Confused about num of yrs on student Visa,need clarification

[smithoo]

Hello everyone,pls I need clarification on the number of years on student visa.The policy guidance says one cannot spend more than 3yrs studying below degree level and 5 yrs at degree level and above.My question is if one has spend five years below degree level b4 the rule comes into force,can such student still spend 5yrs at degree level as I didn't see anywhere in the policy guidance that address this.Thanks

[Deviser]

Hello everyone,pls I need clarification on the number of years on student visa.The policy guidance says one cannot spend more than 3yrs studying below degree level and 5 yrs at degree level and above.My question is if one has spend five years below degree level b4 the rule comes into force,can such student still spend 5yrs at degree level as I didn't see anywhere in the policy guidance that address this.Thanks

Generally, the total time you can spend on student visa is 8 years, either old rules or Tier-4. So if you already spend 5 years on below degree level, you can still study for 3 years at degree level.

[smithoo]

Thanks for the prompt reply.can you pls paste the link where it was specifically stated that one can not stay more than 8yrs cos what I am seeing is just numbers of years for both below degree and degree level.Thanks

[sheraz7]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas ... /how-long/

[Greenie]

You get to 8 years by adding 5 and 3 together...

The 3 year limit on below degree level study only applies to time spent under Tier 4 (General) as an adult, not Tier 4 (General) when they were 16 or 17 years old; or Tier 4 (Child) when they were aged 17 years or under old style student visas, as specified in the Tier 4 policy guidance para 103 and in the rules, 245ZV (g) and 245ZX(h)

The 5 year limit to degree level study applies to time spend studying under Tier 4 (general) and old style (pre March 2009) student visas as specified in the immigration rules, see para 245ZV (ga) and 245ZX (ha)

The limits apply regardless of whether study took place before the limit was brought in. If it was the case that time spent before the limit did not count, it would say so in the rules and the guidance.