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British Council accredited · Est. 1966Most of our students need either no visa or a straightforward one — but since 2025 nearly everyone needs an ETA before flying. Here's exactly how it works, and what we provide once you book.
Almost every student who comes to us falls into one of three groups. Your route depends on two things only: your nationality and how long your course is.
If you're from one of the 80+ visa-exempt countries — the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Gulf states and others — you can study any of our courses for up to six months as a Standard Visitor. You don't need a visa, but you do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before you fly.
If your nationality does require a visa to visit the UK, you apply for a Standard Visitor visa and can study with us for up to six months on it. Apply from your home country, up to three months before you travel.
For English language courses longer than six months and up to 11 months, whatever your nationality. This is the route for our longer academic-year bookings. It cannot be extended and cannot be applied for from inside the UK.
Not sure which applies? Check your nationality at gov.uk/check-uk-visa — it takes two minutes and gives a definitive answer. Or ask us and we'll point you the right way.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is new, and it catches people out. If you're from a visa-exempt country, this now applies to you.
An ETA is digital permission to travel — not a visa. It's linked electronically to your passport and checked by your airline, ferry or rail operator before they let you board. Since 25 February 2026 this is enforced strictly: no ETA, no boarding.
British and Irish citizens don't need one, including dual nationals — but if you hold two passports, be careful which one you apply and travel with. If you already hold a UK visa or other UK immigration permission, you don't need an ETA either.
Watch out: plenty of unofficial websites copy the government service and charge far more than £20. Apply only through gov.uk or the official UK ETA app.
If you're joining us for longer than six months, this is your route — and it has some firm rules worth knowing before you book.
Apply at least six to eight weeks before your course starts. Three weeks is the average, not a guarantee, and appointment availability at visa application centres varies a lot by country.
We've been doing this since 1966. Once your booking is confirmed we prepare everything a visa officer will want to see — and if they ask for something unusual, we'll produce it.
We're used to this. Junior students need written parental consent, confirmed accommodation and, in some cases, a nominated guardian in the UK. We provide the school-side paperwork and can explain exactly what your parents need to sign.
No. Neither the visitor route nor the Short-term Study visa permits work of any kind, including part-time jobs, internships or unpaid placements. Budget for your whole stay before you travel.
Six months or under is the visitor route (with an ETA if you're visa-exempt). Longer than six months means the Short-term Study visa. If your dates sit right on the line, talk to us before you book and we'll help you structure the course sensibly.
Not on a Short-term Study visa — it can't be extended or switched from inside the UK. If you want to continue studying, you'd need to leave and apply again from your home country.
Six to eight weeks is comfortable for a Short-term Study visa. For an ETA, three working days is usually plenty, but don't leave it to the airport.
Tell us straight away. Our terms set out what happens to your fees in that situation, and in most cases we can refund or move your booking. Send us the refusal letter — sometimes the reason is something we can help you fix for a second application.
No. We're an accredited English language school, not a licensed student sponsor, so we don't issue CAS numbers. The Student visa route is for degree-level study at sponsoring institutions.
Yes — they'd travel as visitors in their own right, with an ETA or visitor visa as their nationality requires. We're happy to recommend nearby guesthouses.
Please read this: immigration rules and fees change regularly, and the figures on this page were correct in August 2026. This page is general guidance from a language school, not immigration advice. Always check gov.uk/check-uk-visa for your own nationality and circumstances before booking flights, and consider a qualified immigration adviser for anything complicated.
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