Student visa

On this page you will find information on applying for a Student Visa:

You will also find information on:

UKVI Action Fraud Campaign

Every year, the UK receives tens of thousands of applications from international students who wish to study at our world class institutions for Tier 4 visas, with 96% of these being successfully issued in 2018.    

Unfortunately, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) have identified that international students are sometimes being targeted by fraudsters either before they reach or upon arrival in the UK.

UKV&I have teamed up with Action Fraud to produce a guidance pack for international students to provide information on keeping safe against fraudulent activity.

Key messages

  • If you receive an unexpected email, telephone call or letter from someone who claims to be from the Home Office, it could be a scam
  • Legitimate Home Office officials will never contact you and ask you to pay visa fees or fines over the phone
  • Neither the Home Office nor UKVI will ask you to make payment using iTunes vouchers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or a money transfer service

What should I do if I receive an unexpected communication?

If you receive a communication from the Home Office that you are not sure is genuine, you should:

  • Contact the Student information desk at Heriot-Watt University with details of the communication you have received. Our Global Student Advisors will then be able to investigate if the communication is genuine.
  • Report the communication to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040

Contact the Visa, Advice and Compliance team

Our Visa, Advice and Compliance team are available to answer your enquires through the Student information desk. You can also view frequently asked questions (FAQs) for many topics related to international students studying at our Scottish campuses.

Key information