Study Abroad

Immigration information

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You will of course need a passport to travel to the UK. If you are a US citizen and do not already have one, information on how to get one can be found on the US Department of State website. The site also gives a full country-by-country list of visa requirements. They also host a website called Students Abroad giving information for students planning to study overseas; it includes information on travel documents, health, emergency procedures, US embassy contacts and voting whilst abroad. The US and the UK operate a visa waiver programme so US passport holders do not normally need a visa when visiting the UK, however there are different rules for US citizens wishing to study in the UK: US students coming to the UK to study can gain entry to the UK in two different ways depending on the length of their programme - either as a student visitor or applying for entry clearance to get a student visa.

Student visitors

US citizens coming to the UK for less than 6 months (this will be the case for all our semester programme students) do not need a visa for entry, you can enter the country as a student visitor. There are limitations based on student visitors, you cannot for example do any paid work (although you can do unpaid volunteering) and you cannot extend your stay. If you arrive as a student visitor you will need 3 documents with you to show to the immigration officer when you arrive in the UK:

• A valid passport that won't expire during your time in the UK
• The letter of acceptance from Queen Mary, University of London
• Proof of funding for your period of study (this can be in the form of documentation proving scholarship funding, federal financial aid, private loans, parental bank account or whichever method you are using to fund your studies.)

Entry Clearance

If your period of study is for longer than 6 months (this will be the case for all year programme students) or you want to avoid any of the restrictions placed on student visitors you need to apply in advance of travel for entry clearance. Details of how to apply for entry clearance can be found on the British Council USA website. The BC site also includes a useful section on living in the UK

Further information on student visitor status entry clearance and information on how to apply for visas if you are from a country where a visa is required are available on the Immigration section of our website.

Further advice for US students can be found on the Official UK Government's website for the USA.

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