Entry clearance or visa

When planning your studies abroad you should investigate what type of entry clearance you require for the UK. The entry clearance given to people who normally require a visa to enter the UK and intend to come to the UK to study is called a Student Visa. The notes below are intended for guidance, but for complete information on the requirements that apply in your country please check with your local British Embassy (see http://www.fco.gov.uk follow links for ‘about us’ and then ‘UK Embassies Overseas’ ) or your local HIBT representative. For UK Government information on general requirements for visa applications, application forms and official guidelines see http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/

You can also seek advice from the British Council Education Counselling Service at your local branch – check to see if there is an office near you at http://www.britishcouncil.org/home-contact-worldwide.htm

Or you can request advice from the nearest British Embassy see http://www.fco.gov.uk follow links for ‘about us’ and then ‘UK Embassies Overseas’ (please note that some consulates do not provide a visa service and require you to contact the main British Embassy in your country). The British Embassy can advise you regarding their local entry clearance system and the cost of the application process. Some embassies will send you the application forms and guidance booklet by post, others will require you to collect them in person. Some Embassies require you to bring your application in person so that they can check the application and documents you have provided before submitting them for a decision, others will accept applications and give decisions by post. Some Embassies have very long waiting lists for student visa interviews or take a long time to process applications especially at busy periods in the year. You should make sure you have all the information you need about the visa application process so that when you receive your letter of offer and visa support documentation from HIBT you can apply for your visa without delay.

Check with your local British Embassy so that you can make sure that you have sufficient time to obtain your student visa before you travel to the UK, if you are unable to obtain your student visa in time to let you travel to the UK for the start of your intake semester, you might need to consider deferring your offer of a place to the following semester. If you find yourself in this situation contact the HIBT office for advice.

When completing your application form or at your visa interview please remember the following:

The entry clearance officer will ask you to demonstrate

• Full time studies - that you will be a full-time student at HIBT on a degree pathway leading to a degree from the University of Hertfordshire – you should show the entry clearance officer your HIBT Confirmation of Admission letter and visa support documents (this will be couriered to you / your agent after you have paid your deposit and confirms receipt of your payment of fees and contains all the information the visa officer needs about your offer and your acceptance of this offer).
• Adequate qualifications - that you have the appropriate qualifications to undertake the programme you will be studying – you should produce evidence of your current qualifications, you should produce original certificates and documents as photocopies are not sufficient.
• Knowledge of the programme - that you have an in-depth knowledge of the course you intend to study; the subjects you will be studying and be able to provide reasons why you wish to study in the UK rather than your own country. Make sure you have read and understand our prospectus / website.
• Sufficient English language - that you have sufficient English language skills appropriate for the level of course you will be studying. If you have taken an IELTS test or other English Language qualification, please ensure you have the original documentation to prove this. If you have taken the IBT English Language test, please ensure that you have a copy of one of our informal certificates, which explains to the visa officer that you have been tested and that this has been assessed by us. If you have taken the IBT test and do not have a copy of this documentation please contact HIBT.
• Ability to pay fees - in order to receive your visa support documents and Confirmation of Admission letter from us, you will need to pay a minimum of one semesters part of your tuition fees. We will only refund these fees if you do not get your visa to study in the UK. Please refer to the HIBT refund policy in the brochure. It is important that the visa officer is aware that you have paid your tuition fees and. In addition to your Confirmation of Admission letter, please ensure that you also have receipt of your payment of these fees.

The entry clearance officer may ask you for information about where you will be living whilst you are studying in the UK.

• If you are going to stay in a student (halls of) residence and have booked and paid a deposit for your accommodation you should provide the documents relating to these arrangements. If you require accommodation at HIBT and have not booked, please contact Ms. Laura Mudge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• If you are going to stay with friends or relatives you should provide documents from them confirming that you will be doing this.
• If you have arranged private rented accommodation you should provide the contract for the property and evidence that you have paid any deposit or rent in advance.

The entry clearance officer will require you to provide evidence that you have enough money to cover tuition and living expenses for you and any dependants travelling with you. You should be able to provide a bank statement showing that you have sufficient funds for the whole duration of your studies.

• If you are being sponsored by your parents you will need to provide a letter from them stating how much money you will be given and how often; together with a letter from the bank or bank statement showing that they have these funds available or a letter from their employer or company accounts showing that their income will be sufficient to continue maintaining you throughout your studies.
• If a company or charity is sponsoring you, you should provide a letter from the organisation confirming how much money they will give, how often and for how long. If they will be paying your tuition fees only, you will still have to provide evidence that you have sufficient savings of your own or other funding to maintain yourself. The entry clearance officer may ask for more information on companies or charities that are not well known such as company accounts or publicity material.
• If you will be taking a student loan from a bank or other source you should provide evidence that you have made an application and that this is being processed or evidence that you have a loan arranged.
• International students may work part time up to a maximum of 20 hours per week whilst they are studying in the UK, but projected earnings from such employment cannot at the moment be used as proof of sufficient resources to pay tuition fees and for your maintenance.

Having insufficient financial resources or failure to provide details about sponsors may result in being refused a student visa. You should make sure that you are aware of the total amount of money you will need to fund your studies in the UK. You should be able to demonstrate that you already have sufficient money or explain to the entry clearance officer how you are going to obtain this money. An estimated cost of study is clearly listed in your Confirmation of Admission letter. Please refer to this as guidelines to the resources you need to prove are available to you.

The entry clearance officer will wish to assure him/herself that you intend to leave the UK on completion of your studies

• You should be able to show that there are job opportunities in your country in the fields you are studying
• You should be able to show that you have personal ties which mean that you will return home at the end of your studies.
• It can sometimes be difficult for students to obtain a student visa and a dependent’s visa for their wife or husband as entry clearance officers are wary that you may not intend to return home, but intend to settle in the UK at the end of your studies.
• If you receive a student visa, valid for more than one year, your spouse may be given permission to work in the UK whilst you are studying, but projected earnings for such employment in the UK cannot be used as proof of sufficient resources to maintain yourselves.
• HIBT does not provide short-term or long-term accommodation for married couples. Therefore, students who intent to bring their husband or wife or family with them should make sure that they have made arrangements for private rented accommodation before they arrive in the UK
• Students wishing to enter the UK with spouse, will have to provide evidence that they have sufficient money to maintain themselves and their family for the duration of their studies.

The entry clearance officer may ask you to provide additional information:

In addition to the above, students from some countries may have to provide proof of vaccinations, provide a chest x-ray or a health certificate. Some students may also have to undergo a medical check before they can enter the UK. You should ask the British Embassy whether you will have to provide evidence of your medical history either when you apply for your student visa or upon entry to the UK.

Travel Arrangements

Many students travel to and from the UK at the beginning and end of each semester, therefore flights can be heavily booked in advance. It is advisable to make a flight booking as soon as you have confirmed your enrolment with HIBT.

Orientation is held on the Wednesday before the commencement of each semester, and it is advisable that all new students attend. You should try to arrive in the UK 3-5 days prior to Orientation to allow time to settle in, arrange accommodation, open bank accounts and become familiar with the campus, local transport and surrounding areas.

Students who arrive in the UK late and miss Orientation will have fewer options with regard to subject choice and timetable selection.

Students who find that they cannot arrive by the first day of teaching will miss valuable introduction to their subject and they must contact HIBT to seek permission for late arrival. Should permissions be granted it is on the understanding that it is the student’s responsibility to catch up on any work that has been missed.

Please ensure that you contact us with your flight details as soon as your flight is booked. Please contact Ms. Laura Mudge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , who will arrange for an airport pickup for you and or ensure that you will have a smooth transition in to HIBT.

Important documents

You should bring the following documents with you to the UK as they will be required throughout various stages of your stay:

• A valid passport and students visa
• Your initial Letter of Offer and visa support documents from HIBT
• Certified copies or originals of your academic transcripts (including evidence of English proficiency)
• Personal Identification (e.g. driver’s license, birth certificate etc.)
• Any medical prescriptions/certificates/history/reports
• Full details of your accommodation
• Proof of your address in your home country
• Contact numbers for any family/friends

Dress codes in the UK are normally casual. The general rule is to wear something in which you feel comfortable. Most students wear jeans and trainers to lectures.

The temperature varies between quite hot in the summer time (up to 30 degrees) so you will need summer clothing – T-shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses, hat, swimwear, sandals. And then drops, sometimes to below zero in the winter so you will also need winter clothing – jeans, jumpers/sweaters, thick jackets, raincoat, long socks, gloves, scarves, winter shoes. You can pick up most things cheaply in Hatfield, but you may wish to bring some personal Items – basic toiletries (toothbrush, soap, towel etc.) so that you do not need to go shopping straight away. We also advise that you bring a spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses and a current optical prescription (as these are expensive in the UK).