Education providers - enrolling foreign students

This section explains how education providers in the UK can enrol foreign students on courses of study.

There are new arrangements for Tier 4 sponsors who were granted their sponsor licence between 16 December 2010 and 28 February 2011, and were allocated zero confirmations of acceptance for studies (CAS) under the Tier 4 interim limit.

Nationals of countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can study in the UK without any restrictions.

Nationals of other countries can come to the UK as students in 2 ways:

• Students who want to undertake a long course of study, or who want to work during their stay in the UK, must apply under Tier 4 of the UK's point-based system for immigration. As their education provider, you will need to 'sponsor' these students during their stay. You must obtain a Tier 4 sponsor licence before you can sponsor students.
• If a student wants to study a short course and will not work during their stay, they can apply to come to the UK as a student visitor (or a child visitor if they are aged under 18). You will not need to sponsor these students, but you will need to meet certain requirements.

To find out how to become a Tier 4 sponsor, and your responsibilities as a licensed sponsor, see our Tier 4 sponsor guidance .

Migrants must demonstrate their English language ability if they want to come to or remain in the UK in certain immigration categories, or if they want to settle here or become British citizens. If you provide English Language courses, the English Language test providers page explains whether migrants can use your courses to demonstrate their English language ability.