Studying at Colchester Institute as an Overseas Student
Colchester Institute is a college of Further and Higher Education in Essex that offers a wide range of courses to help you with your education and chosen career. Every year Colchester Institute welcomes international and overseas students from many different countries. The majority of our students are from the Essex area however we do currently have a representation of over 80 nationalities.
International and Overseas students choose Colchester Institute for many different reasons including smaller class sizes, one to one support from tutors, our location which is approximately one hour by train to London, easy access to the local countryside and beautiful East Anglian coastline, the opportunity to experience British culture and make new friends.
Do I need a visa to study in the UK?
Check if you need immigration permission to study in the UK before you apply for a course using the following GOV.UK links:
Choose from the options in the menu below and find the course or information for you.
International and Overseas students choose Colchester Institute for many different reasons and these include lower cost of living, smaller class sizes, one to one support from tutors, approximately 50 minutes by train to London, quiet countryside environment, beautiful East Anglian coastline and the opportunity to experience British culture and make new friends.
Colchester Institute offers courses in subjects including Art and Design, Computing, Business, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality, Professional Cookery, Management, Health and Social Care, Child Care, Music, Construction, Automotive, Engineering and much more. For more information you can search our courses here.
Further education courses are taken by students after compulsory school age, i.e. 16 years of age. Many further education qualifications are designed to enable entry to higher education courses, such as a Bachelor degree. Students take higher education courses from the age of 18, usually after completing a two year further education course, such as a BTEC National Diploma or A Levels.
Cultural Differences
It is a very exciting time, moving to a different country, meeting new people and learning about different cultures. However, it can also be a bit of a shock and you may experience many emotions during the first few weeks whilst you adjust to your new environment. Studying in an English college means that you will meet British students and will have opportunities to develop your language skills faster through regular practice. Events are organised through the Student Union and International Society so that all students socialise together. There are many facilities including on-site restaurants, a multi-gymnasium, library and computer suites where students can meet either to talk about every day life or to work on projects. Quite a few of our students progress on to British universities or continue studying at Colchester Institute.
If you live in a warm climate you may find the weather in the UK cold and wet at certain times of the year. British food may be very different to what you are used to, however, local supermarkets stock a very wide range of foods from around the world so you should be able to find some familiar food. There are plenty of places to eat on our campus, offering a variety of meals.
Social behaviours may confuse or surprise you, and you may find the relationships between men and women more formal or less formal than you are used to. British people generally have a reputation for punctuality, therefore, in business and academic life, keeping time is important; you should always be on time for classes, lectures and meetings, and should let people know if you are going to be late or unable to attend.
You may be surprised that other cultures do not share the same values and beliefs as you. Give yourself time to adjust and understand others, and remember that other people will take time to understand your behaviour too.
Guidance and Information
UKCISA produce some guidance on culture shock that you may find interesting to read and the British Council have information on their website about UK life and culture.
If you have any further questions please email the University Centre Colchester office at uccadmissions@colchester.ac.uk or telephone 0044(0)1206712152
Entry Requirements
The course you choose must be a continuing higher level of study to the qualifications you have already achieved and aim to help you with your future career goals.
In order to for us to consider your application you must show that you meet the following requirements:
- Be over the age of 18 (Colchester Institute will only accept applicants over the age of 18).
- Meet the course entry requirements.
- Meet the English language requirement.
- Be able to pay the tuition fee in advance if offered a place on the course.
- Show financial evidence of funds to be able to support yourself as stated by UK Visas and Immigration. Exemptions may apply depending on the country you are a national of.
Please view the following link for financial evidence for students and the list of countries where exemptions apply:
Financial evidence for Student and Child Student visa applicants
Please view the International Fee Policy for information on tuition fees and financial requirements to support yourself.
Qualification Entry Requirements
To be eligible for a course you must meet the entry requirements, these are listed on each course page in terms of GCSE or A-levels. These are UK standard qualifications that are awarded at the end of a student’s time at school or college.
We will consider the qualifications you have achieved from your own country of study if they are shown to be equivalent to the course entry requirements. An assessment to compare the equivalence of your qualifications will be necessary. Please email Admissions on international@colchester.ac.uk for information on what documents you need to provide.
You may be asked by Colchester Institute, or you may wish to consider for your own purposes, obtaining a Statement of Comparability from UK ENIC:
UK ENIC is the national agency who provides official information on comparability levels for international qualifications and skills. This enables informed decisions to be made by many organisations including employers, colleges and universities.
English Language Ability
Students whose first language is not English need to provide evidence of their English language ability.
You must be able to demonstrate proof of your English language skills, by showing that you have ‘intermediate’ level English. This is a requirement for all students and provides an indication of a student’s ability to succeed on a course.
Students at Colchester Institute usually require an overall IELTS score of:
- 5.5 with a minimum of 5.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening for Further Education courses.
- 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, speaking and listening for Higher Education courses.
Students intending to enter the UK on a student visa must take a test from an approved provider of Secure English Language Tests (SELT) and provide a certificate to us that proves you have successfully completed test.
The result must meet the minimum requirement stated by the Home Office and Colchester Institute.
Please ensure the test you take is an IELTS for UKVI and it must be the Academic version. We will only accept tests that have been taken at an official test centre. Find a test centre: IELTS | IELTS tests for UK Visas and Immigration
Finance
Ensure you have your finances arranged so you can pay your tuition fees and living costs for the duration of your course.
Living in the UK with valid residency (Overseas student)
If you live in the UK but are not a UK national, you may be able eligible to apply for student finance depending on your nationality, immigration status and length of residency.
Student finance for undergraduates: Eligibility
When you apply to Colchester Institute you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your residency status and provide evidence of your passport and status share code. You may be asked to provide further information depending on whether you are over or under 19+ years and which country you have been residing in.
What is a Share code?
You can obtain a Share code from your UKVI account. View and prove your immigration status: get a share code
UK Visas and Immigration are changing physical documents to eVisas which is an online record of your immigration status:
You can view information about online immigration status (eVisa) by following the link: Online immigration status (eVisa)
Living in the UK with Immigration Permission
If you have either limited or permanent immigration permission to live in the UK, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your residency status. We will request evidence of your passport, status share code or if you have not created a UKVI account yet evidence of your documents, for example:
- Biometric residence permit or card.
- Passport endorsements.
- Vignette stickers.
- Application Registration Card (ARC)
- Or any other type of evidence that may apply to your immigration status.
Finance for international students with a student visa
When you apply for a student visa you need to provide evidence that you can financially support yourself while studying in the UK.
You will need money for the following:
- Accommodation and living costs: Accommodation information
- Application for a student visa: Application information
- Immigration Healthcare Surcharge: UK Healthcare information
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
You need to be issued with a CAS reference number before you can apply for a student visa. Colchester Institute will only issue you with a CAS when you have met the following requirements:
- You have been made an unconditional offer of a place on your course.
- You have paid the tuition fees in advance.
- You are able to show evidence to Colchester Institute and UK Visas and Immigration that you can financially support yourself.
The earliest you can apply for a student visa from outside of the UK is 6 months before the start of the course or 3 months if applying from inside of the UK.
Please follow the link for information on student visas: Student visa
Accommodation
You will need to arrange where you are going to live before you arrive in the UK.
Please see the Essential Students Guide to Student Accommodation for more support and information. We are only able to offer accommodation to students studying at University Centre Colchester who are 18 years old or above.
Please be aware all accommodation listed is provided by external third parties for which University Centre Colchester receives no financial benefit. Any contract of services entered into is purely between the recipient and the third-party organisation.
For maps and more information on any of the below accommodation, please email accommodation@colchester.ac.uk or telephone (01206) 712613.
Please note: Prices may be subject to change.
Travelling to and from Colchester
Colchester is easily accessible by car, bus or train and is approximately 50 minutes by car to Stansted airport.
Train
Trains run between Colchester (North) station and London Liverpool Street every 20 minutes. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour. Train services from Colchester also run to Norwich, Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich. Colchester has three stations with the main station being Colchester (North) and not Colchester Town or Hythe.
Colchester Train Station Information
Bus
There are several bus companies to help you travel in and around Colchester and the surrounding areas.
Times & maps – Hedingham and Chambers
Essex County Council also run a Park and Ride service located by the Stadium just off the A12 (junction 28). This service runs to Colchester city centre with numerous stops but does not operate in the evening.
Airports
Stansted is the closest airport to Colchester and is approximately 50 minutes away by car.
National Express offers regular services to Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow airport.
Harwich International Port
The port is approximately 17 miles from Colchester and is accessible by car, bus or train. You can travel to the Hook of Holland using the Stena Line Ferry. Please check what documents and visas are required before you travel.
Healthcare
You will be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge when you apply for a student visa. This will allow you to access medical treatment from the NHS (National Health Service) if necessary. You will still need to pay for dental treatment, routine eye care appointments and prescriptions.
You should register with your local GP Practice (Doctors surgery) after you have arrived in the UK: UK healthcare
