Visas and immigration
Overview
Depending on your nationality and current UK immigration status you may need to apply for a Student visa or a Standard Visitor Visa to study at SOAS.
You can use the UK Government’s visa checking tool to find out which type of visa you may need and if you must apply for your visa before travelling to the UK. There are two relevant categories of visas suitable for studying at SOAS:
- Student Visa for programmes lasting more than 6 months and pre-sessional English courses
- Standard Visitor visa for programmes shorter than 6 months in duration or if you need to repeat a module as part of a longer programme.
From January 2025, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling if you're eligible to request your Standard Visitor visa on arrival to the UK. The ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK but will authorise you to travel to the UK.
