If you are travelling to the United Kingdom (UK) to be a student, you may need to apply for a visa to enter the UK.
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals arriving in the UK on or before 31st December 2020
If you are planning to arrive in the UK before 31 December 2020, then, as you will be entering prior to the end of the transition period, you will be eligible to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme. You must ensure to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme before 30 June 2021. You can enter the UK using either your EU passport, or your EU national identity card.
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals arriving in the UK from 1st January 2021
If you arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020, then you will have to apply for the new Student Route visa, unless you already hold settled or pre-settled status or are an ROI student (you are able to enter and stay in the UK without any need for a visa owing to Common travel area rules). EU nationals will not be eligible to apply for the Student Route visa unless they are coming to the UK after 31 December 2020).
Advice for non-EU/EEA nationals
If you are a national of a non-EU/EEA country, you must seek immigration permission to come to the UK.
Courses longer than six months
If you are coming to the UK for the main purpose of studying a course which is more than six months in length, you should apply for a Student Route visa in your home country before travelling.
Student Route visa
Courses less than six months
If you are coming to the UK for a course that is less than six months in length, you can apply for a Student Route visa or a Standard Visitor visa.
Standard Visitor visa
Arriving to the UK via Ireland
If you do not apply for your visa before travelling and you travel via the Republic of Ireland, you will not pass through UK immigration control and will not have an opportunity for your visa to be stamped in your passport. This means that you will not have permission to study in the UK and you will not be able to enrol on your course at Edinburgh Napier University.
If you are travelling to Edinburgh from overseas, you should fly directly into Edinburgh airport or transit through one of the other airports on the UK mainland.
Help with your visa application
Visit our visa and immigration website for further information, or contact our Visa & International Support Team, who are on hand to guide you through the visa process.
Contact Visa & International Support