As of 1 December 2020 there are 2 types of visa for SGUSOM students wanting to come to the UK, a Student Visa or a Visitor Visa. The length of time you are planning to study in the UK determines which visa you will need.
If you are planning to study for less than 6 months and hold a visa national passport you will need to obtain a Visitor Visa. If you hold a non-visa national passport (USA, Canada, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago), you will NOT need a visa to study in the UK for less than 6 months.
If you will be studying in the UK for longer than 6 months you will need to apply for and obtain a Student Visa to enter the UK. The UK Office will supply you with a CAS number for your visa application.
If you hold a UK passport or hold permissions under the EU Settlement Scheme you do not currently need a visa of any type to study in the UK for any length of time but this may be subject to change.
The diagram below summarises the current visa requirements for studying in the UK:
Find out what type of visa you need to enter the UK
Please follow the link below and input your personal information to find out if you need a visa to come to the UK and specifically what type of visa you require: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
Visitor Visa
- Study period of 6 months or less
- Visitor Visa required if you are a visa national (e.g Nigeria).
- You need to apply for leave to enter on a Visitor Visa before travelling to the UK.
- Supporting letter provided by the UK Office
- Can only be used ONCE to enter UK for study period of <6 months
- NO visa necessary if you are a non-visa national (e.g USA, Canada, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago)
Student Visa
- Study period of more than 6 months
- Required if returning to UK having previously studied for <6 months
- CAS number required from UK Office to submit with visa application
CAS Numbers
All students are required to provide specific information to the SGISM Office in the UK in order that a CAS number can be issued. This includes passport number, nationality, date of birth and country of birth. Please note that a CAS CANNOT be issued until a student has met all the SGUSOM requirements to enter the Clinical Programme. When you submit a visa application, all supporting documents listed in the gov.uk application form must be submitted at the same time as your application. This is your personal responsibility.
UK Passport holders and those holding permissions under the EU Settlement Scheme
Students holding a UK passport or permissions under the EU Settlement Scheme do not currently need a visa to enter the UK and will be issued with their placement details as soon as they have met all SGUSOM requirements to enter the Clinical Programme.
Compliance with the terms of your Visa once you are in the UK
On arrival in the UK you must immediately provide the following documents to the UK SGISM Office in Winchester:
- A copy of the page in your passport showing your personal details and passport number
- A copy of the page in your passport showing your UK visa/entry stamp or a copy of your BRP card if you have been issued with one and
- A signed copy of the Mandatory Information Form which you will receive from your Student Coordinator at your hospital.
You must also immediately report any changes in your circumstances to the UK SGISM Office in Winchester e.g change of contact details, amendments to your schedule, absence from your rotations or leaving the UK for any reason.
Visa Extensions
It is not possible for SGUSOM students to switch visa categories from within the UK. You will be required to leave the UK and apply for a new visa from your home country.
If you entered the UK on a Student Visa, you are able to apply for an extension of this visa from within the UK. You will need to request a new CAS number from the UK Office for the extension application
Information on how to apply for UK Visitor and Student visas can be found on the following website: www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk