Can I apply in the UK?

If you are already in the UK on a Student visa or under another visa category, you may be able to submit a Student visa application from within the UK. Further information on eligibility to apply from within the UK can be found on the UKCISA website. If you are switching from a different visa category and you have not been living in the UK for more than 12 months you will need to provide evidence that you can meet the financial requirements.

Student visas are only valid for use on the programme of study at the institution they were issued for:

• If you have a Student visa that was issued for study at another university, you must apply to extend your visa before you can complete registration at The University of Manchester and start studying your new course.

• If you hold a Student visa issued for study at the University of Manchester and you are starting a new programme, you must apply to extend your visa before you can complete registration on your new course and start studying.

In both cases, you do not need to have received your new visa before the start of the programme. However, you must at least have provided evidence to the Student Immigration Team that you have submitted your Student visa application.

Please note: You cannot study with a Graduate visa so you must have obtained your new Student visa BEFORE you can start studying with us. 

Applying in the UK before you have the award of your previous degree

If you apply in the UK, you should have evidence of having successfully completed your previous course, by having your official award certificate, transcripts or an official award letter. If you are due to complete your course very soon or do not yet have your award then you can still apply for a visa in the UK using a Progression Confirmation Letter from your current department or school as evidence that you are expected to complete this course successfully before starting your new one.

This is particularly useful for current masters students who are either moving to a PhD course or starting a second masters before they have received their results. The Progression Confirmation Letter is an extra document that you must be able to provide to UKVI if asked to do so.

There are very specific requirements for this letter and your CAS, so if you do wish to rely on this you must contact us directly before you apply.

Note: Those who are still unable to submit a Student visa application in the UK include:

• Students who have left a course without completing it and who want to start a new course or transfer to a new course. This includes MPhil students progressing to PhD without completing the MPhil degree or PhD students who are transferring to Manchester to continue the work they have undertaking at a different institution.
• Students who are transferring from a 1-year Masters degree into the second year of a related 2-year Masters programme.
• Masters students who have been granted an extension to their programme. Masters students would only be eligible to apply for a visa extension from the UK if they are repeating course modules or if they have repeated or resat previously.