Old style visa and Tier 4

I have an old-style student visa issued in 2008, and valid until end of October 2011. I have now completed one degree and have just been unconditionally accepted onto a postgraduate degree which starts 20th September 2011. I am now abroad for my summer holidays.

Can I return to the UK to begin my new course under my old visa, and apply for a Tier 4 from within the UK? I wanted to make an in-person application and thus get the new visa done ASAP.

The information I was given when calling the UK Border Agency was contradictory - one person told me I cannot return, one said I could.

Thanks.

If you've finished your course, then it's risky.

vinny wrote:If you've finished your course, then it's risky.

The thing is a). my old visa is NOT Tier 4 (and thus not connected to any particular institution and has no CAS) - it's an old-style student visa b). I will be returning to continue studying at the same university (i.e not work, etc - the link you gave me is about someone planning to work after studying).