Visa Types

If you are preparing to come to the UK to join our helicopter training academy and have non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationality, you will need to acquire a study visa.

There are two types of study visas available:

1.  Tier 4 Visa

• If you are travelling to the UK to study on a full-time programme for more than six months, you’ll need the Tier 4 (T4) visa.
• It may be possible to do limited work on a Tier 4 visa. You may be entitled to bring your family with you (subject to meeting specific criteria), and you may be authorised to extend your Tier 4 visa in the UK, (circumstances depending).
• The UK uses a points-based immigration system with various ‘tiers’. Tier 4 is the tier which relates to students.
• It is not possible to apply for a Tier 4 visa once you have already arrived in the UK. This must be done in your home country.

2.  Short-Term Study Visa

• Applications for short-term visas should be made through the British Embassy or in your home country, via a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
• You will need a letter proving that you have secured a place within your chosen study programme.
• Evidence to show that you have enough money for your fees and to fund yourself throughout your stay in the UK will need to be submitted.
• Depending on your chosen flight training programme and your country of origin, you may need a letter from your home country institution and your tuberculosis (TB) test result.
• You can apply for a short-term study visa up to 3 months before your course starts. Typically, you should receive a decision on your application within three weeks; however, we recommend checking the visa processing times in your own country.