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Prospective students

Image of young woman working in the United Kindom during a gap year.

Can you extend your stay as a prospective student?

This page explains whether and how you can extend your stay in the UK as a prospective student.

If you come to the UK as a prospective student, you are allowed to remain here for a maximum of 6 months. At the end of that time, you must leave the UK unless you have already switched into Tier 4 of the points-based system to begin your course of study.

When you enter the UK, we will stamp the duration of your permission to stay in your passport.

If we give you permission to enter for less than 6 months, and you later want to extend your stay to the maximum of 6 months in total, you must apply for an extension - see below.

If we allow you to extend your stay, you must continue to meet the requirements for prospective students.

You must apply using application form FLR(O). You can complete and submit this application form online, or you can print out the form, complete it by hand and submit it by post, by courier or in person.

You should read the FLR(O) guidance notes before you complete the application form. You will need to pay a fee when you apply, and we will not refund your fee if we refuse your application or if you withdraw it.

Follow the link on the left side of this page to make your application online, and to download the application form (if you are not applying online) and the guidance notes.

The application form gives details of the documents you must send with the form. You should send the original documents, not copies. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original, or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining why you are providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

You must be in the UK to apply, and you must apply at least 4 weeks before your permission to stay in the UK ends.

If you apply by post, you must send your application to the address given on the form. If your application is straightforward, you can apply in person using our same-day service at one of our public enquiry offices for a premium fee. For more information, see the Applying in person section.

More information

  • Application fees for extending your stay using form FLR(O)

     

    Fee if you are applying by post Fee if you are applying in person
    Main applicant £578 £953
    Partner or child aged under 18 (if they are applying at the same time as the main applicant in a category that allows dependants to be included) £433 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form £808 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form
     Partner or child aged under 18 (if they apply later) in a category that allows dependants to be included)  £578  £953


Application forms

Application for an extension of stay in the UK (other categories)

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