There are two subcategories Tier 4 (General) Student and Tier 4 (Child) Student. Those in the General sub category are students aged 16 or over. The Child sub category is for children aged from 4 to17 who wish to be educated in the UK.

 

The necessary points for attributes under Appendix A of the Immigration Rules are awarded to applicants seeking entry clearance on the basis of the letter issued to them by their sponsoring education provider.  This is the visa letter - which currently is the form a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a licensed education provider takes. 

 

Students are not required to score points for command of the English language under Appendix B.

 

There are stringent requirements to obtain the necessary points for maintenance under Appendix C, particularly if the student's course of study is in inner London.

 

Entry clearance is issued to applicants in the Tier 4 (General) Student sub category for the duration of the course, with a flexible period of additional leave for the period before the course.

 

In the case of applicants in the Child category who are under 16 years old they must be studying at a fee paying independent school. For other applicants the visa letter will, as with applicants in the (General) sub category, itself provide the necessary 30 points for attributes.

 

Children under the age of 16 will be granted up to six years' leave to remain or the duration of the course, plus one month before the course starts and one month after it ends. For children aged 16 or over the maximum period of leave granted is two years.

 

Family members of Tier 4 (Migrants)

The Immigration Rules provide for the family members of Tier 4 Migrants to apply to join or to accompany them in the UK.