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STUDENTS
International Students

Read our most up-to-date information for international students interested in studying at LIS. Deadline information for international students is available below.

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Find out how we support international students
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guidance
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Guidance on applying to LIS

If you are an international student please read the following guidance which we have prepared to try to help you in your decision about whether or not to apply for LIS. It is important to realise that requirements depend on your individual circumstances. So please contact us if you are unsure about how these considerations apply to you.

We are able to accept international students

We hold a probationary sponsorship licence which allows us to accept international students as part of the undergraduate and master’s cohorts.

To get a visa, you will need to meet all the relevant visa requirements set out by the government.

Settled and pre-settled status

If you have settled status through the EU settlement scheme you will be eligible to be admitted to LIS. There are many rules and exceptions around being “settled”. You can read more about these on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.

In brief, being settled means both normally living in the UK and not having any immigration restriction on the length of your stay in the UK.

If you have pre-settled status through the EU settlement scheme you will be eligible to be admitted to LIS. You may, however, be in a different position regarding access to student loans. Please see the student finance section for more details.

Will I have to pay "international" or "home" fees?

This is a complex area. A good source of current guidance can be found here.

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Student Finance: Home & EU students
“Home” (UK) Students

The question of whether you are able to apply for financial support is different from the question of whether or not you are eligible to study at LIS.

  • LIS is an officially- registered provider. If you meet the Student Loans Company eligibility criteria, you will be able to access tuition fee and maintenance loans.

  • Full details can be found at the Student Finance England website.

  • There are complex rules and exceptions around student support. An excellent website which sets out the key information is UKCISA.

"Settled" Students

If you had settled or pre-settled status before 31 December 2020, you are likely eligible to apply to LIS without needing an LIS-sponsored visa. Please see the financial support criteria for details. Should you be eligible to study at LIS but not eligible for financial support, you can pay student fees directly to LIS.

If you have any questions, we encourage you to get in touch with us at [email protected]

Student Support Criteria
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You must be settled in the UK on the first day of the first academic year of the course; and
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On the first day of the first academic year of the course you must be ordinarily resident in England; and
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You must also have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the full three-year period before the first day of the first academic year of the course;
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The main purpose for your residence in the UK and Islands must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of the three-year period.
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disclaimer

Please note that all international students should submit their application by 5pm Friday 14th June in order to be considered for the 2024 cohort. Whilst you are able to submit an application after this date, it is highly unlikely that you will secure a visa in time to enrol on the programme this year.

As such, we strongly encourage you to submit your application ahead of Friday 14th June 2024. If you are unable to meet this deadline but would still like to apply to LIS, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“Why do I need to submit by the 14th?”

Applying for a visa is a lengthy process which, according to Home Office rules, includes providing evidence of: (i) your financial ability to fund yourself; (ii) your current level of English.

You can read the complete rules on the government website.

Prior to getting a visa, LIS must view the required evidence in order to issue a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies or CAS. After receiving a CAS, you can order a visa appointment.

Please note that the premium service for fast visas is currently suspended and there are longer than usual waiting times for visa confirmations.

If you submit your application Friday 14th June 2024 we estimate that you will have a reasonable chance of getting a visa for the start of term. After this date, we consider the chance of getting a timely visa to be very small and are unlikely to issue a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS).

It is important to note that none of the advice above should be taken as legal advice. It is intended to act as a short guide for students who are interested in studying at LIS and has no broader aim.

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