Tier 4 (General) Student Visa Information

Excel English has been given Tier 4 Sponsor (formerly Highly Trusted Sponsor) status by the UK Border Agency.  Our sponsorship number is AMVYA5Y78.  We can provide information and the correct documentation to support your visa application to study at our school, but we are not licensed to give visa advice.


Details & Highlights

Do I need a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa?

  • Are you from a country outside the European Union or European Economic Area?
  • Are you aged over 16 years?
  • Do you want to study an English language course for more than 11 months, or do you want to extend your studies in the UK?

If you answered ‘yes’ to all of the questions above, then you need a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa.  We recommend that you visit the UK Border Agency website for more information about this kind of visa.

What level of English do I need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa?

You must have a recent certificate (less than 2 years old) that proves you are able to study a course at Level B2 or above on the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR).

Which exam must I take to prove my level?

You must take an exam that is approved as a Secure English Language Test (SELT) by the UK Border Agency for visa purposes.  These include –

  • IELTS
  • Trinity College London

Click here for a full list of SELT Exams from the UK Border Agency website.

Excel English offers exam preparation courses for IELTS.
Visit our Exam Preparation programmes for more information.

How can Excel English help me with my visa application?

Excel English has been given Tier 4 Sponsor (formerly Highly Trusted Sponsor) status by the UK Border Agency.  Our sponsorship number is AMVYA5Y78.  We can give you information about the visa you require, but we are not licensed to give advice.

Once you have booked a course at Excel English –

  • we will provide you with a CAS (Certficate of Acceptance of Study).  The fee for this service is £15.

Please note: Excel English will only provide your CAS once we are satisfied that your application to our school is genuine, and you have paid your fees in full.  If you need the documents to be sent to you by secure courier, we will charge for the cost of the courier (our normal courier company is UPS).

I need a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. Can I apply to your school directly, or must I use an Educational Consultant?

We accept both direct bookings and bookings through an Educational Consultant.

However, we strongly recommend that if you need to apply for a visa, you speak to an Educational Consultant in your country.  They have experience of helping other students to apply for their visas, so they know the requirements of the UK Border Agency.

Click here if you want to contact an Educational Consultant

Where can I find more information about UK Visas?

You should always check the latest guidance from the UK Border Agency website.