What is an acceptable course of study for a Tier 4 (General) student?

• study full-time in the UK on a course that leads to an approved qualification for our purposes and meets the additional requirements below; or
• undertake a recognised Foundation Programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist in the UK; or
• work as a student union sabbatical officer in the UK.

If you want to study full-time, your course must also:

• lead to a qualification at or above level 6 on the revised National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or its equivalents; or
• be a short-term 'study abroad' programme as part of your qualification at an overseas higher education provider, if UK NARIC has confirmed that the qualification is at or above UK degree level; or
• be an English language course at or above level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); or
• be an English language course at any level, if you are a government-sponsored student or if the course is a pre-sessional course which you are taking before a degree course; or
• involve at least 15 hours per week of organised daytime study. 'Daytime' is 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.

If the course is below revised NQF level 6 or equivalent and is not an English language course or a study abroad programme, it must:

• be approved at or above level 3 on the NQF or Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF), or accredited at or above level 6 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), if you will be studying with a Highly Trusted sponsor; or
• be approved at or above level 4 on the NQF or QCF, or accredited at ar above level 7 in the SCQF, if you will be studying with a sponsor that has an A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor) rating; or
• be a pre-sessional course to prepare you for your main course of study in the UK.

Level 3 of the NQF is equivalent to a UK 'A-level'. Level 6 of the revised NQF is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree.

A course below degree level cannot include a work placement unless it is:

• offered by a Highly Trusted sponsor; or
• a foundation degree course.

A work placement must be an assessed part of the course, and must not exceed 50 per cent of the length of the course in the UK.