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Registration for Student visa holders

You need to formally register with Birkbeck before you can start your programme of study at Birkbeck. You will be permitted to register if you are able to show that you have either:  

  • valid immigration permission which allows you to study your programme of study at Birkbeck, or
  • evidence that you are waiting for a decision on a Student visa application to study at Birkbeck which was made from inside the UK while holding a valid UK visa.

What you need to register with Birkbeck

  • You must provide the following documents and attend an online session:
    • passport - we cannot accept expired passports
    • student visa to study at Birkbeck - please see below for what format your visa will be; and
    • completed Student Visa Registration form – this will be emailed to students at the point a new CAS is issued.  

What format of visa will I get?

  • Before Travel:
    • Some students will be granted an entry clearance vignette to allow them to enter the UK; others will not have any vignette.
    • Students who have a vignette should find that it is stamped by UK immigration upon entry to the country. If it is not stamped, then they should also provide evidence of their entry to the UK in the form of flight details.
    • Students who do not have an entry clearance vignette must provide evidence of their entry to the UK. This evidence is normally a flight ticket, which should include their full name, details of the flight and the origin and destination(s) of travel.
  • After Arrival:
    • All students who will begin their studies at Birkbeck in 2025 will have an eVisa, as the UK Government are phasing out the use of physical identity documents such as BRPs.  Once an eVisa account is created and the Student visa granted, students are able to generate a Sharecode to demonstrate their visa status.
    • More details on creating an eVisa account can be found on the UK government website. 

What happens if you don't register with Birkbeck?

  • You will not be permitted to attend classes until you have formally registered with the College. If you fail to complete your registration by the deadline, which normally is the latest arrival date stated on your CAS, you may not be permitted to register and/or enrol for the relevant academic year.

What to do if you have applied to extend your stay

  • If you have applied to extend your stay in the UK before you register at Birkbeck and you are still waiting for a decision on your application, you will need to show the following, instead of a new Student visa to study at Birkbeck:
    • your passport
    • your UK visa at the time of submitting a Student visa application to study at Birkbeck
    • evidence of submitting your Student visa application from the UK while your previous UK visa is valid, such as a copy of your visa application showing the application number and date of submission. 
  • Once you receive an outcome of your Student visa application, you will need to present all documents listed above to complete your registration.
  • If your UK immigration permission at the time of making your Student visa application does not permit you to study, such as the Graduate Route visa or High Potential Individual visa, you must wait until you are granted a Student visa. 
  • You can only be invited to enrol if you have provided evidence of your Student visa to study at Birkbeck before the latest arrival date stated on your CAS. Enrolment and Student Visa Registration must be completed by the latest arrival date.  

Visas that mean you will not be able to register 

  • You will not be able to register at Birkbeck to study a full-time programme if you hold an immigration permission that does not permit you to study, including the following:
    • Graduate visa
    • High Potential Individual visa
    • Standard Visitor visa (including all sub-categories)
    • Short-term Study visa
    • Marriage Visitor visa
    • Parent of a Child Student visa.
  • The Standard Visitor visa does not allow full-time study. However, you can use it for short courses, to retake specific elements of your programme of study, such a retaking a module or resitting an examination, and to attend a viva.