Immigration advice for Erasmus students

As the UK has left the EU, Erasmus students from countries within the European Economic Area (EEA)/Switzerland are required to have a visa.

There are two options, as explained below. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the immigration rules for students.

For further advice:

• visit the UK Border Agency website;
• visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website; or
• contact the British Embassy in your country. 

Student Route visa applicants

If you are coming to study for more than six months you are required to come to the UK via the student route visa.

The immigration rules require you to prove that you can financially support yourself while studying in the UK; the required amount is £1,334 per month and an academic year is of nine months.

Note: Kingston University is considered INNER LONDON.

Visa process for Student Route visas

Once you have been offered and have accepted your place on the Erasmus programme you will receive confirmation of a CAS statement. This process can take up to a month due to the volume of applications. You will need to request this through the OSIS website. The CAS number will be confirmed in an email from the CAS team.

Students applying for entry clearance from outside the UK should apply no earlier than three months of the course start date (end of June). If you use your CAS earlier than this, your visa application may be refused.

Find out about applying for entry clearance via the Student Route visa.

Immigration Health Surcharge

In addition to the Student Visa application fee, you will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application. This entitles you to use the National Health Service (NHS) if you become unwell or have an accident while studying in the UK. Please refer to the National Health Services (NHS). The IHS amount is generally £470 per year but you can double-check how much IHS you would need to pay before you apply by using the immigration health surcharge tool.

Standard Visitor Visa applicants

If you will be studying for less than six months you need to choose whether to come to the UK via a Standard Visitor Visa or the Student Route visa. You must check whether you are considered a visa national or not as this will affect what is mandatory and what is optional for you. Standard visitors are not permitted to work (whether paid, unpaid or an internship) and cannot extend their stay in the UK.

Visa process

Once you have been offered and have accepted your place on the Erasmus programme, your faculty will provide you with a letter to bring with you to Customs upon your arrival, confirming your place on the programme.