Travel Advice

How to apply for a UK Visa

On this page we provide concise visa guidance for students wishing to learn English in the United Kingdom.

Do I need a UK Visa?

Currently you only need a short-term study visa if you are NOT a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen.  For information on requirements post-Brexit please see our Brexit section below.

What is the Short-Term Study Visa?
  • The short-term study visa is for non-EEA/EU nationals taking an English course in the UK
  • It is available for students of all language levels including beginner.
  • It is available for students 18+.
  • You can apply for a 6 months visa or an 11 months visa.
  • You cannot extend this visa
  • It costs GBP 89 for 6 months and GBP 170 for 11 months.
  • With this visa you can’t 
    • study at a state school
    • work (including on a work placement or work experience) or carry out any business
    • bring family members with you - they must apply separately
    • get public funds

More details: https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa

What documents do I need to apply for a UK Visa?
  • You need our booking confirmation / invoice and our visa invitation letter to prove that you have registered for a language course in our school
  • You need your bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months in order to prove that you have enough money to pay your living expenses while you are in the UK as well as for your return journey.
  • You might also need a tuberculosis test
  • You can check out which other documents you need here
How to apply for a UK Visa
  1. Book your language course at least 6 weeks before arrival. The earlier you make your booking the easier it will be for you to get your visa on time.
  2. We will process your booking and send you a booking confirmation / invoice. 
  3. You pay the invoice (full payment required)
  4. We will send you a visa invitation letter.
  5. You apply for the UK visa (https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa )
    • You register online and fill in the application form
    • You pay the visa fee online
    • You print out your application form
    • You book an appointment at a visa application centre
  6. After successfully finishing this process you should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
  7. We will then be happy to welcome you to our school.
  8. If a visa application is rejected and we receive written evidence at least 10 working days prior to arrival, we will refund the fees received in full, minus an administrative fee of £85. Where we receive this evidence, the refund will be paid to you within four weeks of your providing us with bank details and signed authorisation that the refund should be paid to that account. If written evidence of a refusal is received less than 10 days prior to arrival, then the refund will be paid less the administrative fee and the following non-refundable payments: £100.

For further information regarding what you will need to apply, application forms and your eligibility please visit this section of the gov website or contact us.


Covid Guidance

When you travel to England, you:

  • do not need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel
  • do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
  • do not need to quarantine when you arrive

This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.
It includes people who are transiting through England.

Other countries may have rules about what you need to do to leave the country to travel to England. You should check travel advice for the country you are travelling from.

To keep yourselves always updated please see here for further information.


Brexit

The UK has left the European Union, and the transition period came to an end. From January 2021, a new immigration system with new rules will apply to all nationalities.
From 2021, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be able to come to the UK as a tourist or student for up to six months without needing a visa. Students can arrive at the border and either show their passport, or enter through the electronic passport gates to be granted entry clearance.
Note: From 2021.international students are only allowed to study at an institution  which is accredited by one of the UK governments recognised accreditation bodies. Europa School of English is accredited by Accreditation UK and is therefore an acceptable choice. 

Students will need to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK if they want to work or study for longer than 6 months, if they do not already hold either settled or pre-settled status in the UK.
From January 2021, anyone who is already in the UK as a visitor will be able to study as much as they want for up to 6 months.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens will lose automatic work rights in the UK

From October 2021: ID card travel will be phased out meaning all visitors will require passports 1st October 2021. Until 30th September 2021 Identity cards remain for junior students.


How to get to Bournemouth?

Bournemouth is located in the south of England 107 miles (172 kilometres) from London. The nearest airports are Bournemouth and Southampton, but travelling to London from your home country is also a good option. Bournemouth can easily be reached by train (National Rail) and by coach (National Express) from the English capital and many other major cities.

The below gives you a brief overview of how to travel to Bournemouth on public transport and also information about the private transfers we can arrange for you at an additional cost.

Public Transport

Gatwick Airport

Frequent and direct services with National Express coaches (www.nationalexpress.com)
From: Gatwick Airport (North Terminal)
To: Bournemouth Coach Station
Direct journey: approx. 3 hours 15 minutes
Journey via London Heathrow Airport: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes
Departure: North Terminal (on the lower level outside international arrivals)
Tickets: National Express ticket desks in the North and South Terminals or online in advance.

Heathrow Airport

Frequent and direct services with National Express coaches (www.nationalexpress.com)
From: Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2, 3 and Terminal 5)
To: Bournemouth Coach Station
Direct journey: approx. 2 hours 20 minutes
Departure: The central bus station is a short walk from the terminals and has lifts, escalators and moving walkways to help with the journey at terminals 2, 3 and terminal 5. The bus station is open 24 hours a day and the travel centre is open from 06:00 to 22:30.
Tickets: Ticket office at Heathrow central bus station (06:00 - 22:10), ticket machines or online in advance.

Stansted Airport

Frequent services with National Express coaches via London (www.nationalexpress.com)
From: Stansted Airport
To: Bournemouth Coach Station
Journey via London Victoria Coach Station: approx. 4 hours 50 minutes
Journey via London Heathrow Airport: approx. 4 hours 25 minutes
Departure: The coach station is opposite the main terminal entrance
Tickets: Ticket desk in arrivals (open 06:00 to 01:00), in the coach station (24 hours a day, seven days a week) or online in advance.

Bournemouth Airport

Weekday service only with More Bus (Route 737 https://www.morebus.co.uk/)
From: Bournemouth Airport
To: Bournemouth Train Station
Direct journey: approx. 20 minutes
Departure: Every hour outside the airport
Tickets: On board

Southampton Airport

Frequent and direct train services operated by National Rail (www.nationalrail.co.uk)
From: Southampton Airport Parkway Station
To: Bournemouth Train Station
Direct journey: approx. 38 minutes
Departure: Southampton Airport Parkway Station is right next to the airport
Tickets: Ticket machine located in international arrivals or online in advance.

Eurostar

Journey: From Paris Gare du Nord (France) or Brussels-Midi/Zuid (Belgium) to London St Pancras (https://www.eurostar.com/)
Transport to the coach station: Tube from King’s Cross St. Pancras to Victoria Station, Northern Line by Transport for London (https://tfl.gov.uk/), ticket machine in the underground station
Train station to Bournemouth: Frequent and direct services with National Express coaches (www.nationalexpress.com)
From: Victoria Coach Station
To: Bournemouth Train Station
Direct journey: approx. 2 hours 30 minutes
Tickets: Ticket hall open daily from 08:30 to 19:30, ticket machine in the coach station or online in advance.

Ferry

Journey: Since March 2021, from Cherbourg (France) to Poole (https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/), overnight and day time sailings (respectively 10hrs and app. 4hrs 30mns)
From: Poole ferry terminal
To: Bournemouth Train Station
By taxi: approx. 20 minutes
By train: 20 minute walk to the train station, direct train services operated by National Rail (www.nationalrail.co.uk), approx. 20minutes, ticket machine located in the train station or online in advance.
By bus: 10 minute walk to the Bus Station (Stand B), direct buses operated by More Bus ( bus M2, www.morebus.co.uk).

How to get to your Accommodation

Home stay

We will provide you with the address of your host family prior to arrival. From the Coach and Train Station in Bournemouth you will be able to get there on foot, by bus (www.bybus.co.uk) or by taxi.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need information about local bus connections or taxi companies. We will be happy to assist you with travel preparations.

Residence

We will provide you with the address of your residence prior to arrival. From the Coach and Train Station in Bournemouth you will be able to get there on foot, by bus (www.morebus.co.uk) or by taxi.
The residence is within 10 minutes walking distance from the coach and train station.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need information about local bus connections or taxi companies. We will be happy to assist you with travel preparations.

Private Airport Transfer

Airport transfers can be arranged with our local partner straight to your accommodation any time of the day from airport arrivals.

  • Price for One Way
  • Bournemouth: £45
  • Southampton: £150
  • Heathrow: £185
  • Stansted: £300
  • Gatwick: £215

You will be met at the arrival gate by the chauffeur with a Europa School of English sign showing your name. If you do not see the chauffeur, please call our emergency number, which you will find in your booking information.