Before Your Studies
If you are not a UK or Irish citizen you must have valid immigration permission allowing study in the UK before we can enrol you on a course at AECC UC.
The GOV.UK webpages are a useful resource for help when you are considering study in the UK and we recommend that you visit the webpages to find out whether you need a visa to study in the UK and, if so, which is the most appropriate visa type for you.
Some British nationals require a visa to study in the UK, even though they may be entitled to apply for British citizenship and/or pay ‘home’ fees. The webpage linked above has more information about this. If you are a British National Overseas (BNO) from Hong Kong you may be eligible to apply for the BNO visa, this visa allows study in the UK and can lead to settlement.
If you are a non-visa national you must still apply for immigration permission to travel to the UK for a course which is longer than 6 months.
Applying for a visa to study in the UK
The type of visa you should apply for will depend on the length of your course and where and when you are making your application, and the link above will help you find out which visa you need.
If you are already living in the UK with immigration permission that allows study you may be able to begin your course without applying for new immigration permission, more information about this is below.
If you are already studying in the UK with a Student visa you may be able to make an application for a new Student visa from within the UK or you may need to leave the UK and make your application from overseas. You must ensure that you understand the requirements for your situation.
Student visa
The most common form of immigration permission for students who are coming to the UK with the primary intention to study is the Student visa. If you are granted a Student visa your visa will begin up to one month before your course starts, and will expire four months after your course finishes. The Student Immigration Rules also apply to EEA/Swiss nationals who do not have UK settlement rights, i.e. those who do not have EU Settled or Pre-Settled status.
AECC UC is a Student sponsor, we hold a Student Sponsor Licence and can offer immigration sponsorship to applicants once we have carried out all the necessary checks and are confident that the applicant is a genuine and credible student whose primary purpose is to study with us. If you have immigration sponsorship from AECC UC under the Student route you and the University have additional responsibilities, and information about what immigration sponsorship means for you is outlined in our Visas and Immigration: During Your Studies page.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
The Gov.Uk webpages have clear information about the process of applying for a Student visa and it’s important that you use this as your main guide. The key points are summarised below but we have not included any details about information which is subject to change, for example the financial aspects of the application.
You cannot make your Student visa application any earlier than six months before your course if you are applying from outside the UK, or three months before your course if you are able to apply from within the UK. We won’t issue your CAS until you are eligible to make your Student visa application and we encourage you to submit your application as soon as you can once you have received your CAS. The timescales for considering Student visa applications vary, and there can be delays at the busiest times of year.
When and How to Apply
The Gov.Uk webpages have clear information about the process of applying for a Student visa and it’s important that you use this as your main guide. The key points are summarised below but we have not included any details about information which is subject to change, for example the financial aspects of the application.
You cannot make your Student visa application any earlier than six months before your course if you are applying from outside the UK, or three months before your course if you are able to apply from within the UK. We won’t issue your CAS until you are eligible to make your Student visa application and we encourage you to submit your application as soon as you can once you have received your CAS. The timescales for considering Student visa applications vary, and there can be delays at the busiest times of year.
What evidence will I need?
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) 
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
Once you have met the conditions of your offer and you accept that offer, AECC University College will issue you with a CAS statement, this contains a 14-digit code that you need to include in your Student visa application.
Original Qualification Documents
Original Qualification Documents
We require you to provide the original certificate of the qualifications that your offer has been based on, these are listed on your CAS statement. If your certificates are not in English you must also provide a verified translation.
English Language Qualification
English Language Qualification
Your CAS statement will show whether you need to provide evidence that you meet the UKVI English language requirements. You must provide the original document, not a copy, as part of your application.
Biometrics
Biometrics
If your biometric data is not already held by the UKVI you will be required to visit your local Visa Application Centre to have your fingerprints and facial image recorded.
Credibility Interviews
Credibility Interviews
You may be required to attend an interview as part of your Student visa application process. These interviews usually last no longer than 10 minutes and may include questions about your understanding of the course you have applied for, AECC UC and the local area, your motivation to study this course, and other topics related to your intention to study in the UK.
TB Clearance Certificate
TB Clearance Certificate
Not everyone needs to provide a certificate to confirm that they are free from Tuberculosis to support their Student visa application. Check the Gov.Uk list of countries to find out if this is something you will need.
Passport
Passport
You must provide your current passport and, if necessary, any previous passports you hold. You will also need to provide two suitable photographs, as described on the UK Passport Office guidance.
If you hold more than one nationality, and have a passport for each nationality you hold, you must ensure you provide the passport for the nationality you wish your Student visa to be associated with.
Financial Requirements
You must make sure you have enough money to make a Student visa application, the detailed costs are all included on the Gov.uk webpages and there are several things to think about:
Visa Application Fee
Visa Application Fee
The visa application fee is the cost of applying for your Student visa
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The IHS is an up-front payment which allows you to access healthcare while you are in the UK. It is a mandatory fee and you cannot make a valid Student visa application unless you have paid your IHS in full.
Tuition Fees
Tuition Fees
You must be confident that you can pay your tuition fees as required during the entirety of your course. For your Student visa application you must evidence that you have money to cover at least one academic year (9 months) of tuition fees, or the full fee if your course is less than 12 months. Your CAS will show what you are expected to pay, and if you have already paid your fees before your CAS is issued this will show on the CAS statement.
If you have already been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months you will not be required to provide evidence of tuition fees.
Maintenance
Maintenance
This element of your Student visa application can be complex and is the most common reason that Student visa applications are refused. You must be able provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself for at least 12 months in the UK, this is based on relevant amounts which are set by the UKVI and are published on the Gov.uk Student visa website. There are specific rules for the type of account you can use to evidence the maintenance requirement, and the length of time that you must have the money in the correct account at the time when you make your Student visa application. The funds that you show evidence for must be available to you on arrival in the UK so that you can afford to live and study without needing additional financial support.
Student visa application outcomes
Successful outcome
You will receive notification of your successful Student visa application by email to the email address used in your application, don’t forget to contact the UKVI to let them know if your email address changes after you submit your application. Notification that you have been granted your Student visa is known as your ‘UKVI Decision Letter’ and you should keep this because you may be asked to show it once you are in the UK. The Decision Letter contains the full dates that your immigration permission has been granted for, and gives more information about what happens next.
Visa application refusal
If your Student visa application is unsuccessful you will be notified by email to the email address used in your application, don’t forget to contact the UKVI to let them know if your email address changes after you submit your application. Your outcome notification will include confirmation that your application has been refused and will include details of why this is. In some instances you may be able submit an application for an Administrative Review however we recommend that you seek advice from an immigration law specialist before doing this. If your Student visa application is refused please send a full copy of the refusal notice to studentvisas@aecc.ac.uk so that we can update our records and advise on your options.
Your student Visa
The way in which you receive your Student visa will depend on where you’re from, when you apply, and when your course begins.
Travelling to the UK to begin your course
The Home Office recommend that you do not book travel until you have been granted your visa. If you choose to book travel before you have received the outcome of your visa application you risk losing the costs of your travel if your visa application is refused, or if your outcome is delayed.
During your studies
If you require immigration permission to study in the UK you must have valid immigration permission throughout your course, and abide by the immigration rules that are relevant to you.
AECC University College holds a Student sponsor licence and this allows us to provide immigration sponsorship to students who are eligible for immigration sponsorship. To maintain our Student sponsor licence we must abide by many duties which are contained within the Student Sponsor Guidance and this includes holding up to date and accurate contact details for you, keeping copies of your immigration documents, and monitoring your engagement with your course.
Latest News
Discover and read all the latest news, press releases and happenings here at AECC University College.
Each year, some 60 Podiatrists, both qualified and pre-registration students from all over the UK, descend on the capital to volunteer for the TCS London Marathon. This year, our first cohort of AECC University College MSc Podiatry (pre-registration) students, along with Associate Professor in Podiatry and Course Leader, Simon Otter, joined peers from the Universities of Brighton, Northampton, and East London. The co-location developed a true multidisciplinary ethos and close working relationships with physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics, physicians, and the voluntary sector (via St John Ambulance) as part of the wider finish-line medical team.
This year, Chiropractic Awareness Week (CAW), 22nd-28th April, is all about raising awareness and speaking up for the chiropractic profession, to build understanding and recognition about the value and expertise that chiropractors bring to their local communities. This year’s theme is ‘Making Chiropractic Integral: Building connections and nurturing a community with the people and places that matter to you.’
On Wednesday 24th April, we held our first AECC University College ‘Staff vs. Students Sports Day’! It took place on Boscombe Beach, and what a great afternoon it was! Staff and students took part in sporting games, including tug of war, sprinting, the three-legged race, and dodgeball.
On Thursday 23rd May 2024, AECC University College will be inviting students, staff, alumni and members of the public to attend an evening lecture by Professor Richard Brown.
Brooke Ironside, age 20, is currently ranked third in Europe for the under 23 years 200 metres. She tells us how she juggles studying with training in her own words…
