You are allowed to travel in and out of the UK whilst holding a valid Student Visa.
However, you should:
Make sure you do not miss any lectures, seminars, submission deadlines, or exams.
If you have an emergency that means you have to leave the UK during a period when you were supposed to be attending in person then please consult your academic department as soon as possible to let them know, and so they can support you.
Remember that your Student Visa is issued for the purpose of studying in the UK, and this is what the UK Home Office and the University expect you to do.
Very long periods spent studying remotely from outside of the UK may lead the UK Home Office to suspect you are not using your Student Visa for the purpose it was intended.
Please be aware that a UK Border Officer is entitled to ask you questions about your reasons for travelling and reasons for coming back to the UK when you return.
Therefore, you should always carry evidence of your reason for returning to the UK under your Student Visa.
Where can I travel using my UK Visa?
You can travel throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK).
This includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Travelling to Ireland?
The island of "Ireland" is a large land mass to the west of Great Britain.
It has two parts:
The north-eastern part of the island (largest city: Belfast) is called "Northern Ireland".
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so you can travel there without restriction using your UK visa.
The rest of the island, i.e. the north-western and southern part (capital city: Dublin) is called the "Republic of Ireland".
It is also sometimes referred to as "Eire" or simply "Southern Ireland".
This is not part of the UK and is a separate sovereign state, so your UK residential visa is not valid.
You may need a visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland, even if you already have a UK visa. See the website for more information.
The Republic of Ireland is a member of the European Union but is not part of the Schengen Zone.
Travelling after your studies have finished
Your Student Visa allows you to travel to and from the UK - even after your academic requirements have been fulfilled - as long as you have a valid reason to do so.
The only exception is where you have completed your course significantly earlier than expected (before the end date on the CAS you used to apply for your visa).
Returning to make another valid visa application in the UK.
These are all valid reasons to return to the UK but please be aware that a UK Border Officer is entitled to ask you questions about your reasons for travelling and reasons for coming back to the UK when you return.
Therefore, you should always carry evidence of your reason for returning, e.g. your Successful Completion Notification email, if you are returning to apply for the Graduate Visa.
Visiting the Schengen Area (mainland Europe and Iceland)
The is made up of 29 countries that have agreed to have no routine internal border controls, and share unified policies in relation to short-stay visas (up to 90 days).
It is made up of:
25 of the 27 members of the (the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen Area), plus
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (the )
Your UK visa is not valid in the Schengen Area (the UK is not a member), so you may need to before travelling to these countries.
Whether you need to apply for a visa in advance .
Warning - don't leave it too late!
It can take a very long time to obtain an appointment in the UK to apply for a Schengen Visa (often several months).
You can apply up to 6 months in advance of your intended date of travel - do so as early as you can.
If you are in your home country then it may be better to apply from there due to the lack of visa appointment availability in the UK
Applying for a Schengen Visa: our Top Tips:
You must apply for a Schengen Visa via the consulate/authorities of your "main" destination country.
This means the country in the Schengen Area where you plan to spend the most time during your trip. You can .
There will be an online form to complete, and you will be asked to attend a appointment in the UK as well as pay an .
You can apply , and should apply as soon as possible, because the required visa application centre appointments can take a lot of time to arrange.
Read our detailed guidance on travelling abroad, which includes information on trip planning, reputable agents who can help with your application (including booking visa appointments), insurance and staying safe.
You can find .
You'll usually need to show evidence of:
The purpose of your visit;
Financial means;
Accommodation; and
Your intention to return to the country where you are living after your visit.
However, the individual consulate (country) you are applying through may have additional document requirements - check their application form carefully.
If you are asked to provide a "no objection letter", "permission letter", or "student status letter" from the 果冻传媒:
You may also be interested in reading the "How to Apply for a Schengen Visa" blog written by one of our current international students.
The information can be accessed via
Visas for other countries
If you wish to travel to another country during your time at 果冻传媒 and have queries regarding visas, you should contact the relevant embassy directly using their website.
For detailed guidance on trip planning, visa requirements, insurance and staying safe, visit our Travelling Abroad webpage.
