Student visas and immigration
Find out what you need to do and when to apply for your student visa, as well as how the immigration process works.
Information and advice pages
Student visas and immigration
Find out what you need to do and when to apply for your student visa, as well as how the immigration process works.
Student-parent’s guide to open days
This short guide is to help you feel in control of your open day experience. It will help you gather the information you need to make an informed decision about whether the setting you're visiting is right for you and your family commitments.
Students eligible for free school meals (FSM)
Being eligible for free school meals (FSM) means you might be able get help to meet different costs, and access other types of support if you want to go to university.
Students with caring responsibilities
If you're responsible for providing unpaid care to a family member, partner or friend, you may be able to get extra support during your studies.
Students with imprisoned parents
Universities and colleges welcome students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience. If you choose to disclose that you are a student with an imprisoned parent it will not negatively impact your application – it gives context to your circumstances.
Students with parenting responsibilities
If you are responsible for the care and wellbeing of a child aged 17 or under, you may be able to access additional support while studying.
Subject tasters
Try university degrees before you apply. Subject Spotlights from Springpod give you a taste of what it's like to study real subjects delivered by university lecturers and developed in partnership with the universities
Support for carers taking apprenticeships
Here, we outline what you need to know if you have caring responsibilities and are interested in an apprenticeship.
Support for disabled people taking apprenticeships
Being disabled shouldn’t limit your job or study choice, and apprenticeships can be a great route for you to get into your chosen career.
Support for mature students
Make sure you're best prepared to start your studies by making the most of the support available to you.
Support for students who have been bereaved as a child
Many universities and colleges have initiatives or support programmes in place for students who have been bereaved as a child.
Support you can get in student accommodation
Studying a subject at university level and living in student accommodation might be two brand new experiences for you. Here’s an idea of the support that will be available in your student halls or shared house.
Supporting care experienced students
Students who have spent time in care are entitled to support with going to university. Here are some practical ways in which you can support care experienced students research their options and prepare for their next step, which we have developed with experts such as the Care Leavers' Covenant, Become, the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) and Who Cares? Scotland.
Supporting children from UK Armed Forces families (Service children)
If a student's parent(s) or carer(s) is serving as a Regular or Reservist in the UK Armed Forces, or has done so in the past, their experience of going to university may be different to their non-Service peers. We have worked with the Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance to explain how you can practically support Service children along their journey to higher education.
Supporting disabled students
Students with physical or mental health conditions or learning differences will find a variety of support available in higher education. However, advance research and preparation can make all the difference – here, we outline some of the ways you can help your students make a successful transition to university.
Supporting international students
We support international counsellors, agents and advisers, as well as processing applications to hundreds of universities and colleges in the UK.
Supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain in the UK
It can be very difficult to understand how to support refugees, asylum seekers, and students with limited leave to remain in the UK, especially if their immigration status is insecure or due to change. We have worked with expert organisations, including STAR Network, Refugee Education UK and We Belong to help clarify what you can do to help and support young students' aspirations for higher education.
Supporting students experiencing estrangement from their parents
Young people who are considering higher education but do not have support from either of their parents due to a breakdown in their relationship (also known as being ‘estranged’) may encounter challenges in their journey. Here we outline the ways in which you can help students in at each stage and explain what support they may be able to access.
Supporting students with caring responsibilities
A carer is anyone who is responsible for providing unpaid care to a family member or friend who could not cope without their support.