How to apply

Applications should be submitted directly to the English language school of your choice. Please use the School Search to find out more about the English language schools in London and the courses on offer. On each School profile you will find the contact details for the school. Contact the schools directly with any questions you have.

Visa Advice

There are two main types of visas for English language students. The type you need to apply for depends on the length of your course and your age.

Student Visitor Visa
If you are over 16 years of age and your English language course is shorter than 11 months then you will need to apply for a Student Visitor Visa. To get a visitor visa you must:

1. Study at a recognised English language school
2. Not undertake any work in the UK
3. Demonstrate you have enough money to support yourself for the length of your stay

This visa cannot be extended and you will be unable to switch to another visa category.

Tier 4 Student Visa
If you are over 16 years of age and you want to study English language in the UK for longer than 11 months then you will need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa (General). Your chosen school or college must be on the UKVI’s official list of approved sponsors.

Students Under 16 Years of Age
If you are under 16 years of age and want to study English language in the UK then you will need to apply for either the Child visitor visa (for courses lasting less than 11 months) or the Tier 4 (Child) Visa for longer courses.

Visit the UK Visa & Immigration website for more information on all the above visas to study English language in London.

Cost of living

If you will be studying in inner London you will need £1,020 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. This means that if you will be studying in inner London for a course that lasts one month only, the minimum amount that you will need is £1,020. If you will be studying in inner London for a course lasting nine months or more, the maximum amount that you will need is £9,180.

Note: if you make your Tier 4 application on or after 12 November 2015 this amount will increase to £1,265 per month. Therefore if your course lasts for nine months or more you will have to show £11,385.
If you will be studying elsewhere in the UK, the monthly amounts are lower: you need to have £820 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of £7,380 for a course lasting nine months or more.