Visa Information
All international (non European Economic Area – EEA) students need to apply for an Adult (General) Student Visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System (PBS) of immigration to the UK.
Norwich University of the Arts is an A-rated sponsor of students under Tier 4 of PBS, and is recognised as a Highly Trusted Sponsor by the UK Border Agency.
This page provides basic information about obtaining a visa. Please note that it is your responsibility to apply for the visa and to collect all the appropriate supporting evidence.
The details of the visa application process and related costs change frequently, so make sure you check the most up-to-date information on the UK Border Agency website and the UKCISA website.
Applying for a Visa
To be able to travel to the United Kingdom as a student, you must apply for an Adult Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. Successful applications must pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points before being given a visa. Your score is assessed as follows:
Having a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a Tier 4 sponsor (i.e. Norwich University of the Arts)
30 points
Having enough money to cover course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance or funds)
10 points
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is an electronic document we generate after you have accepted an offer to study and met any conditions attached to your offer. We will send you the unique reference number that corresponds to your CAS. You must write this reference number in the appropriate field on the application form. We will also send you by email the information we have used to generate your CAS.
Visa Duration
If you are studying for an undergraduate degree you can stay for the full duration of your course, normally up to three years, plus four months. If your course will be longer than four years you will have to apply for a visa extension from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in order to complete your course.
Financial and application requirements and costs
Follow the links to the UKBA and UKCISA at the top of this page under 'Visa Information' for the most recent information on these subjects.
Permission to Work
Generally speaking you should be granted permission to work part-time (no more than 20 hours a week) during term-time while studying and full-time during vacations. (Note: postgraduate students are not permitted to work full-time during the summer vacation if they have not completed their writing-up or submitted their dissertation or any aspect of their course of study such as the Masters Project).
Important additional information – please read
If you receive a Tier 4 visa, you must undertake study at the institution that issued your CAS – in this case, NUA. If you wish to switch a different institution, you need to apply to UKBA for permission.
Under PBS, NUA is required to monitor your attendance. It is therefore very important that you ensure you arrive and enrol at the University on the dates as written in your visa letter and attend classes in accordance with the University Attendance Policy. If you do not enrol on the given deadline, or do not attend classes, we will be required to report this to the UKBA and this may result in your visa being withdrawn.
Study Abroad and Exchange Students
All international (non European Economic Area – EEA) exchange students will be required to apply for a visa. If you are studying for less than six months you can apply for 'Student Visitor' entry clearance, which is aimed at those short term students who wish to undertake a short course of up to six months and have no interest in full student visa entitlements (i.e. the ability to work part-time, extending your stay whilst in the UK, or providing the opportunity for multiple entry). For more details including eligibility and restrictions please see visit the Student Visitor pages at the UK Border Agency website.
