Guide for International Students

The Academy is deeply committed to its multi-national character and continues to warmly welcome, support, and build dedicated scholarship funds for talent from all over the world.

All new international students are formally welcomed during Enrolment Week (the week before full term starts), where you will meet your department administrator, senior academic staff, and the Students' Union International Officer.

Information for EU / EEA / Swiss Students

Your requirements and rights depend entirely on your legal status in the UK.

Status A: You hold Settled or Pre-Settled Status (via the EU Settlement Scheme)

• Visas: You do not require a Student Visa to live or study at the Academy.
• Working in the UK: You have no restrictions on the number of hours you can work or the type of employment you can undertake.

Status B: You DO NOT hold Settled or Pre-Settled Status

• Visas: You are legally categorised as an international student and must apply for a Student Visa to complete any degree or diploma course. (See the International Students Visa Section below for rules).
• Working in the UK: You will be subject to strict international student working limitations (detailed below).

Information for International Students (Non-EU & EU without Settled Status)

1. Visas and Immigration

The main Academy contact for immigration status advice is Admissions Manager Edward Kemp-Luck in the Registry Department, who you can contact at admissions@ram.ac.uk. Support and advice are completely free.

• The Rule of Entry: You cannot enrol on a degree or diploma course if you arrive on a Standard Visitor visa. Do not attempt to travel to the UK without the correct visa.
• When to Apply:
  • From outside the UK: Earliest is 6 months before your course starts.
  • From inside the UK (switching): Earliest is 3 months before your course starts. (Note: You cannot switch to a Student Visa if you are in the UK on a Visitor visa).
• Prerequisites for the Visa Application:
  1. Your Academy offer status must be Unconditional ('Confirmed' in UCAS). If you are waiting on UK school results (e.g., A-levels) in August, your Unconditional status and subsequent visa processing will be managed swiftly by the Academy as soon as results are provided.
  2. You must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number.
• How to get your CAS Number: Once your offer is Unconditional, the Admissions Team will email you with your student login details. You must request your CAS online via the Academy's Student Quercus portal. The Academy drafts your CAS, prompts you to check it, submits it to UKVI, and emails you the final CAS statement containing your CAS number and the Academy’s Sponsor Licence number.
• Early Application Warning ('Invalid CAS'): Do not attempt to apply for your visa before your offer is officially marked as Unconditional. Applying too early will render your CAS number invalid with UKVI, resulting in an automatic visa rejection and a lost application fee.
• Credibility Interviews and Biometrics: As part of your application, you may be required to attend a short, 5-to-10-minute video credibility interview at your local visa application centre, where your biometric data (fingerprints and a digital photo) will be collected.
• Financial Evidence: You must prove you can cover your first year of tuition fees plus living costs without relying on UK employment or public funds. Any tuition fees already paid or scholarships awarded will be recorded on your CAS statement, reducing the financial amount you need to show.
• Receiving your Visa (eVisas): Your visa will be issued digitally as an eVisa. You must create a UKVI account and link it before travelling. You must enter the UK on or after the start date of the eVisa.
• Visa Duration & Error Checking: Check your digital eVisa immediately against your CAS course end date. Errors must be reported before travelling. Extra time added to the end of your course should be:
  • Course under 6 months: +7 days
  • Course 6–12 months: +2 months
  • Course 12+ months: +4 months
• Visa Refusal & Administrative Reviews: If your visa is refused, you must email the official refusal notice to the Academy admissions team immediately. Because a UKVI Administrative Review takes a very long time, it is usually much faster to request a brand-new CAS and submit a completely fresh application.

2. Working in the UK

• Allowed Hours: Students on a Student Visa are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full-time during vacations. (For Master’s or research students, 'term time' legally includes Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks).
• Voluntary and Unpaid Work: Please note that the 20-hour term-time limit and all work restrictions apply to unpaid or voluntary positions just as they do to paid employment.
• Performing Restrictions: UKVI categorises public musical performance as 'entertainment', which is explicitly prohibited for international visa holders (paid or unpaid). Exception: You may only work as a performer if the performance is organised directly through the Academy and serves as an assessed part of your course before graduation.
• Prohibited Work: You cannot be self-employed, fill a permanent full-time vacancy, claim public benefits, or work as a professional sportsperson/coach or doctor/dentist in training.
• Short Programmes: If your programme is less than 6 months long and you still wish to have working rights, you must enter on a Student Visa. A Standard Visitor visa strictly forbids all work.

Shared Services & Logistics (All Overseas Students)

The following resources apply to both EU and International students adjusting to life in London:

Banking in the UK

It is highly recommended to set up a British bank account upon arrival.

• How to get an Academy Bank Letter: Once you complete your enrolment, log into the Academy’s Sharepoint. Navigate to Services > Registry and fill out the Online Bank Letter Request Form.
• Requirements: Ensure your profile holds your accurate permanent overseas address and your current UK term-time address, as both must be printed on the official bank letter. Banks may also request proof of your home country address.
• See UKCISA for more banking advice.

English Language Support

For the many students who speak English as an additional language, the Academy provides continuous, specialised assistance:

• Weekly Language Classes: Tailored lessons to regularly improve communication skills.
• Written Help Desk: Targeted support for structuring and refining written academic work.
• Tutors: Dedicated English Language Support Tutors are on hand to help ease the culture shock and navigate the transition into the UK student experience.

Tax and National Insurance

• Income Tax: International students have the same tax-free Personal Allowance as UK residents (£12,570 for the 2024/25 tax year). Any work completed via the Academy will have tax deducted automatically, but if you earn under the allowance, you can claim a full refund from HMRC using Form P50.
• National Insurance (NI): You must pay NI contributions on UK earnings. You do not need an NI number to start working, but you must apply for one immediately on the UK government website as soon as you secure employment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Visas, Course Changes & End-of-Course Timelines

What if I complete my BMus at the Academy and want to stay for a Master’s course?

You must apply for a new Student Visa before your current 'permission to remain' expires.

• Timeline: The earliest you can apply within the UK is three months before the start date of your new Master's course.
• Process: You will need to request a brand new CAS number from the Academy Admissions team.
• Enrolment Check: You must submit the online visa application before you can officially enrol in September. If your new visa has not arrived by registration day, you must provide the Registry with proof of your submission (such as a PDF download of your completed online UKVI application showing the payment/submission date).
• Travel Restriction: Once you submit the application within the UK, you must not leave the UK Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands) until the new visa is officially granted, or your application will be automatically withdrawn. Alternatively, you can apply from your home country, but you cannot travel back to the UK until it is approved.

Can I switch to a longer version of my course halfway through the year?

(e.g., Switching from a 1-year Master's to a 2-year Master's programme)

No, you cannot apply for this extension from within the UK. If you switch to a course that finishes after your current visa’s expiry date, you must request a new CAS, leave the UK, and apply from your home country.

Because you cannot join or attend the longer course until UKVI grants the extra time, you cannot wait until the summer to do this. Typically, you must get the change approved during the Autumn term and return home over the Christmas break to secure the new visa before returning for the next term.

I am a Research Student (MPhil/PhD) and need extra time to write up my thesis. What should I do?

If you require additional time in the UK to complete your writing-up period, this must first be formally agreed upon by your academic supervisor. Once approved, you can request a new CAS from the Academy. UKVI allows you to make this specific extension application from inside the UK, and doing so will not negatively impact your eventual eligibility for a Graduate Visa.

What happens to my visa if I have to defer an examination?

If you defer an examination and the new rescheduled date falls after the expiration date of your current visa, you must leave the UK on or before your visa expires.

Deferring an exam past your visa date can make you ineligible for the Graduate Route (Post-Study Work) visa, as you may not meet the continuous study requirements. You will usually have to return to the UK temporarily on a Standard Visitor Visa later on just to sit the deferred examination.

Can I run for a position as a Students’ Union Sabbatical Officer?

Yes. International students on a Student Visa are legally permitted to stand for election as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer. If you win the election, your position is considered a permitted work placement, and the Academy can sponsor your visa extension to cover the duration of your term in office.

I need to travel to London for my audition but I don't have a visa yet. Can the Academy help?

Yes. If you require a visa just to enter the UK for your live audition, you can email admissions@ram.ac.uk after you have submitted your application via UCAS Conservatoires.

• What they provide: The Academy will issue a PDF support letter confirming your application details and UCAS Personal ID number to help your visitor application.
• Limitations: The Academy cannot include details of your friends or family members in this letter, nor do they support visa applications for travel to their international audition centres outside London.
• Note: If you are from a country that doesn't require a formal visa to visit the UK for an audition, you will likely still need to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) online via the UK government website before travelling.

What happens if I travel to the UK before the official start date on my eVisa?

Do not do this. If you arrive in the UK even one day before the designated start date on your digital eVisa, border control will automatically admit you as a standard Visitor.

• The consequence: You legally cannot switch from a Visitor status to a Student status while inside the country. You will be completely blocked from enrolling or starting your studies at the Academy, and you will be forced to leave the UK and fly back in on or after your eVisa's start date to trigger the correct immigration status.