Yes, but you would usually need to come with a Standard Visitor visa (as a tourist). Once you have an unconditional offer of a place at a UK university, you would then need to return to your home country to apply for a study visa. This is because you cannot switch from a visitor visa to a study visa from within the UK.
Use the UKVI's ' Check if I need a UK visa?' feature. If you are still not sure, contact the International Student Support Office for advice.
If your course is 6 months or less (or 11 month or less pre-sessional English) then you could apply for a Standard Visitor Visa and you may be able to apply for a Student Visa.
| Course | Type of visa |
|---|---|
| Academic course, 6 months or less | Standard visitor or study visa |
| Pre-sessional English, 11 months or less | Standard visitor visa |
| General English | Visit Visa |
| Distance learning visit (less than 6 months) | Visit Visa |
Standard visitor visa - advantages compared to a student visa:
- Application fee is cheaper
- Processing time is usually quicker
- Less money required in bank account
- Non-visa nationals do not need to apply in advance, you can get a stamp on arrival to the UK
Standard visitor visa - disadvantages compared to a student visa:
- Cannot extend visa
- Cannot switch to a different visa type in the UK
- No entitlement to have dependant visas for family
- No work allowed
Exchange/Study Abroad students: Some students come to Bangor for one semester but love it here so much that they decide to stay for longer! If you already have a student visa it is quite straightforward to extend, but if you have a standard visitor visa you would have to go home to make a student visa application for the second semester.
More information: UKCISA - Short term study visa
CAS stands for "Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies".
You need a CAS number in order to apply for a student visa. Once you have an unconditional offer from Bangor University we will email your 'CAS letter' to you. Your CAS number can be found on your CAS letter.
Students applying for a student visa for postgraduate study in certain sensitive subjects, knowledge of which could be used in programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction, will need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they can study in the UK. Your offer letter will state if you need an ATAS certificate.
For more information and how to apply see the ATAS website.
For a student visa application:
Detailed guidance about a student visa is here.
For a standard visitor visa application
The UKVI do not state a fixed amount that you need to show, but they say that you need to have "enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you" and that you "can pay for your return or onward journey".
For the cost of living in the UK
And estimation of the cost of living for international students can be found here
Most large, national banks are accepted by the UKVI. The UKVI will check any bank statements you provide and verify their validity with the bank.
If you are applying to come to the UK for more than 6 months and you are a resident of certain countries, you will need to get a certificate confirming that you do not have active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) before you can apply for a visa. See the UKVI webpages for more details including a list of countries and approved clinics.
If you have been living in the UK for more than 6 months then you do not need to provide a TB test certificate.
There is information about this on our ' Family and Friends' webpage.
If I am applying for a Student Visa outside the UK?
Yes, you probably will be interviewed.
The UKVI intends to interview most student applicants before granting them a visa to come to the UK, therefore you probably be asked to attend an interview (in person or by telephone) as part of the application process. Interviews take place when you attend a visa application centre to give your biometric information (fingerprints & photograph).
A UKVI member of staff will ask you about your course, your reasons for studying in the UK, the reasons for choosing to study at Bangor University, how the course relates to your future career, and they must be satisfied that you are a genuine student and that your English language ability is at the correct level.
If I apply for a student visa within the UK?
No, you probably will not be interviewed.
The UKVI do interview some people; either for a random check or if the visa application is complicated for some reason. If you are required to go for an interview, the UKVI will email or write to you at some point during the visa application process.
If you are required to go for an interview, try not to worry, it is usually just a random check and/or to check that you are a genuine student. So if you are a genuine student you have nothing to worry about!
If you think the UKVI have made a mistake, you can consider submitting an Administrative Review to request that the re-consider your application.
If the UKVI had not made a mistake and you wish to submit a new visa application, you will need a new CAS letter. You should submit your request, along with a copy of your visa refusal letter, to our International Admissions Office: international@bangor.ac.uk. If possible, you should also attach copies of any documents that will show that your next visa application will be successful.
If you are already in Bangor, you should book an appointment with Alan Edwards, Head of International Student Services as soon as possible: internationalsupport@bangor.ac.uk.
You will need to apply for a new visa before you can study at Bangor University. Whether or not you can apply from within the UK depends on your previous course. Please see Can I apply in the UK?
You must submit a new student visa application before you can register at Bangor University. Once you have applied for your new visa, you can start at Bangor University before your visa application is approved.
If you failed or did not complete your course at the previous institution:
Contact our International Admissions Office to check if Bangor University can sponsor your new visa application: international@bangor.ac.uk or +44 (0) 1248 250008.
From the 6th April 2015, anyone who applies for a visa to come to the UK for more than six months has to pay an 'Immigration Health Surcharge' which is a contribution towards the National Health Service (NHS). It cost £470 per person per year for students and their dependants (correct at August 2021). It is calculated based on visa time not course time and is payable in 'blocks' of 6 months.
More details about the Immigration Health Surcharge can be found here.
Calculate your IHS payment here.
If you are progressing from undergraduate to Masters, or Masters to PhD, you can apply to extend your visa in the UK and you must make a new visa application before your old visa finishes.
If you want to change your course part-way through, and the new course is the same level, same subject area, and the same length as the old course, then you can probably continue studying at Bangor University with your existing visa - but please check with the International Student Support Office. However, if the course is in a completely different subject area you will need to return home to make a new visa application.
If you make a student visa application to come to the UK for more than 6 months you will be given an 'Entry Clearance' vignette (sticker) in your passport which will be valid for a 90 day period near the start of your course. After you are in the UK you will need to collect your BRP (visa card) within 10 days of arrival. On your visa application form, you can choose whether to collect your BRP at a designated Post Office or directly from Bangor University. If you choose to collect your BRP from Bangor University you will need to enter the Alternative Collection Location (ACL) code which can be found on your CAS letter.
If you make a student visa application to come to the UK for less than 6 months, your 'Entry Clearance' vignette 'sticker' will be valid for your whole course, and you will not be given a BRP.
The collection of BRP's are administered by the university academic engagement team.
No, University rules stipulate that all registered students who are sponsored on a student visa by Bangor University are expected to live within a reasonable travelling distance of Bangor and in the North Wales area.
The visa requirements vary widely between different countries.
If you plan to visit a country that is part of the Schengen Agreement, then you can apply for a Schengen visa to attend a conference. More details about Schengen visas.
If the country is not part of the Schengen Agreement then you should check on the website of the UK-based Consulate of the country that you wish to visit. Be careful that you check the official website not a third party visa service. You can double-check the details on the UKVI's list of Foreign Embassies in the UK.
Always make sure that you apply in plenty of time. It is advisable to apply at least 6-8 weeks in advance.