The following student rules changes took effect on 1 September 2007:

• The Student Visitor category was introduced for short term students who wish to study in the UK for six months or less but who do not wish to take part-time employment or seek an extension to their student visitor leave - visitors are no longer allowed to enter the UK to undertake a course of study;
• A mandatory visa requirement was introduced for those coming to the UK as a Student or as a Prospective Student;
• The in-country switching provisions for Students and Prospective Students were amended so that only those with a legitimate expectation to progress into the student route are allowed to do so. (See http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/extending/ for further information).
  

 Student flowchart

 Student under 18 years flowchart

Student Visitor
The Student Visitor category has been introduced for visitors who wish to take short courses of study of up to 6 months in the UK, e.g. short-term English language courses, but do not wish to take part-time work or extend their visas.  If you intend to follow a course of study during a visit to the UK you must enter as a Student Visitor.  If you wish to work or extend your visa in the UK, you will need a Student visa (see INF 5).

• The Student Visitor category allows short term students to undertake a short period of study during their visit to the UK;
• As a Student Visitor you will be required to meet the requirements of the rules relating to visitors;
• In addition you will also have to demonstrate that you have been accepted on a course of study provided by an organisation which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers;
• The maximum period of leave we will allow as a student Visitor is six months;
• There are no provisions for Student Visitors to extend their leave in the UK or switch in-country to any other category. If you wish to follow a further course of study you must return to your home country and obtain a student visa.
• Any leave granted to you in this category will be counted as a period spent as a visitor for the purposes of considering an in-country application for visitor leave.
• Only those of 18 years and over may apply in this category.

Visa nationals who wish to enter the UK under this category should apply for a visa prior to arrival in the UK. Non-visa nationals do not need a visa prior to arrival but will need to declare their intentions to the Immigration Officer on arrival and will be required to show evidence that they can meet all the requirements of the Immigration Rules, Paragraph 56K.

Child visitors - children as short term students
There are no specific provisions for children (under 18 years of age) to seek entry to the UK in the category of Student Visitor. In order to enable such students to obtain leave to enter the UK for a short course of study and ensure that existing child protection measures continue to apply (as provided for child visitor category), an additional requirement has been introduced into the Child Visitor provisions to enable a child to undertake a course of study at a private institution which is included in the Register of Education and Training Providers.

Children can be considered under the Child Visitor rules or Paragraph 57 of the Student rules.

Mandatory requirements for students and prospective students
From 1 September 2007 both visa nationals and non visa nationals are required to apply for a visa prior to arrival in the UK. This requirement is mandatory if you want to come to the UK for the purpose of study for more than six months or you are coming to study for six months or less but intend to take part-time work whilst here. The requirement to have a visa is also mandatory for prospective students.

Changes to those who may switch in-country
Guidance about extending your stay in the UK to study is available at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/extending/.