For an applicant to enter or remain in the UK as an adult student under the Tier 4 (General) category or Tier 4 (child) category of the points-based system, the applicant must obtain 40 points from the points based assessment. Applicants will score:

1. 30 points for having a valid confirmation of acceptance for studies, which the applicant will get for studying a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (also known as a 'Tier 4 sponsor') and for having acceptable English language skills; and
2. 10 points for having enough money (also known as maintenance or funds) to cover the applicant's course fees and living costs.

It should be noted that the Tier 4 (Child) category applies to children coming to the UK to be educated between the ages of 4 and 17 years old. Children between 4 and 15 years old must be educated at independent fee-paying schools and therefore Tier 4 (Child) students cannot study at publicly funded schools. The only publicly funded education providers that can teach Tier 4 (Child) students are publicly funded further education colleges which are able to charge for international students.

You cannot be a Tier 4 (Child) student if you have any children who are living with you or for whom you are financially responsible.

If you want to be a child student under Tier 4, you must have a suitable care arrangement in place for your stay in the UK, and (if you are applying from overseas) for your travel and reception on arrival here. You will also need the consent of your parent(s) or legal guardian to your application.

You must be applying to:

1. study full-time in the UK on a course that meets the additional requirements below; or
2. undertake a recognised Foundation Programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist in the UK; or
3. work as a student union sabbatical officer in the UK.

If you will be studying full-time on a course other than a Foundation Programme, the course must also:

1. lead to a qualification at or above level 6 on the revised National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or its equivalents; or
2. be a short-term 'study abroad' programme as part of your higher education course at an overseas institution; or
3. be an English language course at any level, if you are a government-sponsored student or if the course is a pre-sessional course which you are taking before a degree course - but only if your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) was assigned before 21 April 2011; or
4. involve at least 15 hours per week of organised daytime study. 'Daytime' is 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.

(If you are studying English as a foreign language, this qualifies as 'an English language course'.)

If the course is below revised NQF level 6 or equivalent and is not an English language course or a study abroad programme, it must:

1. be approved at or above level 3 on the NQF or Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF), or accredited at or above level 6 in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), if you will be studying with a Highly Trusted sponsor; or
2. be approved at or above level 4 on the NQF or QCF, or accredited at or above level 7 in the SCQF, if you will be studying with a sponsor that has an A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor) rating; or
3. be a pre-sessional course to prepare you for your main course of study in the UK.

Level 3 of the NQF is equivalent to a UK 'A level'. Level 6 of the revised NQF is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree.

If you have previously studied in the UK under Tier 4 (General) or under the student rules that were in force before 31 March 2009, your Tier 4 Sponsor cannot assign a CAS to you on or after 4 July 2011 unless:

1. your new course represents academic progress from your previous study; or
2. you are re-sitting examinations or repeating modules; or
3. you are making a first application to move to a new institution to complete a course that you started elsewhere.

For example, you can be assigned a CAS to study for a new qualification at a higher academic level than your previous UK course, or to study for a qualification that complements or enhances your previous studies at the same level.

If your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) was assigned to you before 21 April 2011, your education provider must ensure that you are competent in English at a minimum of level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) unless:

1. your course is at or above level 6 of the revised National Qualifications Framework (equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree); or
2. your course is a foundation degree, or an HND in Scotland; or
3. your course is a pre-sessional course that you will take before taking a degree course in the UK; or
4. you are a government-sponsored student who wants to study an English language course; or
5. you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (see below).

You must still meet the English language requirement if you want to study an English language course (unless you are covered by one of the exemptions above).

If your CAS was assigned to you on or after 21 April 2011 , your education provider must ensure that:

1. you are competent in English language at a minimum of CEFR level B2, if you will be enrolling on a course at NQF 6/QCF 6/SCQF 9 or above (unless you are a gifted student studying at a higher education institution - see below); or
2. you are competent in English language at a minimum of CEFR level B1, if you will be enrolling on a course at NQF 3-5/QCF 3-5/SCQF 6-8; or
3. you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (see below). If you do not meet the English language requirement, your education provider cannot assign a CAS to you.

To apply as a student under Tier 4, you must have been offered a place on a course of study by a 'Tier 4 sponsor'. This is an education provider which has been approved by the UKBA to teach international students. The education provider should appear on the register of Tier 4 sponsors.

The register contains the education provider's name and location. It also indicates whether the education provider is a Highly Trusted sponsor, or is a standard sponsor with an A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor) rating. The B rating is a transitional rating, and that means that the sponsor is working with the UKBA to improve its systems before it can be placed back onto A (Trusted).

When a Tier 4 sponsor gives an international student an unconditional offer of a place on a course, it assigns a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) to the student

Dependants Include:

1. your husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner; and
2. your children aged under 18 years old.

From 4 July 2011, you cannot bring your dependants to the UK unless you are:

1. sponsored by a higher education institution on a course at NQF level 7 or above which lasts 12 months or more; or
2. a new government-sponsored student following a course which lasts longer than 6 months.

If your dependants are already in the UK with permission, they will be allowed to extend their stay provided they apply at the same time as you apply to undertake a course of study lasting more than 6 months.

Dependants must apply under the rules for points-based system dependants using a separate application form.

A person can apply under the Tier 4 (General) student category if he/she has, or was last given permission to stay in any of the following categories:

1. Tier 4 (General) Student,
2. Tier 4 (Child) Student,
3. Tier 1 (Post-study Work) Migrant,
4. Tier 2 Migrant,
5. Participant in the International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme),
6. Participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme,
7. Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist,
8. Prospective Student,
9. Student,
10. Student Nurse,
11. Student Re-sitting an Examination,
12. Student Writing-Up a Thesis
13. Student Union Sabbatical Officer
14. Work Permit Holder.

A Tier 4 (General) student that does not have an established presence studying in the UK, must show that he/she has money for his/her course fees plus:

1. Inner London - £800 for living costs for each month of their course up, to a maximum of 9 months;
2. Outer London or anywhere else in the UK- £600 for living costs for each month of their course, up to a maximum of 9 months.

A Tier 4 (General) student that does have an established presence studying in the UK must show that he/she has money for his/her course fees plus:

1. Inner London - £800 for living costs for each month of their course, up to a maximum of 2 months;
2. Outer London or anywhere else in the UK - £600 for living costs for each month of their course up to a maximum of 2 months.

If the length of a Tier 4 (General) student's course includes a part of a month, the UKBA will round the time up to the next month. For example, if a course is seven months and two weeks, the Tier 4 (General) student must show that they have enough money for eight months.

A Tier 4 (General) student can use money held in an account owned by them or by his/her parents. If the Tier 4 (General) student is using funds held by his/her parent he/she will need to show us evidence that he/she is related to his/her parent(s)/legal guardian and that the Tier 4 (General) student has his/her parent(s)/legal guardian's permission to use this money.

The evidence of money held must be of cash funds in the bank (this includes savings accounts and current accounts even when notice must be given), as a loan letter or official financial or government sponsorship available to the applicant. Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards and pension funds are not acceptable, regardless of notice period.