Find information on how to apply to be a visiting student at Cambridge at Types of Study.
The information below is relevant to visiting students who are registered for a degree at another institution and attending Cambridge for a period of study or supervised research as part of their overseas degree.
Visiting for more than 6 months
If you intend to visit the University of Cambridge for a study period of greater than six months and have been accepted by a Faculty or Department, the appropriate visa is under the student route. The University holds a student sponsor licence which allows it to sponsor eligible students for a student visa. For visa sponsorship, the visit to Cambridge must be for the purpose of study or research that is part of your overseas qualification. This qualification must be at the same level as, or above, a UK degree. If you are not a registered student at another institution, visa sponsorship cannot be provided.
Certain courses will require you to obtain Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) before a CAS can be issued for your student visa application. The requirement for ATAS clearance is determined by the CAH3 code of the course. Students who hold an EEA nationality or one of the following nationalities are exempt from this requirement: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland. An ATAS application has a processing time of 20 working days and a CAS cannot be issued until the FCDO have issued your certificate. Departmental staff intending to host visiting students can find further guidance on the International Student Office's ATAS process web pages.
Visiting for six months or less
If you are coming to Cambridge for less than six months, you will be able to do this as a visitor to the UK. Further information on coming to the UK as a visitor is outlined on our short period of study page. This includes information on the requirements and restrictions of coming to the UK as a visitor, and whether you need to apply for a visa in advance. Where the period as a visiting student is to undertake a short period of research at Cambridge, this must be as part of your degree course at your home institution to meet the immigration requirements. A letter from the home institution confirming that the study at Cambridge is part of, or relevant to, your course overseas is required.
Once accepted as a visiting student for a period under six months, your host Faculty or Department will provide a visa letter. Please note this is different to the acceptance letter you may receive from your supervisor or Department at Cambridge.
Visiting students undertaking postgraduate-level research in certain science and technology subjects will require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate to support either their visa application, if you are required to apply for a visitor visa in advance of arriving in the UK, or entry to the UK at immigration control. You will be informed as part of your acceptance as a visiting student if this applies to you. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) manages ATAS. You must apply online to the FCDO and applications are normally decided within 20 working days. You will be sent the ATAS certificate via email and will need to print it out to support your visa application, or carry in your hand-luggage in case it is requested on entry to the UK at immigration control. Students who hold an EEA nationality or one of the following nationalities are exempt from this requirement: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland.