The type of visa / permission you need depends on the course you're coming to study: 

• A full-time course for longer than six months: you must apply for a student visa (Student route), unless you already have other immigration permission* which allows you to study
• A short course or period of study as a visiting student for less than 6 months: you should use the visitor route (or apply for a Student visa in some cases)
• An English language course of between 6 and 11 months: you should use the short-term study route
• A distance learning or part-time course where short visits are required: you should use the visitor route
• A part-time course longer than 6 months with a weekly or monthly attendance requirement: you will not be eligible for any Student visa or other visitor permission due to the structure of the course, but you may be able to study if you already have other immigration permission* which allows you to study in the UK

If you are already in the UK with other immigration permission

If you're eligible for UK immigration permission in another capacity, you may also be allowed to study without having to apply for a Student visa. Other types of permission that allow you to study in the UK include (but are not limited to):

• Ancestry; British National (Overseas) visa; Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR); Refugee; Settlement; Tier 1; Tier 5
• Dependants in any immigration category
• Other types of immigration permission that allow study

Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

EU, EEA nationals or Switzerland (excluding Ireland)

If you're a national of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you don’t need a student visa if you came to the UK before 11pm on 31 December 2020, but you will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you wish to stay beyond 30 June 2021. If you are granted Pre-settled or Settled status under this scheme you will not need a visa to study beyond that date.

If you arrived in the UK on or after 1 January 2021, you may need to apply for a Student visa.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

If you’re coming to study a subject that requires ATAS clearance (postgraduate and integrated Master's courses in some Science, Engineering and Technology subjects) you may need to apply for an ATAS certificate before you register on your course. You may also need this if you’re applying for a Student visa.

Further information about ATAS and whether you’ll need to apply for a certificate.