Course up to 6 months
£20
ETA nationalities
- ETA: £20
- No IHS (visitor)
- Health insurance: get a quote
Course length decides your route. Up to 6 months, an ETA (or a visitor visa) is enough; beyond that, a visa made for English courses. Neither lets you work.
For an English course of up to 6 months at an accredited school, nationals of ETA countries (most of Europe, the US, Brazil, Mexico and others) need no visa: you come as a visitor with a £20 ETA. For an English course of more than 6 and up to 11 months, the route is the Short-term study visa: £228 plus a £776 health surcharge (IHS), applied for from abroad up to 3 months before you travel. Neither route lets you work.
£20
ETA (course up to 6 months)
£228
Short-term study visa (6 to 11 months)
£776
health surcharge on the visa
0 h
work allowed
Section 1 · How it works
The UK sorts English-language students by course length, not by type of school. The table sums up the routes for an adult who wants to study English only.
The ETA: nationals on the official ETA list (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, the US and others since 8 January 2025; most European countries from 2 April 2025) need one. It costs £20, is requested through the UK ETA app or online, is usually decided within a day (up to 3 working days) and lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, for stays of up to 6 months, short-term study included. It does not guarantee entry: you still have to meet the visitor rules at the border. Visa holders do not need one. If your nationality is not on the list, check on GOV.UK whether you need a Standard Visitor visa (£135 for up to 6 months).
Why the Student visa rarely fits an English course: it only accepts English courses at B2 level or above, needs a licensed student sponsor (which issues the CAS), costs more (£558 + £776 IHS a year + £1,529 a month in London, for up to 9 months) and, under the rules (Appendix Student, ST 26.1), students not sponsored by a higher education provider cannot work. For an English course, the real routes are the ETA or the Short-term study visa.
| Situation | Visa needed? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism (up to 6 months) | ETA or visitor visa | £20 ETA for nationalities on the ETA list; others check whether they need a £135 Standard Visitor visa. No work. |
| English course up to 6 months | No, ETA only | You enter as a Standard Visitor. The course must be at an accredited institution and last no more than 6 months. No work. |
| English course over 6 and up to 11 months | Short-term study visa | £228 fee + £776 IHS. You stay for the course plus 30 days (11 months at most). Age 16 or over. No work, no extension, no dependants. |
| Course over 11 months | Student visa | Only with a licensed student sponsor and an English course at B2 or above. Rare for someone learning English. |
| Partner and children | Cannot join | The Short-term study visa does not allow dependants; each person needs their own permission. |
Section 2 · Process costs
The costs of the process itself, excluding course and living costs (those are in the UK cost guide).
Course up to 6 months
£20
ETA nationalities
Course of 6 to 11 months
£1,004
process costs
Student visa (reference)
£1,334+
process costs
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💡 In a hurry? GOV.UK offers priority (+£500, decision usually within 5 working days) and super priority (+£1,000, usually by the end of the next working day), but availability depends on your visa application centre and visa type: you are told when you apply (GOV.UK). On top of the fees: certified translations of documents not in English and travel to the visa application centre.
Section 3 · Proof of funds
Fixed amount required
None
ETA and Short-term study visa
Official yardstick: £1,529/month in London (Student visa)
Visitors (ETA) and the Short-term study visa have no fixed published amount. GOV.UK asks you to show that you can support yourself without working or public funds (or that relatives or friends will support and house you) and that you can pay for your return journey. Visitors must also show they will leave the UK at the end of the visit.
For the Short-term study visa, GOV.UK gives bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months as an example of evidence, plus proof that the course is paid for (or that you have the money to pay it).
A useful yardstick: the Student visa sets £1,529 a month for London. Visitors are not asked for it, but it is the best official figure for what living in London costs.
Section 4 · Step by step
Up to 6 months: ETA (or visitor visa). More than 6 and up to 11 months, English only: Short-term study visa. Your whole stay (arrival, course and departure) must fit the limit.
GOV.UK requires an accredited institution on both routes; for the Short-term study visa the list includes Accreditation UK, the British Accreditation Council and ASIC, among others. The letter should state the course name, length and cost. Each school shows its accreditation on its Lancourse profile; confirm with the school that it covers your course.
Through the UK ETA app or online. It is usually decided within a day and can take up to 3 working days; leave a margin. Make sure your passport is valid for the whole stay.
Valid passport; proof you can support yourself (for example, bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months); the school letter; proof the course is paid or that you can pay it; where you will stay and your travel plans; certified translations of anything not in English. A TB test only if you have recently lived in a country on the GOV.UK list for a stay of 6 months or more.
You can apply at most 3 months before you travel. You pay £228 + £776 and book a visa application centre to hand in documents and prove your identity; locations are on the official centre finder. A decision usually comes within 3 weeks and, according to GOV.UK, successful applicants get an eVisa (digital status). Do not pay for travel or accommodation until you have the visa.
On an ETA, take out health insurance: visitors do not pay the IHS and are charged 150% of the NHS rate in hospital. On the Short-term study visa, the IHS gives NHS access from the start of the visa, but prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests are still charged.
Border officers may ask questions about what you plan to do. We recommend carrying the school letter, proof of payment, your accommodation booking, a bank statement and your return ticket (or the means to buy it).
Section 5 · Comparison
For many nationalities both countries waive a prior visa for a short course, but only Ireland links a long course to the right to work.
| Criterion | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Short course | £20 ETA, up to 6 months | No visa for many nationalities, up to 90 days |
| Long English course | Short-term study visa, applied for from abroad (up to 11 months) | Stamp 2 registered on arrival (25+ week ILEP course) |
| Fees | £228 + £776 IHS | €300 (IRP) |
| Funds | No fixed amount | €6,665 |
| Work | No | 20 h/week (40 h in holidays) |
| Renewal | No | Yes, up to 2 years in total |
Next step
The whole process depends on a letter from an accredited school. Check the accreditation on each London school profile.
Section 6 · FAQ
These answers use FAQ schema (JSON-LD) so they can appear in Google AI Overviews.
For a course of up to 6 months, not if your nationality is on the ETA list: a £20 ETA is enough and you come as a visitor (other nationalities may need a Standard Visitor visa). For an English course of more than 6 and up to 11 months, yes: the Short-term study visa (£228 + £776 IHS), applied for before you travel.
No. Visitors and Short-term study visa holders cannot do paid or unpaid work, including work placements. Even on a Student visa, students not sponsored by a higher education provider cannot work.
GOV.UK says a decision usually comes within a day and can take up to 3 working days. Apply once you have your course dates; the ETA lasts 2 years (or until your passport expires).
Do not count on it. The Short-term study visa cannot be extended, and visitors cannot live in the UK through successive visits. If your total plan is over 6 months, apply for the Short-term study visa from the start.
Yes. The health surcharge (£776) is paid with the application and lets you use the NHS from the start of the visa. Prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests are still charged.
Strongly recommended. Visitors do not pay the IHS and are charged 150% of the NHS rate for hospital treatment. A GP visit as a temporary patient and A&E are free, but the NHS itself advises personal medical insurance.
Only if you are coming for 6 months or more and have recently lived in a country on the GOV.UK list. The test depends on where you have lived, not your nationality.
Yes, on both routes. As a visitor, the course must be at an accredited institution (not an academy or state-funded school). For the Short-term study visa, accreditation must come from a body listed by GOV.UK, such as Accreditation UK or the British Accreditation Council.
Sources (read on 24 October 2026):
Caveats: