Do I need a visa to study?

Students from outside the EEA or Switzerland are likely to need to apply for a visa in order to study at the University.

Students from within the EEA and Switzerland are likely to need to apply for a visa in order to study at the University if they are moving to the UK after 1 January 2021. EEA and Swiss students moving to the UK to start full-time studies prior to this date will not require a visa and can apply for the EU Settlement Scheme after arriving in the UK.

If you already have UK immigration permission in another capacity, e.g. as a dependant, under a Youth Mobility scheme or based on ancestry, you may be able to study on that without needing to apply for a student visa. You will need to provide evidence of this prior to starting at Cambridge.

What type of visa do I need?

It is important to ensure you have the correct immigration permission which permits study in the UK. The type of permission you require depends on the type of course you are coming to study:

• If you are coming for a course or period of study that is for less than six months, you may be able to come as a short-term student.
• If you are coming to study a course that is longer than 6 months, a Tier 4 visa is issued for study. 
• If you already have UK immigration permission under a different visa type you may be able to study on that visa without needing to apply for a student visa.

If you are entering the UK for the purpose of study, a standard visitor visa will not allow you to undertake studies at Cambridge.