All non-UK passport holders travelling to the UK need to have authorisation to travel before embarking upon their journey here. UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) operate an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visitors to the UK who do not already have permission to travel here through some other approval process (e.g. a Student Visa, Visitor Visa obtained in advance).
Full details of the requirements are here:
Please check the UKVI links above for the most up to date information.
Remember that any friends or family who come to visit/travel with you to the UK will also need an ETA.
The ETA will simply give permission to travel to the UK. It is not a Visa, and does not guarantee entry – all arrivals still need to clear UK immigration upon arrival in the usual way.
ALL international citizens travelling to the UK need to have UK government permission to travel here prior to commencing their journey.
You must apply for a Student Visa - https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. When you apply for your Student Visa, please use your personal email address. UKVI now usually provide eVisas, which will be recorded in your UKVI account.
We do NOT sponsor Student Visas for single semester students. Single semester students must instead either apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel, or – if your nationality requires it – apply for a Visitor Visa in advance of travel. Fees apply for either application.
Some nationalities can use eGates upon arrival at UK airports, rather than seeing an Immigration Officer at the border. If your nationality qualifies for eGate use (indicated on signs at the UK immigration checkpoint), it is important that you retain some form of evidence of your date of arrival in the UK - usually your flight/train boarding card. You will be required to produce this evidence to complete the final stage of your Right to Study check when you arrive at The University of Manchester, and it will also help you to remember the exact duration of your six-month stay to avoid overstaying (which could have serious consequences). If you use eGates, you MUST make sure that you email a copy of your passport and boarding pass to studentrts@manchester.ac.uk (after arrival), so that we can confirm to UK Visa and Immigration that you will be studying for up to 6 months.
Please note that the Placements & International Programmes Office (PIP) is not able to give specific advice relating to immigration and visa issues. Please do not contact us with questions about your Visa application – instead, please visit either the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration,
or The University of Manchester’s immigration webpages
https://www.studentsupport.manchester.ac.uk/immigration-and-visas/visas-and-applications.
You will not be able to undertake any kind of paid employment in the UK UNLESS you have a Student Visa. If you are able to work however, you should not rely on finding a job to fund your year/semester in Manchester, neither should you expect to be able to find work easily!
Unlike the situation in North American universities, for example, jobs are not widely available to student on university campuses, although it is not impossible to find a job in Manchester and many students with the appropriate visa register with an employment agency when they get here.
(University Switchboard)
+44 (0) 161 306 6000
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
