What You Need to Apply for a Student Visa
It can be daunting to apply for a student visa and know what documents you’ll need to provide and requirements you’ll need to meet. This is particularly the case as you’ll also be preparing to move out of the country at the same time.
Here’s a guide on how to find out if you need a student visa to study in a specific country, what the most common requirements are for applying for student visas, and a breakdown of what some of the most popular countries for studying abroad specifically require.
How to Find Out if You Need to Apply for a Student Visa
To find out if you need a visa in order to study in a certain country, check the government’s website, in addition to the website of the university you want to attend. You might also be able to find relevant information on this from your home country’s government website. Together, these avenues should help you understand if you need to apply for a student visa.
It may also be beneficial to get in touch with your local embassy in the country you’ll be studying in. They should be able to help you figure out if you need to apply for a visa to study and what you need to be able to apply too.
If you’re a EU resident and plan to study in another EU country, there is no need for a student visa. EU citizens are entitled to study at any university in the EU under the same conditions as nationals.
There are certain countries that don’t give out visas to some nationalities. This is due to restrictions imposed on those countries. So, you’ll need to check if your nationality limits where you could get a student visa.
What Are the Most Common Requirements to Apply
In order to apply for a student visa, there will be certain requirements you’ll need to meet and documents you’ll need to provide. There are a number of common requirements to be able to apply for student visas across the world. This often includes:
- University acceptance letter
- Proof of identity
- Proof of finances
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of language proficiency
- Health insurance
It naturally varies from country to country. This means what exactly you’ll need in order to be able to apply for a student visa in the country you wish to study abroad in may be different.
Start by checking the government’s website to see what documents you must provide. But below we’ll cover some of the main things you’ll need to provide for a few of the most popular countries for studying abroad.
UK Student Visa Requirements
If you’re interested in studying in the UK, there are a number of things you’ll need to do and provide. This includes:
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Proof of enough money to pay for your course and support yourself
- Tuberculosis test results
You may be required to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. If you’re an international student applying to study in the UK, you’ll need a Tier 4 student visa from UK Visas and Immigration. Visit the UK government website to learn more about what you need to provide to apply for this.
Germany, Spain, Italy, & France Student Visa Requirements
The Schengen area includes 27 European countries, such as Germany, Spain, Italy, and France, where internal borders were abolished, allowing for free and unrestricted movement of people between countries. It covers most of the countries in the EU, but there are some countries included in this region that aren’t in the EU.
For those looking to attend university in a country within the Schengen area, you’ll likely need to provide:
- Proof of residency (for the country you’re applying from)
- Round trip reservation or travel itinerary
- Travel medical insurance
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of finances
- Proof of academic qualifications
If you’re interested in studying abroad within the Schengen area, visit the government website of the specific country you’ll be studying in to ensure you understand exactly what you need to do and provide in order to apply for a student visa.
US Student Visa Requirements
To apply for a visa in the US as an international student, you’ll need to apply for a F1 visa. There are a few requirements to be able to do this, including providing evidence of:
- Strong ties to your home country
- English language proficiency
- Finances
- Academic preparations, such as transcripts, degrees, and standardized test scores
Check out the US government website to understand more about what you need to do and provide to apply for the F1 student visa. You’ll also need to schedule an interview, which is the final step for the US Embassy to decide whether they should issue you the visa.
Canada Student Permit Requirements
Most foreign nationals need a permit to study in Canada. You may also need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization, but this will be issued with your student permit if you get approved.
Here are some of the main requirements for applying for a student permit in Canada:
- Letter of explanation about why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student
- A medical exam
- Proof of financial support
Check out the Government of Canada's website for more information on providing the right documents for a student permit.
Australia Student Visa Requirements
If you’re an international student looking to study in Australia, you may need to apply for a subclass 500 student visa. There are some things you’ll need to provide when applying, including:
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Adequate health insurance
- Proof of finances
- Health and character requirement
- Signed Australian values statement
The Australian government website provides more information about eligibility and requirements to apply for a student visa.
About Proof of Finance Requirements
It’s common to have to provide proof of your finances when applying for a student visa. The specific requirements depend on what country you’re applying to study in and what country you’re from, but typically you need to show you’re able to pay for a year of living in the county, in addition to the tuition fees.
Some countries ask for a blocked account, while others require you to show your bank account information such as official bank statements. Proof of finance can also be demonstrated by showing that you have an official financial sponsor or a loan to help you cover the cost of your studies and/or living expenses.
Planning to Study Business School Abroad?
It’s important to be aware of what you’ll be required to do and provide when studying at a business school abroad. Check the requirements for the country you’re interested in studying in and figure out if you’ll need to apply for a student visa.
Once you’ve picked a location and applied for your top choice business school, it can be helpful to start pulling together the documents you need and make plans for how to get certain documentation and meet all of the immigration requirements.
It’s key to start preparing for this in plenty of time. This will help ensure you have everything together once you’ve received your acceptance letter. Also, figure out how much time before your studies you can start doing the student visa application. Some countries only let you start three months before your studies begin.
At Unify, we can help you throughout the entire admissions journey to study at business school abroad and apply for a student visa. Get in touch with our team for personalized and expert advice on finding your dream school, maximizing your chances of being accepted at your chosen university, and getting help with the visa procedures.