The Home Office will not grant leave to enter or remain in the UK as a student to an overseas student wishing to attend a course of study at a provider which does not appear on the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Register.

This means that all study abroad program providers must register with the DfES. The DfES Register contains a list of all publicly funded, private learning and genuine education and training providers, including US institutions which operate in the UK and are independently administered. You can search and browse the Register online.

If you are participating on an island program (a program in which you will not be directly enrolled in a UK university), you must check the register prior to your departure to make sure your provider has registered. US institutions were not automatically placed on the Register.

As you make your way through passport control, immigration officials will check the Register and are free to turn you away if your provider is not listed. Therefore, it is very important to verify that your institution/provider is on the Register before you leave the US!

All accredited UK universities should already be listed on the Register. Therefore, if you are participating on a direct-enrollment program, the new regulations should not adversely affect you.

Registration is simple and straightforward, and applications can be submitted online by an education program provider. More information about the DfES Register and how to apply can be found at the DfES Register of providers website.

You still do not need to apply for entry clearance if you are on a course or internship that is fewer than six months.

You must present the following documents to the immigration officer upon your arrival in the UK:

			A valid US passport that won't expire during your time in the UK.
			The letter of acceptance from your UK university or US program provider listed on the DfES Register. If possible, your acceptance letter should be on watermarked letterhead (to prove authenticity), confirm that you are a full-time student as defined in the Immigration Rules (on a course that involves at least 15 hours of organized daytime study per week or on a full-time course leading to a UK degree) and provide the title of your course as well as its duration and start and end dates.
			Proof that you can meet the costs of your course and living expenses (including accommodation). Your acceptance letter should give the full cost of your course, including tuition and living costs, as well as what arrangements are acceptable for payment, how much any installments will be and how often they will be due. Proof of funding can be in the form of documentation proving scholarship funding, federal financial aid, private loans, parental or personal bank accounts or whatever method you are using to fund your studies.
			Round-trip ticket: this is an unofficial rule to show your intention to leave after the completion of your course and generally helps you pass through immigration more easily.

If you intend to work in the UK, you must tell that to the immigration officer so that you receive the correct stamp in your passport. The immigration officer will ask to see evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in the UK or that you are participating in an internship, either independently or as part of your course. If you will be participating in an internship while studying, you should have your university or program provider include this information in your acceptance letter to ensure you are give the correct stamp.

In order to enter the UK as a student, you must be able to prove that you are able to financially support yourself while studying. You may not use any additional money earned through employment in the UK as proof of these funds. Should you satisfy the Immigration Officer’s requirements, you will be given a “Code 2” stamp which reads “Work and any changes must be authorised.” This stamp gives you permission to work up to 20 hours per week during term and up to 40 hours per week during vacations. A “Code 3” stamp, which reads “Work and any changes are prohibited”, means you are not allowed to work while you are in the UK.

You should be aware that Immigration Officers are not required to give students studying in the UK for less than six months the Code 2 stamp. The decision is on an individual basis and at the Immigration Officer’s discretion.