How many points do you need?

As a Tier 4 (General) student, you must have 40 points in our points assessment. You can score:

• 30 points for having a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies, which you get for studying a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (also known as a 'Tier 4 sponsor'); and
• 10 points for having enough money (also known as maintenance or funds) to cover your course fees and living costs.

English language requirement

Your education provider must ensure that you are competent in English at a minimum of CEFR level B1, unless:

• your course is at or above level 6 of the revised National Qualifications Framework (equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree); or
• your course is a foundation degree; or
• you are from a majority English-speaking country. You can find a list of these countries on the English language for skilled workers page of this website.

It is your education provider's responsibility to assess your competence in English, and to decide how to carry out the assessment.

If you want to study an English language course, you must still meet the English language requirement.

If you have official financial sponsorship

An 'official financial sponsor' is an organisation that wholly supports you to study in the UK by giving you money to cover your course fees and living costs. The UK government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or UK independent school can be an official financial sponsor.

You will need your official financial sponsor's permission to stay in or return to the UK as a Tier 4 student if that organisation is currently supporting you, or was supporting you w ithin the past 12 months, to study here as :

• a Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) student; or
• a student under the Immigration Rules that were in force before 31 March 2009; or
• a student nurse; or
• a student re-sitting an examination; or
• a student writing up a thesis; or
• a postgraduate doctors and dentists.

You will need to provide us with your financial sponsor's unconditional permission in writing. The financial sponsor must confirm that it has no objection to you continuing your studies in the UK. If the financial sponsor does not give its consent, we will refuse your application.

Permission from your parent(s) or legal guardian if you are 16 or 17 years old

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you have the legal right to live independently in the UK, and may make their own arrangements for accommodation. However, you will need the permission of your parent(s) or legal guardian to do this and (if you are applying from overseas) to travel to the UK.

If you are 16 or 17 years old and will be living independently, you must send us a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian, confirming:

• their relationship with you;
• that they have given their permission for your application; and
• that they have given their permission for you to live independently in the UK; and
• that they have given their permision for your independent travel to the UK.

If the letter is signed by only one parent or legal guardian, it must confirm that they have legal custody or sole responsibility for you. If they do not have sole custody, the letter must confirm that each parent or legal guardian agrees to the contents of the letter, and must be signed by each parent or legal guardian.

Other requirements (general grounds for refusal)

Even if you meet the requirements for the Tier 4 (General) category, we may refuse your application for other reasons (such as your previous immigration history) . For more information about these 'general grounds for refusal', see Chapter 9 of our immigration directorate instructions.