Information for International Applicants (i.e., Non-UK Residents)
How to Apply
You can submit an application online through our college website. Please note that applications are recommended to be received, including all supporting documentation, by no later than the 1st May. This is in order to allow time for your application, and documentation to be reviewed and a course interview to be arranged.
Please note that the Home Office can also take several weeks to process a Student Sponsor Visa and it is important that you arrive in Scotland prior to your course commencing.
You can access information relating to our course options by clicking below –
https://www.fife.ac.uk/courses/subject-areas/
International students can only apply for courses at SCQF Level 7 or above (e.g., HNC, HND, Degree) with Fife College.
Please note that the Home Office state the following –
“A Student is allowed to spend no more than two years studying in the UK below RQF 6 or SCQF 9 (i.e., studying courses below degree level)”
Our website will tell you what the course entry requirements are for each course.
When can I apply?
We typically open for application in January of each year. We recommend that you apply as early as possible so that we can assess your application.
What happens after I apply?
We will send an email to you telling you the documentation we need to see once you submit your application. This allows us to assess you for the possibility of a Student Visa. Once we have received your documents we will then assess your application. We will also check that you meet the entry criteria for the course. This process may take a few weeks depending on the volume of applications we are receiving. This may take longer if you do not provide all the documentation we need.
If you meet the entry criteria, you will have to attend an interview with a member of academic staff. This will be likely to take place on SKYPE.
Please make sure you check your emails, including your junk mailbox.
How will I know if I have been successful with my application?
If you are successful, you will receive a conditional offer via email. This email will list conditions of your offer, tuition fees, how to pay and our refund policy. Once you meet the conditions of your offer and paid your fees you will get an unconditional offer.
Want to know more?
For further information, please email our Admissions Team at applications@fife.ac.uk.
International Entry Requirements
Fife College welcome applications from international students.
Entry qualifications
You must show that you meet the entry requirements for the course that you wish to study. Your qualifications must match the level of the Scottish Qualifications detailed. Your school-leaving certificate or college diploma may already meet these requirements. You should email a copy of your qualifications to our Admissions Team at applications@fife.ac.uk. We will check that your qualifications meet the entry requirements.
For further information, please email our Admissions Team at applications@fife.ac.uk
Extra Documentation Required
- Secure English Language Tests (SELT)
If English is not your first language you will need to prove your English skill. You will need an approved International English Language Test Certificate (IELTS).
If your first language is not English, we would require a level of SELTS 5.5 in all four components (Level B2) and this exam can be obtained through the British Council.
Click below to find Home Office approved testing centres -
Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Tuberculosis Test and ATAS Certificate
You may also need a Tuberculosis Test Certificate - click below for more information.
Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants: Check if you need a TB test for your visa application - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You may also need an ATAS Certificate – click below for more information.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Criminal Record Check
Some courses may include a work placement. This is likely if you are studying care of children or adults. For these courses you will need to provide proof that you have no criminal record. A disclosure or clearance certificate from your country will show this. You will need to prove this before you can receive an offer.
- Reference
You will need to provide details of someone who can give a reference for you. This can be a previous employer, college or school guidance advisor but not a family member. You will be required to provide a reference from this individual prior to receiving an offer.
5. Financial Support
You must show that you have enough money to support yourself during the first year of your course. Or for the entire course if it is less than one year long.
This should be £1,015 per month for living costs if you are studying outside London or anywhere else in the UK.
This is the recommended UK Visa and Immigration maintenance amount and you must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.
Cash must be in an account that allows you immediate access.
You can show you have enough money using:
- an official financial or government sponsorship or grant
- a student loan from a government, government sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loans scheme
- your own money
- your parent’s money (if they provide a letter confirming they agree to you using it this way)
- your partner’s money if your partner is present in the UK or applying at the same time
The following are not accepted as evidence to show you have the required amount of money:
- overdrafts
- bitcoin savings
- stocks and shares
- pensions
- bank accounts that are not regulated by the financial regulatory body in the country in which the bank operates
- bank accounts that don’t use electronic record keeping
Funds must have been acquired legally and if you were in the UK you must not have earned them when working illegally.
If you’re using your own money, or that of a parent or partner you’ll need to show you have the required amount of money in an account. You can provide:
- bank statements
- building society passbooks
- certificates of deposit
- a letter from your bank or building society
Your bank statement should show information like:
- the date it was issued
- your name (or the account holders name if it is your parent or partner)
- the name of the bank or building society
- balance on the account
You can provide a download of electronic bank statements as long as it has this information. You do not need to have these stamped by the bank.
Course Fees
Below are the fees for all international courses for session 2024-25.
Please contact the Admissions Team at applications@fife.ac.uk for further information.
- HNC/D/Degree Level is £6500 per academic year
Please note these fees are subject to change.
Paying Your Fees
You will need to pay your fees, in full, before you can enrol on a course.
Applying for a Student Visa/Points Based Visa
Please consult the UK Government website for the most recent Immigration Policy information. Click below for further information –
Coming to the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Do I need a Visa to study in the UK?
If you are a national of a country outside of the UK you will need a Student Visa/Points Based Visa to study in the UK. If you are already in the UK, your current leave to remain may allow you to study.
Please ensure you consult the UK Home Office for further information. Click below for further information relating to Student Visa/Points Base Visa -
Student visa : Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The UK’s points-based immigration system: information for EU citizens - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)