Arriving in the UK on or after 1 January 2021
EU/EEA and Swiss students will be required to apply for a visa through the new Student immigration route from 1 January 2021. If you choose to come to the UK on or after 1 January 2021, you:
- Will need to pay a fee for the visa application and Immigration Health Surcharge
- Will need to provide proof that you can pay for any course fees, plus £1,023 per month for living costs
- Will be restricted to study on a full-time basis, at the Royal Agricultural University
- May be subject to a limit on how long you can study for in the UK
- May have to leave the UK to make a new visa application if, for example, you want to make changes to your studies
- Will be restricted on the number of hours you can work, and what type of work you can do
Your time in the UK will not lead to permanent residence.
Arriving in the UK on or before 31 December 2020
If you arrive in the UK on or before 31 December 2020, you will still be able to come under EU Freedom of Movement regulations and, once you are in the UK, apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. There is no minimum time you have to spend in the UK prior to 31 December to be eligible for EU pre-settled status. This means:
- There is no cost for the application
- You do not have to pay for healthcare, but you will have full access to the National Health Service
- There are no restrictions on work or study
- There are no work restrictions after you have finished your studies, and you do not need a job to be able to stay
- After five years of continuous residence in the UK, you will qualify for 'Settled Status' – you would be able to stay in the UK indefinitely
If you arrive in the UK before 31 December 2020, you will be able to exercise your EU Freedom of Movement rights until 30 June 2021.
If you plan to leave the UK permanently prior to 30 June 2021, you do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. However, we strongly recommend that you do.
Some of the benefits of applying for the EU Settlement Scheme are:
- You will be granted five years pre-settled status, which will allow you to live, work and study in the UK
- Your pre-settled status will remain valid while you are outside the UK for up to two years
- You will have proof of your right to reside in the UK, which you may need in certain circumstances, for example, if you want to get a job or open a bank account
If you arrive in the UK before 31 December 2021
You will be able to exercise your EU Freedom of Movement rights until 30 June 2021.
If you plan to leave the UK permanently before 30 June 2021, you do not need to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. However, we strongly advise that you do.
Some of the benefits of applying for the EU Settlement Scheme are:
- You will be granted five years pre-settled status, which will allow you to live, work and study in the UK
- Your pre-settled status will remain valid while you are outside the UK for up to two years
- You will have proof of your right to reside in the UK, which you may need in certain circumstances, for example, if you want to get a job or open a bank account
If you arrive in the UK after 31 December 2021
In this case you will have to apply under the new immigration rules.
If you are coming to the UK for a programme that is less than six months in length you will be able to come to the UK with a Standard Visitor Visa.
This visa allows you to study for up to six months in the UK (work placements or any type of work is not allowed with this visa).
If, however, you wish to do a work placement as part of your programme, or wish to work alongside your studies, then you will have to apply under the student immigration route. Entry clearance applications opened from 5 October 2020, for entry to the UK from 1 January 2021.
The EU Settlement Scheme allows you to come and go from the UK as you wish.
If you have pre-settled status, you can leave the UK for up to two years, and your status will remain valid. However, if you want to qualify for settled status after five years, you must not have any absence of more than six months at a time, or 12 months for certain reasons, such as a year studying abroad.
If you have settled status, you can leave the UK for up to five years, and your status will remain valid.
If you have pre-settled or settled status you will be able to work in the UK without any restrictions.
No, if you have settled, or pre-settled status you will be eligible for healthcare through the National Health Service.
You can be outside the UK for up to two years without your pre-settled status being affected. However, in order to qualify for settled status, you must not have absences of more than six months, or 12 months in certain circumstances, such as for a study abroad year.
Your settled status will remain valid while you are outside the UK for five years (this is four years for Swiss nationals).
In order to qualify for settled status, you must not have had an absence of more than six months at a time for a continuous period of five years.
There are some exceptions to this rule, for example, if you want to study abroad for up to 12 months.
Your EU/EEA/Swiss family members will be able to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme in their own right, if they arrive in the UK on or before 31 December 2020.
If you have any non-EU/EEA/Swiss family members, they will also be able to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, and get settled or pre-settled status.
Anyone with settled or pre-settled status will be able to live, work and study in the UK, without restrictions.