Please note, International students are unable to study Higher Education programmes at York College.
Please research the course thoroughly and discuss your choices with those close to you. You may wish to seek further advice from one of our partners, not just for academic purposes, but also around support, care and guardianship. Contact us if you have any questions about this. We can always recommend trusted partners. You must apply for a course at Level 3 or above.
Please note - your application will be subject to a £300 fee before it is assessed by our admissions team. The fee is non-refundable but will be deducted from your tuition fees, should your application be successful.
The first stage is to complete the College application form and return it to us. You must submit your application on line through our website.
It saves time and helps us to make you an offer if you include the following documents with your application form:
- Proof of your immigration status
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
- A copy of your latest school report
- A copy of any formal qualifications (if available)
- A copy of your IELTS test certificate (if available)
- An academic reference from a tutor
- A personal statement written by you
What Happens Next?
Once we have received your application we will assess your suitability for the course.
When the Admissions Team receive your application, they will email you an International Assessment Form (IAF) which you must complete and return as soon as possible. Once we have received your completed and signed IAF, with copies of all the requested documents, you may be invited for a virtual interview if you meet the course entry requirements.
After your interview you might be made an offer to study with us and if you accept this, and pay a deposit, we will send you the relevant documents so that you can apply for your Student visa.
Student Visa Information can be found here.
Conditional Offers
Most students will receive a conditional offer. This means that you need to meet certain conditions in order to study with us. Usually these will either be related to your IELTS score or your academic results. For example, you may be awaiting your final high school report.
- IELTS Scores: A summary of our IELTS requirements can be downloaded here. Please note that in order to meet the Student visa regulations, we can only accept the results of a secure IELTS Academic for UKVI Purposes test from a UK Government approved centre (see our visa guidance for further details).
- Academic Entry: Given the number of different education systems around the world, we do not have an absolute entry requirement for each course. However, we do expect strong academic performance. Please email us at info@yorkcollege.ac.uk for further advice.
If you receive a conditional offer, you should focus on meeting your conditions. Once you have done so we will upgrade your offer to an unconditional offer. In the meantime, you should do the following things to accept your place:
- Email a signed, scanned copy of our Terms and Conditions document.
- Pay your course deposit (£1000) and, if applicable, your homestay deposit (£500).
Once you have done this and met your conditions we will write to you to confirm your place and we will send you an official CAS letter which you can use to apply for your student visa.
Unconditional Offers
Congratulations, you have met our academic entry requirements and achieved our required IELTS score. We are happy to accept you on our course without further conditions. If you have received an unconditional offer you only need to do two things to accept your place:
- Email a signed, scanned copy of our Terms and Conditions document
- Pay your course deposit (£1000) and, if applicable, your homestay deposit (£500)
Once you have done this we will write to you to confirm your place and from April we will send you an official Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter which you can use to apply for your student visa.
Accepting your Offer
After we receive your application we hope to make you a formal offer to study. This page tells you what happens at this stage and what you need to do next.
When we make you an offer, there are a number of steps you need to follow in order to confirm your place. Depending on your circumstances, your offer will either be unconditional or conditional.
Visa Information
International students will need either a Student visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to study in the UK. A Student visa is required for courses longer than 6 months, while an ETA is for courses up to 6 months. You can check if you need a visa using the link below. You must apply for your visa or ETA after we formally accept you and provide the necessary offer documents.
Step 1: Get your CAS number
The College is your official student visa sponsor. From May, provided you have met the conditions of your offer, we will issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) letter. This letter contains a unique reference number that you need for your visa application. You cannot apply without a CAS number.
- We will not issue this more than six months in advance of your course start date as this is the earliest you can apply for your visa.
- We will not issue you with a CAS number until you have paid your course deposit (£1000).
Step 2: Check your paperwork
Before you submit your application, you should check any accompanying paperwork. This must include any evidence we have listed in your CAS letter, but should also include the following:
- Your current passport
- One passport sized colour photo with your name written on the back
- Proof of parental consent, under 18s only.
- Evidence of your financial maintenance (see below)
- Evidence of your tuberculosis test result
- Copies of any examination certificates
Note that in order to study in the UK, students must demonstrate that they have had a certain amount of money in their bank account (or accounts used to support them, such as a parent’s account) for at least 28 days prior to their application. For a student staying in York this amount is £1136 per month. This amount may rise in the future and can be found in the latest UKVI Guidance.
Step 3: Apply online
You must apply for your student visa online. After you have submitted your online application you will need to make an appointment to provide fingerprints and to submit the documentation listed above. Begin your application here:
Step 4: Tell us when you get your visa
The UK Visas and Immigration Service (UKVI) does not tell York College the outcome of your visa application, so please tell us as soon as you have received your visa.
Student Accommodation
The majority of students whose accommodation needs we support live with local people in a homestay environment. Click here to find out more.
Final Preparations
Contact your homestay host
Around this time, we will put homestay students in contact with their host households. We strongly advise that you use the weeks leading up to your departure to contact your hosts. Try to get to know them and tell them a bit about yourself.
Learn about York
Most students live in York for at least a year. This is a fantastic opportunity to really get to know the city. You can use the time before you leave for the UK to learn more about what the city has to offer.
Pay any outstanding fees
Where applicable, you must have paid at least your course deposit (£1000) and your homestay deposit (£500) before you arrive in York.
Check your paperwork
Make sure your paperwork is all in order, especially your visa documents. Keep all key documents in your hand luggage, including contact details for the College and your residential address in York (e.g. homestay address). This is also covered in our visa information section above.
Book your flights (and tell us)
We ask all students to book flights as soon as they have their visa. We ask that you tell us when you are arriving in the UK. We also strongly recommend that students fly to Manchester Airport. Further details about arriving in the UK are given below.
When you arrive
Our international student arrival day is still to be confirmed for 2025, however, it is likely to be during the first week of September. On this day only, we offer a complimentary airport collection and transfer service from Manchester Airport (MAN) to York College. It is very important that students try to arrive on this day and that they tell us their flight details as soon as they have been booked.
Once you have arrived at the College, you will be introduced to your homestay provider if you are staying in accommodation arranged through the College. They will take you to your new home. If you have arranged your own accommodation, you will be responsible for travelling to your new address. However, members of College staff will be available to advise you. Taxi fares are reasonable.
If you arrive on any day other than the designated International student arrival day, you will need to make your own way from the airport to your accommodation. There is a train station at Manchester Airport and there are regular direct trains to York. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes.
International Welcome
Your first few days in York will be filled with events, presentations and activities designed to help you settle in and make the most of your time in York. Welcome Week will include:
- Information about your course
- Information about the College
- Meeting your tutors
- Meeting other students
- College registration and paperwork
- An activity day in York city centre
- Information about the International Social Programme
- Information on how to register with a doctor
Fees
In addition to any visa fees you need to pay to UKVI, the following fees will be invoiced to you from York College-
- Course fees (per year) - £8,250
- Accommodation fees (per year) - £8,250
Course fees must be paid in advance in full.
Accommodation fees will be invoiced termly.
