Please note.  Swansea University has started charging deposits for all (non-EEA) overseas students as a result of the changes to visa arrangements.  You must pay a £2000 deposit before we can issue your visa support letter.  Further details can be found below

The UK Government introduced a new Visa and immigration system on 31st March 2009 called the Points Based Immigration System.  Most International students will need a student visa to allow them to study in the UK.  This page explains what documents you will need to obtain your visa under the new system. 

When you apply for your visa you will need:

• A visa support letter from your chosen University (the new visa will list the name of your chosen University, so you should make sure you know the university you want before you apply for a visa*)
• Original copies and certified translations of the documents you sent with your application (e.g. certificates and transcripts)
• Evidence that you have enough money for the first year of your course tuition fees (the amount quoted on your offer letter, minus any deposit you have paid the University or any bursary you have been awarded)
• Evidence that you have enough money to cover your living expenses in the UK:
  • £600 for every month of the course, if your course lasts 1 year or less; or
  • £5400 for the first year if your course lasts for more than a year; or
  • £1200 if you have just finished a course in the UK lasting 6 months or more and you are extending an existing student visa;
  • If you have dependants, you will need to show that you have more money available to support them
• This money must have been in a bank account in your name for at least 28 days before you apply for a visa; or you will need to show evidence of a loan in your name. 
• Alternatively, if you have an official financial sponsor you must provide a letter from your sponsor stating that they will pay the course fees and living expenses of at least £600 per month

More information on the money you will need can be found on the money section of the UKBA website or if you have dependants and want to know how much extra money you will need click here.

* if you decide to attend a different university from the one named on your visa you will have to ask for permission from the UK Border Agency before you can enrol (you will have to contact the UK Border Agency and obtain permission to change institution – see below)

When you will be sent your visa support letter by Swansea

We will send you a visa support letter once you have done all of the following:

• Been made an unconditional offer of a place (or have met all of the terms of your conditional offer)
• Have paid a £2000 deposit towards your tuition fees or provided us with a letter from the corporate/government sponsor who is paying your fees (for full details on how to pay your deposit see below)
• Accepted your offer by sending back the acceptance letter, duly signed
• Provided the Admissions Office with a photocopy of your passport
• Provided the Admissions Office with details of your permanent home address (not just your correspondence or contact address)

Once all of these have been done, we will e-mail a copy of your visa letter and send the original by DHL direct to you (or to your agent if you applied through one)

What will my Visa Support Letter say?

Your visa support letter will contain all of the information needed for you to obtain a visa, including:

• Your personal details (full name, home address, nationality, passport number)
• Swansea University’s visa licence number
• Details about your course (course name and level, start and end dates, whether full- or part-time)
• Finances (tuition fees, amount of deposit paid or the name of your sponsor)
• Details of the documents we saw when we made your offer (you must take the originals and certified translations of these documents with you when you apply for your visa because they will be checked by the Entry Clearance Officer)

How can I pay my £2000 deposit?

You can make your payment by wire transfer into Swansea University’s bank account. 

Here are the bank details you will need:

Lloyds TSB Bank PLC
802 Oxford Street
Swansea SA1 3AF
UK

Sort Code: 30-95-46
Account Number: 02783215
Swift Code: LOYDGB21101
IBAN NO: GB64LOYD30954602783215

You must quote your student number when making a payment (the number on the top of your offer letter) or we may not be able to match your deposit to your application.

If a government or company are paying your fees you should ask for a letter from them confirming this or ask them to complete our Confirmation of Sponsorship Form. You would not normally have to pay a deposit if you are receiving financial support from a corporate sponsor or from a US Federal Loan.  Unfortunately we cannot accept parents or family as sponsors.

What if I already have a visa for another University?

If you already have a visa which names a different University, you can still come to Swansea University once we have sent you a visa support letter.  BUT you must ask for permission from the UK Border Agency before you can begin your studies at Swansea.  You could enrol before they reply, but there is a small risk that they would refuse your request to change institution and this means you will have to enrol at the institution named on your visa.

You should send an e-mail to: migrantreporting@ukba.gsi.gov.uk which includes:

• Your name, address, date of birth and visa number
• And from your visa support letter: Swansea University’s name, address, contact details and licence number; also the course name, start and end dates

 
Further advice or information

• More information on applying for a visa under the new points based system can be found on the UKBA website or on the UKCISA website
• If you have specific questions, please e-mail the Admissions Office at: admissions-enquiries@swansea.ac.uk