Preparing for Your UK Study Visa

Once your child has a place at Leweston you may need to apply for a visa. If so, there are important steps to take before they can travel. This page explains what Leweston will do and when and where to find official government guidance on the visa process itself.

Important: Visa Advice

Leweston School is not regulated to provide immigration or visa advice. We cannot tell you which visa your child needs, whether they will be successful in their application, or advise you on the immigration process.

Your education agent is your first point of contact for visa guidance. If you do not have an agent, if they are not able to act on your behalf, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or a regulated solicitor. Official UK government visa information is available at gov.uk/student-visa and gov.uk/child-student-visa.

What Leweston Does: Our Process

Our role in the visa process is specific and limited. We issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is a reference number your child will need to include in their visa application. We do not manage the application itself — that is between your family, your agent, and the Home Office.

Here is what you can expect from us, and when:

1. Place offered and accepted

Once you accept a place and pay the deposit, Leweston will confirm your child's enrolment in writing. This is the starting point for the visa process.

2. Medical details collected

We will ask you to complete medical and welfare information as part of the acceptance process. This must be returned before we can issue a CAS.

3. CAS Issued by Leweston

Once all acceptance conditions are met, our admissions team will issue your child's CAS reference number. We will send this to you directly. You need to use this reference in the visa application. We will request a range of documentation from you in order to issue CAS which must be supplied before the reference number can be issued. This includes a named UK guardian and a signed letter of understanding from that guardian confirming their responsibility for the student during their time at Leweston.

4. Visa application

The visa application is made by you, supported by your agent or immigration adviser. Leweston does not submit or manage visa applications. Please do not ask our admissions team for immigration advice during this stage. Do not submit an application before you have received a CAS from us.

5. Visa granted - confirm arrival details

Once the visa is granted, please notify our admissions team and confirm your child's travel arrangements. We will send joining information, uniform guidance and arrival details.

6. Arrival at Leweston

Our admissions team will confirm airport collection arrangements where applicable. On arrival the student (and parents if you have travelled together) will meet with admissions and boarding to confirm proof of entry and check the visa documentation. Please notify us immediately if there are any changes to your child's travel arrangements.

Start early

We strongly encourage families to begin the acceptance process,and therefore the CAS process, as early as possible. Visa applications take time, and processing times vary significantly by country. For September entry, we recommend having your place fully accepted and your CAS issued no later than the end of May, to allow sufficient time before term begins.

UK Government Study Ready Campaign

The UK government runs a campaign called Study Ready, designed to help international students and their families prepare for the visa application process well in advance. Leweston supports this campaign and encourages all prospective international families to engage with the resources it provides.

The Study Ready campaign provides official guidance on preparing a UK student visa application, including what documents to gather, timelines to follow, and how to avoid common delays. All information comes directly from UK Visas and Immigration.

#StudyReady