who is considered an international student?


Very generally speaking, you are an international student for purposes of immigration and fees if you are not a citizen of the European Union or if you normally live outside the EU.

Details of EU member states can be found on Europa, a Web site dedicated to European integration.


Iceland, Leichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not members of the EU; however, citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, reside and work in the UK as EU citizens.

do i need a visa?


If you are not a citizen of the European Union or the countries listed above, you will almost certainly need a visa in order to study in the UK.  Once you receive and accept an unconditional offer from us, we will issue a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) through the UK Border Agency to support your visa application.

You should apply for your student visa no more than three months before your enrolment date. You will be required to provide proof of your immigration status prior to enrolling.

The Courtauld's license number (for use in your visa application) is: B57DU3E99

For further information about applying for a visa, you can refer to the UK Border Agency and the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Opening a Bank Account


Once you enrol on your course, we will be able to provide you a letter that you can use to open a UK bank account.  Banking laws in the UK are very strict, so it is unlikely that you will be able to arrange this prior to your arrival.

finding accommodation


Where possible, we aim to give priority to international students as we allocate accommodation.  Please see our Accommodation pages for details about availability and how to submit an application. You must have received and accepted an offer from us before your application will be considered.