This page explains what kind of permission you might need in order to study at Queen Mary (Immigration permission is the same as a visa).
There are two main types of immigration permission that allow you to study a course at Queen Mary. You should read the full description before making a decision on which category of immigration permission is appropriate for you.
Student
Visitor
Can be granted to non-visa nationals on entry to the UK
No
Yes
Visa application fee
£490
£115 or free if obtained on entry to the UK
How long you will be able to stay in the UK
The full length of your course plus additional time at the start and end of your course
Up to 6 months. Your course must be no longer than 6 months
Employment (including paid or unpaid work experience)
Full time work is allowed during vacations and during a work placement that is part of your course at Queen Mary.
Part time work is allowed during term time for students studying full-time.
Students who have Student (part-time) immigration permission are not permitted to work at all during their studies.
No work allowed. Volunteering is allowed provided it lasts no more than 30 days in total and is for a charity that is registered with the Charity Commission.Please note this is not the same as voluntary work which is not permitted.
Can be extended in the UK
Yes, if you meet the requirements
Can switch to other categories in the UK (E.g. Skilled Worker Route)
Type of course that can be studied
Restricted to full-time courses above a specified academic level. The Admissions Office can tell you if your course is at the appropriate level.
Part-time courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or above can be studied with Student immigration permission, although these students would not be permitted to work or bring their dependants.
Full-time or part-time courses at any level
This can also be to conduct research or to receive tuition on how to conduct research towards your studies at an academic institution outside the UK.
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is currently only open to nationals of the following countries who are planning to travel to the UK as a Visitor.
An ETA would provide you permission to travel to the UK, then you would request permission to enter the UK as a Visitor on arrival.
The ETA is due to open to further nationalities soon, please check the UK government website for further details.
Note only nationals of the listed countries can apply for an ETA, and it would only be appropriate for those nationals wishing to come to the UK with Visitor permission (e.g. for a course shorter than 6 months), and not those who intend to apply for Student permission.
International students are able to apply for Student immigration permission to study a part-time course which is postgraduate level or higher (RQF level 7 or above) at Queen Mary University of London.
Students who want to apply for Student immigration permission for part-time studies should consider the following:
You should think carefully about whether applying for Student immigration permission for part-time studies is the right route for you.
If you are studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science or dentistry abroad equivalent to at least degree level, you will be able to undertake electives in the UK with Visitor permission provided these are relevant to your course of study, are unpaid, and do not involve any treatment of patients.
You can undertake your SSCs with Visitor permission provided they are unpaid and involve no treatment of patients. You can also choose to be sponsored for the full length of your programme with Student immigration permission which would allow you to enter the UK any time during your course, provided that you are entering for the purpose of study. Periods of study in the UK should be arranged with your School Office and you should request a letter each time you come to the UK confirming your period of study to show to the Border Force Officer.
Please see the table above to compare the two different types of immigration permission.
You can apply for your immigration permission in the country where you are living. 'Living' means that you are there lawfully for a reason other than a short-term visit, so if you are living in Malta for the purpose of studies, you can make your immigration application in Malta.
If you are coming to join us for the Summer School, you would normally apply for Visitor permission.
If you are a national of a country listed on the UK government's visa national list, then you will need to apply for, and be granted, Visitor permission before travelling to the UK. For detailed guidance see: Application process before you travel
If your nationality is not listed on the UK government's visa national list, then you can request Visitor permission on entry to the UK. For detailed guidance see: Apply when you arrive in the UK
For guidance about the supporting documents you may need to prepare, see: Supporting documents
An Associate Research student is normally seen as a student for the purposes of UK immigration, not staff (although we understand that in your home country you may be considered staff). Therefore, you should use the table in the section 'Student or Visitor permission' to decide whether to enter the UK as a Visitor, or as a Student. The Visitor rules allow someone to undertake research or be taught about research at a UK institution for up to six months provided that the research or research tuition is relevant to the course of study that they are enrolled on overseas, and that they will not be employed at the UK institution.
If you will be coming to the UK to work for Queen Mary, for example as a postdoctoral researcher, you will need to contact the university’s Human Resources department for information about applying for immigration permission which would allow you to work in the UK.
To find the appropriate person to contact, visit the Human Resources website.