Travelling from outside the EU?

Hampstead School of English & the UK Border Agency

Before You Arrive 

We are committed to providing our students with all the support they need during their time with us and in preparation for their trip to the UK.  Due to UK legislation, students from visa national countries need to fulfil particular requirements in order to obtain their visa.  These requirements vary from one country to another and you are strongly advised to visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk and www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ for more details that are specifically related to your circumstances.  

Due to the complicated and highly regulated application process, any applications for courses under Tier 4 sponsorship generally come through one of our trusted agents working from countries around the world.  Please contact us at so that we can recommend an agent in your home country.  Alternatively we suggest you contact the British Council or the British Embassy in your country for more information.

Please note that we are not able to give specific advice to individual students about how to apply for a visa.  You must visit the official UK government websites above and contact relevant organisations in your home country for assistance.

At the time of application, we will ask you for the following information which we must receive in full before we can issue a certificate of enrolment (visa letter or CAS):

• Nationality
• Gender
• Country of birth
• Place of birth
• Date of birth
• Address in home country
• Telephone number in home country
• Email address
• Passport number
• Passport issue date
• Passport expiry date
• Next of kin name
• Next of kin address
• Next of kin relationship

In addition, you must provide a certificate to prove your level of English, and to prove that your level is B1 (Intermediate) or above with documentation of a SELT (Secure English Language Test).  

During Your Course

You are required to attend at least 90% of your lessons.  Please note that the UK Border Agency treats unauthorised absence of 10 consecutive days from school as a failure to comply with the requirements of your student visa.  Failure to comply will result in a withdrawal of your right to remain in the UK.  If you are absent from school, you must inform us in writing of the reason for your absence as soon as possible.  Please make a note of the school's contact email address:  . 

One of the requirements of your student visa is your responsibility to provide accurate and full contact details (address, telephone number and email address) to the school and to inform us immediately if there are any changes in these details.  In addition, in order to fulful our obligations to you and to the UK Border Agency, it is necessary for us to see and copy your passport and visa.