

Extra Documents you might need

Are you using your parent’s or legal guardian’s bank account?

If you do not have the required funds in an account in your own name and you are using your parent’s or legal guardian’s bank account, you will be required to submit further documents.

Confirmation Letter

You will have to ask your parent/legal guardian to write a letter confirming that they have given their permission for you to use their money.

The letter must confirm:

• the relationship between you and your parent/legal guardian; and
• that they have given their consent to you using their funds to study in the UK.

Please see an example letter below:

(This letter must be an original document with an original signature.  If it is not in English, it must be accompanied by a professional English translation.)

Entry Clearance Officer
UKVI

 
[Your parent’s /legal guardian(s) address]
[your parent’s / legal guardian(s) phone number]
[your parent’s/ legal guardian(s)  email address if they have one]
[Date of letter]  

To Whom It May Concern:

I, [your parent’s/ legal guardian(s) name], confirm that I will be financially supporting [student’s name] during their studies in the UK. They will study [name of your course] at Northeastern University London, until [end date of your course].

I give unconditional consent for them to use my finances throughout the duration of their studies.

If you require any further information you can contact me on the details above.  

Kind regards,

[Your parent’s/ legal guardian(s)  signature and name in English]

[your parent’s/ legal guardian(s)  signature and name in their own language]

Proof of Relationship

The applicant must provide evidence of their relationship with their parents or legal guardian who have provided consent in support of their application. This can be in the form of a copy of one of the following documents:

• an official birth certificate that shows the names of the applicant’s parents
• a certificate of adoption that shows the name of the applicant’s parents or legal guardian
• a court or government issued document naming the applicant’s legal guardian or establishing the sole responsibility of one parent.

Equivalent documents will not always be formatted in the same way, there is some regional variation in how these documents are presented. Provided the document contains the required information and is in English or is accompanied by a verified translation, the document can be accepted.

Translations

If your Proof of Relationship document is not entirely in English, it will need to be translated by an official translator.

The translation must meet all of the following UKVI requirements:

• be made by a professional translator or translation company, and
• include confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document, and
• include the date of the translation; and
• include the translator’s full name and signature OR the full name and signature of an authorised official of the translation company; and
• include the translator/translations company’s contact details.

Applying from outside the UK

Once you have received your CAS from Northeastern University London you will need to apply for your Student Visa via the UKVI website.

Make sure that you answer all of the questions honestly and contact the Visa Team (visa@nulondon.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

In order to collect your Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP) visa card from Northeastern University London at enrolment, you must make sure that you provide Northeastern University London’s ACL code when you complete your online visa application. When you are completing the ‘Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Collection’ page, please select ‘Alternative Location’ and enter Northeastern University London’s ACL code 3HE367.

Applying from inside the UK

Only students who meet very particular requirements can apply for their Student Visa from within the UK. If you are currently in the UK on a Student Visa you may be able to apply for a new visa with Northeastern University London from within the UK.

You must:

• Have successfully completed your previous course of study, and
• Have met the UKVI academic progression requirements, and
• Have an unconditional offer to study a programme at Northeastern University London which starts within 28 days of your current visa expiring, and
• Gained a CAS from Northeastern University London, and 
• Apply for your new Student Visa before your current visa expires.

Students who have been in the UK for 12 months or more are not required to submit financial evidence as part of their visa application.

Alternatively, you must be in the UK on another visa which allows you to switch to a Student Visa within the UK.

If are currently in the UK on of the following visa types below, you cannot apply to switch in the UK:

• Visitor
• Short-term student
• Seasonal Worker
• Parent of a child student
• Domestic worker in a private household

Demonstrating Academic Progression

To make a Student Visa application from within the UK, you must meet the academic progression requirement or be exempt from meeting this requirement. The requirement applies to students who have previously held a Tier 4 or Student Visa, even if they now hold a different immigration permission.

If you have previously been granted permission as a Student or a Tier 4 Student and you are applying from within the UK to extend your stay for the purpose of undertaking further studies then, unless an exception applies, you will need to demonstrate that:

• You have successfully completed your previous course of study, and
• The course for which your new CAS has been issued is at a higher level than your previous course

If you do not meet the academic progression requirement, you will not be able to make your visa application from within  the UK. Instead, you will need to make your application from outside the UK. 

To find out whether you will meet the academic progression requirement, how to apply and what documents you may need, please contact the Visa Team (visa@nulondon.ac.uk) if you have any questions.

When you have made your online visa application you will need to pay for the visa and also the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This is a mandatory fee related to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). This fee must be paid in full in order for your visa to be processed. Failure to pay the correct amount could result in your visa being refused.

The amount you pay depends on the length of your stay in the UK. You can use the IHS calculator to see how much you need to pay.

If you are applying from outside of the UK

All students applying for entry clearance for a period of more than 6 months will need to pay the IHS. You must pay this fee as part of your visa application.

If you are applying for entry clearance for a period of 6 months or less, you must take out private health insurance as you will not be eligible for NHS treatment.

If you are applying from within the UK

If you are applying for an extension of your visa from inside the UK, you will be required to pay the IHS for any length of visa even if your course length is less than 6 months.

Applying for your Student visa using the ID Check App

The following groups can use the ID Check App  instead of attending a biometrics appointment:

• EU/EEA/Swiss students applying overseas for their visa with a biometric passport.
• People of any nationality applying to extend their visa in the UK who have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).

Biometric Appointment

If you are not eligible to use the ID Check App, you will complete your visa application online and then attend a biometric appointment at Visa Application Centre (VAC), or a VFS Global Centre. Please make sure you follow all of the instructions given to you when you make your application and biometric appointment, ensuring that you take the correct documents with you to the appointment.

Please note that some students who are making their new Student Visa application in the UK may have to attend a Biometrics appointment.

Check here to see which visa application centres are available.

Sending your passport for processing

Some students may be required to send their passport to a processing centre after they have attended their biometric appointment. Please make sure that you read all of the documentation that is given to you at your appointment as it contains important information regarding the processing of your passport.

As part of your application, you may be asked to attend an interview with the UKVI. If you are invited to an interview by the UKVI and you do not attend, your visa will be refused.  

The credibility interview is for the UKVI to ascertain that you are a genuine and credible student. The interview is also an opportunity for the UKVI to check that you can speak English to the required standard.  If you are asked to attend an interview by the UKVI and you cannot demonstrate the correct level of English, or that you have genuine intentions to study, your visa will be refused.

You can find more information regarding Credibility Interviews on the UKCISA website.

Processing times

You can check the up-to-date visa processing times on the UKVI website. Please note that these processing times start from the date of your biometrics appointment.

In certain circumstances, it may take longer than normal for the UKVI to process your application. You may be contacted by the UKVI if your Student Visa application is complex, for example:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• due to your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

Amending or withdrawing your visa application

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it, please contact the UKVI.

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If your Student Visa is refused
If your application is not successful please let us know immediately by sending a copy of the Refusal Notice to visa@nulondon.ac.uk The Visa Team can then advise you on your next steps.

EU Nationals and some students who are making their application from within the UK

A digital immigration status (visa) will be granted if you meet all the conditions of your Student Visa. All the information about your visa will be outlined in the Decision Email you received when your visa was granted.

Please send your Decision Email to the Visa Team (visa@nulondon.ac.uk) once you have received it.

You can view and prove your immigration status online, via the ‘view and prove your immigration status‘ service. This online service provides a secure record and proof of your immigration status which is held digitally by the Home Office.  To use this service, you will need to use your UK Visas and Immigration account log-in.

You will receive a digital immigration status which you can view and share online. This is your visa for the entirety of your programme of study.

All other nationalities

You will receive an entry vignette (sticker) in your passport once your Student Visa has been approved. The entry vignette generally will be issued for 90 days, which will enable you to travel to the UK. You must arrive in the UK on or after the start date of the entry vignette to enter on your Student Visa.

Once you are in the UK you will need to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. If you nominated Northeastern University London as your Alternative Location (Code: 3HE367) for BRP collection during your online visa application, you will collect your BRP card at enrolment.  Otherwise, you are responsible for the collection of your BRP card at your nominated Post Office within 10 days of arriving in the UK. 

When you receive your BRP card, please make sure to check it carefully. It is the responsibility of both you and the Visa Team at Northeastern University London to notify UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) of any errors within 10 working days. UKVI will need to correct the mistake and issue a new BRP card.

If your BRP card expires on 31/12/2024, but you think your visa should be longer, this is not an error. You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025 as you’ll be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP. The UKVI will update their information on how to update your BRP in early 2024. You do not need to do anything and your immigration status will not be affected. For general information about BRP cards, see the UKVI website.