Student Visas

Bell is a Grade A Trusted Sponsor on the UKBA Register of Sponsors for all its UK centres. Bell has one sponsor licence in the name of Bell Educational Trust, which covers:

  • Bell International College, Cambridge
  • Bell International Institute, London
  • Bell Bedgebury Language Centre
  • Bell Young Learner programmes

Our sponsor licence means that we can sponsor and enrol students who require a visa to study in the UK. To find out if you need a visa to study in the UK please visit the UK Border Agency’s Visa Services website

If you need a visa to study in the UK, there are a number of options available to you:

STUDENT VISITOR VISAS

1. The Student Visitor Visa (Age 18+) Maximum stay 6 months

  • The Student Visitor Visa route is suitable for applicants aged 18 or over.
  • The visa allows you to study any of the courses offered by Bell for up to 6 months.
  • The maximum stay in the UK is 6 months and this cannot be extended.

2. The Extended Student Visitor Visa (Age 18+) Maximum stay 11 months

  • The Extended Student Visitor Visa route is suitable for applicants aged 18 or over.
  • Applicants must be studying an English language course.
  • The length of the English language course must be between 6 and 11 months.
  • The maximum stay is 11 months and this cannot be extended in the UK.

3. The Child Visitor Visa (Age under 18) Maximum stay 6 months

  • The Child Visitor Visa route is suitable for applicants aged 17 or under.
  • The visa allows you to study any of the courses offered by Bell for up to 6 months.
  • The maximum stay in the UK is 6 months and this cannot be extended in the UK.

TIER 4 STUDENT VISAS

Tier 4 is part of the UK’s points-based system for immigration. It is for migrants who wish to study in the UK. Students wishing to use this route must study with a registered Tier 4 Sponsor such as Bell.

1. The Tier 4 General (Adult) Student Visa (Age 16+)

  • The General (Adult) Student Visa route is suitable for anyone aged 16 or over wishing to come to the UK to study an English Language course for more than 11 months, or to study courses other than English Language for more than 6 months.
  • Tier 4 General (Adult) students must meet minimum language level requirements as outlined by UKBA. Visit The UK Border Agency’s Visa Services website for further information.
  • The visa can be extended within the UK.

2. The Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa (Ages 4-17)

  • The Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa route is suitable for children aged 4- 17 years old coming to the UK for their academic education.
  • Tier 4 (Child) Students are only allowed to study an English language course if it is a pre-sessional course taken immediately prior to the start of the main course of study in the UK.
  • The visa can be extended within the UK.

For further information on the different visa types and how to apply visit:

The above information is correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of publication.

Important:

  • If a student arrives at one of our centres with the wrong type of visa, they will not be able to study with us as this would contravene Government Regulations