This is intended as general information about the process for obtaining a visa for your placement or overseas activity. The University of Manchester is not qualified to give advice or guidance on visa applications for overseas placements and activities. Visa applications are not processed or managed by the University of Manchester and we are unable to assist or influence external processes. Students are responsible for applying for and obtaining their own visas as determined by their host country.
While we understand how complex and sometimes frustrating obtaining a visa can be, the University is unable to give visa advice for the following reasons:
The best advice we can give is – start as early as possible to make your application and expect delays.
Research potential destinations well in advance of applying for your international placements to understand visa requirements.
Refer to the Obtaining a Visa Checklist to understand the timeline for visa applications including how early you can begin this process.
This should already have been detailed in your programme specification when you applied to The University of Manchester, and you should be aware of the timeline for taking part.
Speak to your placement coordinator or staff in the Placements and International Programmes Office (for study) to find out if you are eligible. This may involve the requirement to transfer onto a programme with a placement. If you are eligible/ can transfer, they will advise you on how to do this and the timeline for doing so. International students should see the section below as transferring to a longer programme will require amendments to your UK visa.
Before you start
Speak with the relevant placement staff for your activity about your plans to apply for an international placement. See the Types of Placement section below for information about finding out who is the best person to speak to for your activity type.
Students need to have an approved application in My Placement (the University of Manchester’s placement portal). Your placement coordinator can give you more information about the timeline for making your application.
Getting started
Ensuring you get a visa to take part is your responsibility
Visa processing times can take much longer than you might expect so you should aim to start the process as soon as it is possible. Typical times may vary from several weeks to several months (or sometimes longer) depending on where you are applying to.
If you need supporting documents from your school, make sure you ask for these in good time. It is important that you begin this process as early as possible.
We do not generally recommend that you incur costs before you obtain travel approval (confirmation that your placement is approved by the University of Manchester). (NB travel approval is not required for field trip students). However, you may need to incur visa costs before you get this so you can start your visa applicationas early as possible. You should note if you are subsequently unable to undertake your placement or activity, you will not be able to claim back these costs.
Applying for/receiving an offer of a placement and applying for a visa
You should research visa information as early as possible and start to gather any paperwork (see the Obtaining a Visa Checklist for examples of what you might need) even before you have confirmation or approval of your placement.
Once you have an approved application in My Placement and a confirmation of offer from your host university or organisation (for study or work placements) or a letter from UoM confirming your activity (for group activities), you should refer to the Obtaining a Visa Checklist for next steps.
Both UK and international students should always use official government resources to access authentic sources of information. This is typically the government resources of your home country. Make sure you use only verified search options and that you only submit your details to official government approved sites.
Check immigration entry rules and regulations for the country you will be travelling to.
See Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and follow the Entry Requirements link for information.
For Placements in the EU also see Schengen, borders and visa (europa.eu) for information about entry rules to the EU and Schengen area.
If you are an international student, you need to consider both your UK visa and the visa of the host country of your placement.
Considerations for your UK Student Visa
If you are an overseas student and have a Studentvisa for your studies in the UK and are considering a work placement (in the UK or overseas) or a study placement overseas as part of your course, you need to make sure your current visa will permit you to do this.
If you are on a programme with a compulsory placement, your current Student visa duration should be for the full period of your programme. For example, if you are on a 4-year programme with a compulsory placement, you should have a Studentvisa for all 4 years. Make sure you check this.
If you are on a programme which allows for an optional placement, you may be able to opt onto this programme.If this requires a programme extension,then you will need to extend your Studentvisa. You should speak to your School Hub as early as possible to discuss this.
If you are a sponsored student, for example if you have your tuition fees or living costs provided by an organisation in your home country or region, you should contact that organisation toensure that your sponsor will continue to sponsor you for the additionalyear.
If you need to extend your visa, visit Changes to your studies and read ‘Changing your Course’. This outlines the steps you need to take to add an additional year to your programme of study and includes how to make a new visa application. If you need a new visa, complete a CCR1 form available from your Academic School to request a continuer CAS before you can apply. Please contact your Hub in the first instance.
If you are changing to a longer course to undertake a placement, you should be eligible to submit a Student visa extension from within the UK. Most international students going on placement do this. If you do not extend your visa before leaving the UK, you will need to wait until you have completed your placement and apply for a new Student visa from your home country before returning to your studies in Manchester.
The University has appropriate arrangements for engagement and attendance monitoring for our students while they are working or studying abroad. You will be notified of the requirements for this prior to you undertaking your placement. It is important that you engage with these requirements to ensure the continuity of your Student visa.
If you are studying abroad or are on a placement in the UK or overseas, the Student Immigration Team will inform UKVI of this change of study location.
Ensure that your term-time address is always updated with the address you are currently living at, including during any placement (either in the UK or overseas) or study-abroad periods. You can do this via My Manchester.
Managing your visa for your placement location
Your home country should have foreign travel advice pages that provide links to the relevant embassies. Otherwise, you should search for details of the embassy of the host country to obtain instructions on how to apply for a visa. Make sure you check you are accessing official government sites to obtain this information.
When reviewing the embassy pages, check where and how you are required to submit your visa application for your host country. In some cases, international students studying in the UK may need to return to their home country to submit a visa application to another country.
Types of placement:
These generally take place at one of our partner institutions or an approved provider. In most cases, these organisations will support you through the visa process and provide you with an offer letter which you can use as part of your visa application.
The Placements and International Programmes team can provide advice on the timeline for visa applications.
Most work placements are self-arranged or, less frequently,with an approved provider. Some host organisations may be able to provide visa support but this is not guaranteed. Your host should provide you with an offer letter and other supportingdocuments for your visa application.
Your school Placement Coordinator can provide advice on the timeline for visa applications
Field trips are group activities normally undertaken as part of a programme with a UoM group leader.
Visa requirements depend on the country you are visiting, the duration of your visit and the type of visa you currently hold.
The school organising your trip should provide you with a letter confirming the details of your activity.If travel is booked on your behalf, your school should also provide proof of travel, accommodation, University of Manchester travel insurance, what the itinerary includes and any booking confirmation information. Normally, you need to wait until travel is booked before you can apply for your visa.
Your Field Trip Coordinatorcan provide advice on the timeline for visa applications
Group travel includes group activities organised by a service at the UoM that are not normally undertaken as part of a programme and may involve use of a third-party partner such as Global Graduates or International Volunteering.
Visa requirements depend on the country you are visiting, the duration of your visit and the type of visa you currently hold. If you are a UK national or depending on where you hold citizenship, you may be able to enter the country on a tourist visa however some countries may charge a fee which should be paid on arrival in cash or in advance via an online platform. You should check this with your placement coordinator at the University of Manchester.
The service organising your trip should provide you with a letter confirming the details of your activity. If travel is booked on your behalf, the service organising your travel should also provide proof of travel and accommodation. Normally, you need to wait until travel is booked before you can apply for your visa.
The service which is organising your activitycan provide advice on the timeline for visa applications.
Research placements include fieldwork, placements, exchanges and dual awards. Some host organisations may be able to provide visa support but this is not guaranteed. Your host should provide you with an offer letter and other supporting documents for your visa application.
Staff in the Doctoral Academy can provide advice on the timeline for visa applications.
DISCLAIMER - Please note this guidance does not constitute advice. It does not guarantee that any visa applications will not be rejected/refused. It is intended as best practice guidance to support you in visa applications for overseas placements. This guidance was written and published in March 2024.
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