What type of visa will I need?
The type of visa you need will depend on:
- the type of course you’re studying
- the length of time you’re studying for
- your age.
If you’re not a student, check our advice on visas and immigration.
The UK government plans to change immigration rules
On 12 May 2025, the UK Government published plans to change immigration rules. The immigration rules have not changed yet. We’ll update our advice pages when the rules change. We know you might have questions about what this means for you.
Find out how changes to immigration rules might affect you (citizensadvice.org.uk)
If you need help to move to or settle in Scotland, you can book a free advice appointment with an adviser from a Citizens Advice Bureau in Scotland.
You can read the UK government’s immigration white paper (gov.uk)
Student visa
Most international students who want to study an undergraduate or postgraduate course in Scotland can apply for a Student visa. This visa replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.
Child Student visa
You can apply for a Child Student visa if you’re between the ages of 4 and 17 years old and you’re coming to the UK to study at an independent fee-paying school.
Graduate visa
A Graduate visa lets you stay in Scotland for at least two years to work or look for work after finishing a course in the UK. To be eligible for a Graduate visa, you need to have successfully completed the course linked to your current Student visa.
Innovator Founder visa
You can apply for an Innovator Founder visa if you want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK. You must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market. The business must be viable, with potential for growth. You also need an endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body. You might be invited by the endorsing body to present your business ideas. The endorsing body will check that your business has enough funds and will generate growth and jobs. They’ll check that your ideas are original.
Short-term Study visa
You can apply for a Short-term study visa if you’re taking an English language course in the UK. Your course must last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months. You cannot work on a Short-term study visa.
Standard Visitor visa
You can apply for a Standard visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to study for up to six months.
Studying in Scotland if you’re from the EU
If you’re a student from the EU and the EEA, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and you arrived in the UK from 1 January 2021, you must apply for a visa to study in the UK.
Find more information on the UK immigration system for EU students (gov.uk)
Find more advice for EU students on Study UK (study-uk.britishcouncil.org)