International Students

Before you travel to Britain

As an international student, you are likely to have to make extra preparations before leaving home and to require additional documentation from University College Birmingham. Please use the checklist below to make sure you are fully prepared.

• For EU students, make sure you satisfy the conditions of the offer of a place given by University College Birmingham

• Bring all your original qualification certificates and examination results with you - copies will not be accepted

• Have a valid passport

• Obtain any medical certificates you might need

• Make arrangements for your accommodation and bring your accommodation details with you;

• Book transport to Birmingham

• Check the dates for the international student orientation

• Plan your budget

Student Visa Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

A CAS is a multidigit number which is required for successful Student Visa applications.  This is generated by the University and will be provided to you as part of the Home Office CAS statement after you fully complete your admissions process, including accepting an offer, paying a fee, and passing pre-CAS checks. Please ensure you submit all the documents required as part of your offer and pay the necessary fee as soon as possible, so that CAS can be released in good time.

To gain a Student Visa

You will have to score points against 2 sets of objective criteria with a score of 40 points - 30 points are awarded for the CAS; 10 points are awarded for the Maintenance and Funds Test (you will have to show that you have funds to pay the first year of fees plus £10,300) which means that you must be able to demonstrate that you have and have had for a minimum of 28 days £10,300 as well as any outstanding tuition fees for your course. Please note a recent policy update now means that if you have been in the UK for at least 12 months with valid immigration permission you automatically meet the 10 points needed for Maintenance and Fund Test and will not have to evidence this amount. If unsure please check with the International Student Adviser.

You must also be studying on a full-time course, involving a minimum of 15 hours per week organised daytime study; or a course which includes a work placement element which is no more than 50% of the full course length if the course is at Level 6 (a degree course or higher) or 33% if the full course length if your course is at RQF Levels 3-5. 

You must also choose whether you wish to undertake a work placement before your arrival in the UK.

As your approved education provider for the duration of your study in the UK, University College Birmingham has a number of duties that we are required, by law, to comply with. There are some important points relating to these duties that we would therefore like to remind you of as you prepare for your arrival in the UK.

For international students it is essential that you bring a copy of your passport with your new visa in it and, if applicable, your biometric identity card, to the enrolment session at University College Birmingham on the day specified. You will be expected to have our Sponsor Licence number (6W04D4YG2) printed on your student visa and it may delay or prevent your enrolment if this is not the case.

International students who are new to the UK should note that the visa you receive after your application is successful will only be valid for ninety days. It does not entitle you to enrol at University College Birmingham and you must arrange collection as soon as possible of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) from a specified local Post Office. You can do this independently or assistance will be provided by UCB at orientation. This Permit contains your permission to be in the UK for the rest of your course (plus a short amount of time afterwards) and is only available from the UK. Failure to do this could mean that you lose your student visa.

We will also need to verify your new address in the UK, so it is important that we receive up-to-date contact details for you as soon as they are available.

The UK Immigration authorities also requires us to maintain up to date records for students whilst they are enrolled at University College Birmingham and we are asked to report any students whose circumstances alter once they arrive in the country. We are required to report students who:

• Fail to enrol on the course within the enrolment period;

• Withdraw, or who are withdrawn by us, from their course;

• DO not attend their classes as per the timetable;

• Change their immigration status to another category and therefore their migration sponsor;

• Transfer to a shorter course or have their length of study shortened;

• We suspect are breaking the conditions of their permission to stay.

You will also need to keep your CAS statement safe for the duration of your stay in the UK as you may be asked to produce this in the future. As a student on a Student Visa, you will be expected to provide us with all the information we need to meet the duties above and your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.

If you need to extend your visa in the UK, our International Student Advisors in the International Student Centre will be happy to help you.

Email us

Living costs

It is very difficult to advise international students as to the living costs in the UK, since much depends upon the student’s expectations and needs. However, as a guide, we can offer the following estimates of costs over the course of an academic year:

Important:  The Home Office require at least £10,300 to be available to you to spend on your living expenses (excluding tuition fees).