Immigration/Visa for International students including EU, EEA and Swiss nationals
If you are an international applicant coming to the UK for a full-time degree course lasting six months or more, you will need to apply via the Student Route (previously Tier IV visa).
Once you have received an unconditional offer, we will contact you about the requirements and steps that need to be completed before we can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you will need in order to apply for your student visa.
Applicants should note that we have limited number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)* available annually; the CAS is tentatively allocated to an applicant with an unconditional offer on a first-come-first-served basis.
All international applicants are strongly advised to carefully read guidance from the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration to ensure the process and requirements are fully understood, including requirements to apply via the Student Route.
*A CAS number is a unique personal number that confirms that the School is prepared to sponsor you.
New Points-Based System for Immigration
Student Route will replace Tier 4 in the new UK's Points-Based Immigration System from 1 January 2021.
The Home Office has released more detail on the new UK's Points-Based Immigration System that has been phased in from 5 October 2020, in advance of ending free movement for EU citizens on 31 December at 11:00 BST.
The Points-Based System will include immigration routes for students, as well as highly skilled workers, skilled workers and a range of other specialist work routes including routes for global leaders in their field and innovators.
You can apply for a Student visa here https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals
EU (alongside EEA and Swiss) citizens who arrive before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, and relevant family members, will be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme. They have until 30 June 2021 to make an application under that scheme.
We strongly encourage our EU students to apply for the Settlement Scheme as soon as possible. We also strongly recommend that incoming EU students arrive in the UK before 31 December 2020 to ensure their eligibility for the Scheme. They will then have until 30 June 2021 to apply.
EU citizens who do not qualify under the EU Settlement Scheme (or other routes protected by the Withdrawal Agreement) arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 will need to apply and qualify for entry or stay on the same basis as non-EU citizens. EU citizens will therefore need to get a visa for all activities other than short-term visits and all EU citizens coming to the UK for more than six months will be able to prove other rights and entitlements. EU students will need to apply for the new Student Route if they arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020. The Home Office has published a useful introductory guide on the new PBS Immigration System specifically tailored to EU students.
Student Route
The new Points-Based System Student route visa will replace the current Tier 4 visa. The Student route comes into effect at 9:00 am BST on 5 October 2020.
It will affect Student and Student dependant applications made on or after then, regardless of the date on which a CAS was assigned. Applicants who have a valid CAS issued before 5 October at 9:00 under the Tier 4 route will be able to use it for an application under the Student route.
EU nationals can apply for entry clearance applications from 5 October 2020, for entry to the UK from 1 January 2021. Unlike other applicants, they will be granted a 'secure digital status' only, not a vignette or BRP. As part of their visa application, they will not be required to submit evidence to show that they meet the financial requirements or provide their academic qualifications used to obtain an offer of study. The Home Office, however, retains the right to request sight of these documents.
Visiting students
Study of up to six months, such as on our short courses, will be allowed under the standard visit route. This will replace the short-term study route.
GRADUATE IMMIGRATION ROUTE
The Home Office has announced its intention to introduce a new Graduate route to be launched in the summer of 2021, which will enable international students to remain in the UK for two years (or three years for PhD graduates) after they have completed their studies.
The Government has published a Fact Sheet, including Frequently-Asked-Questions, on the new Graduate route.
This proposal is excellent news for our international students graduating from 2021 and future applicants looking to stay for an additional two years (three in the case of PhD graduates) in the UK post-graduation to look for and /or take up work at any skill level.
Please note that this route could be delayed or withdrawn in future as the UK government defines further details to this route.
UKCISA
London Film School is a member of UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs, which also provides useful for international students who wish to study in the UK: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk
For further information or advice, please contact visa.advice@lfs.org.uk.
Last Updated: 9 August 2023