Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not already have permission to remain in the UK, you must apply for a student visa or a visitor visa to study at University of Chichester. The type and length of the course affects the type of visa you need. To help you understand what type of visa you require, please refer to our “Which Visa?” Flowchart.
If you are coming to the UK for a study visit less than 6 months long and you are non-visa national, and decide not to apply for a visitor visa in advance of your visit, you will need to apply for an ETA before travelling.
If you need a Student Route visa, you will need a CAS before you can apply for your visa. You need to meet your offer conditions, pay a 50% deposit, complete an online CAS request form and attend a CAS eligibility interview (if applicable), before you get your CAS. We normally start issuing CASs 3 months prior to the course start date. Please visit our Student visa information section for more information.
Your partner, or children aged under 18, may be able to come to the UK providing you are:
- Studying for a course of study which the provider has confirmed is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.
- Financially sponsored by the UK or an Overseas Government.
Undergraduate students are not normally permitted to bring dependants, and this has not changed.
You must provide proof of your relationship and proof of finances to fund their maintenance. This is in addition to the proof of finances that you will show as part of your own application. For further information visit Gov.uk.
What do you mean by a research-based higher degree?
A research-based higher degree means a postgraduate program comprising a research component (including a requirement to produce original work) that is larger than any accompanying taught component when measured by student effort. The University of Chichester has the following research-based degrees: D Prof, PhD by Publication, PhD, MPhil and MRes.
Can dependants remain in the UK if a Graduate visa holder switches back to the student route on or after 1 January 2024?
Dependants that are already in the UK are permitted to apply for further leave to remain. If family members do not already have a Dependant visa, the student will need to meet the eligibility criteria to bring dependants into the UK
What type of scholarships qualify for the dependant’s exemption?
To be eligible to bring dependants on a scholarship it must be:
▪ A Government funded scholarship.
▪ From a central Government department
▪ Covering all fees and living costs for the student
If a scholarship does not cover dependant living costs, then they need to provide separate financial evidence to cover them.
Will there be a concession for disabled students to be able to bring carers?
There are currently no concessions for disabled students to bring carers and this will continue to be the case until further notice
Please visit UKCISA website for more information on who can bring dependants to the UK.
Most undergraduate students start their studies on the 22 of September 2025. Your start date might be different if you a PGCE, postgraduate, nursing, or a Musical Theatre student. To find out your start date, please visit the course and semester dates document on our website.
If your course is longer than 6 months long, your visa will be granted so that you can arrive up to one month before the start date of your course. Make sure you don’t arrive before your visa start date.
Please note that our Halls of Residence accommodation may not be ready at this point, and arriving too early can make you feel a little bit isolated. Most students will be arriving during the welcome weekend, which is 19-22 September 2025.
All International students living in the halls of residence accommodation received a bedding pack . The pack includes a duvet, pillows, sheets, towels etc.
The weather in Britain is rather unpredictable. It can rain on any day of the year, so you will need a waterproof coat, good shoes and possibly an umbrella. Of course there are also many sunny days – Chichester is one of the sunniest places in the UK! The temperature does not often drop below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but the dampness can make it seem colder in the winter and humid in the summer. The warmest months are June, July and August and the coldest usually December, January and February. You might find it cheaper to buy some types of clothing after you have arrived in the UK, but if you arrive in the colder months (October to April), make sure you have a coat and a jumper with you.
Most of our undergraduate students start their studies with a Welcome week on the 22nd September 2025.
You should check your offer letter to see what the start date of your programme is, as it may be different if you are on a PGCE, postgraduate, nursing or musical theatre course.
Our semester information is available here.
Around the beginning of September, you will be invited to register online, and by completing this process you will create your IT account. If you can’t remember your IT log in details after creating your IT account, you can contact help@chi.ac.uk or visit help.chi.ac.uk for instructions and videos.
The weather in Britain can be unpredictable. It can rain on any day of the year, but there are also many sunny days. Bognor Regis and Chichester are the sunniest places in the UK! The temperature does not often drop below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but the dampness can make it seem colder in the winter and humid in the summer. The warmest months are June, July and August and the coldest usually December, January and February.
Tip from a current student: It is a good idea to carry an umbrella with you at all times. You never know when you might need it, especially in the winter months.
Changing your course may be possible, but you must speak to your academic adviser and the Student Immigration Adviser, before you can change your course. Sometimes you may have to apply for a new visa before you can change your course and you may have to leave the UK to apply for your new visa.
When adjusting to a new environment you may experience something called “culture shock”. This is a normal part of an adjustment process. It is a good idea to read about this topic in advance, so that you can notice the signs of culture shock and know when you might need help. Please visit the UKCISA website for more information. You can contact the Student Support and Wellbeing Team if you need support with adjusting to your new surroundings.
Most students, international and UK students, will feel homesick at some point and it is perfectly normal feeling to have. Make sure you stay in touch with your friends and family back home, but also do your best to make friends and participate in activities in your new location. This will help foster a sense of belonging and will help manage homesickness. The Wellbeing team and the International Advice team are here to support you if you feel overwhelmed and need someone to talk to.
Tip from a previous student: Bring your favourite food/ingredients from home. It is not always easy to find food you are used to using and having them with you can make a big difference when you are missing something familiar from home. It is also nice to share your country’s culture and cuisine with others.
It is important to look after your mental health and we have a student wellbeing team here to advice you and refer you to external services so that you can get the support you need. Please make sure that you declare your health and mental health conditions as part of your application process, so that our teams can help you put support in place in advance of your arrival.
All personal information will be treated as strictly confidential and will not affect the decision about your eligibility for the course. Please see our website for more information.
If you have a disability or any additional need for which you require support or special arrangements, please let us know in advance, so that we can help you plan your time here with us. All personal information will be treated as strictly confidential and will not affect the decision about your eligibility for the course. Please see our website for more information.
Please note that some support is funded by the UK government, which is not available to international students. However, we can discuss the cost of the support with you if we know about it in advance and see what options you have and how much you may need to pay. It is good to be prepared well in advance.
Our current tuition fee policy states that you can pay your fees in one instalment at the beginning of your studies or in two equal instalments – first instalment at the beginning of semester one and the second instalment at the beginning of January.
You may need a letter from the University for various reasons. It may be to prove your student status, your address or that you can work. Please see a list of the most common letter requests we receive and instructions for how to get your letter.
Bank letter: Log into Chiview, search for a “printable documents” tile. You will need to know your bank’s address and include it on the letter. The letter will be signed and appears as a PDF document and you should print it in colour.
You can print a bank letter via Chiview, once you have registered and visited Registry with your original ID documents.
Council tax* exemption letter (students who live outside Chichester/Bognor Regis): If you live in the local area, the University confirms your student status directly to the local council. If you live further away and need a council tax exemption letter please contact sturecords@chi.ac.uk. You should also make sure you inform your local council that you are a student by completing their online form.
*What is council tax? Visit UKCISA website to find out more.
Student Status letters (September starters) – log in to Chiview and print your letter via “printable documents”. You can print a student status letter with our without your term-time address. The letter will be signed and appears as a PDF document.
Student Status letters (January/Summer starters) – If you start your studies outside our standard semester star dates and can’t see a “printable documents” tile on your Chiview record, please contact sturerecords@chi.ac.uk to request a letter.
Schengen visa letter: You can print a student status letter via Chiview. If you require a stamp, please visit Student Records and they can stamp your letter. More information about the Schengen visa application process is available on our website.
Letter for your employer (Student Route visa holders): Email academicregistry@chi.ac.uk. This letter will confirm that you are a student and includes a sentence about Student Route visa holders being able to work part-time during term-time and full-time during vacations.
Letter confirming your term dates (if you want to work full-time during vacations): Email academicregistry@chi.ac.uk to request this.
You will need to apply for an ETA in advance of your travel the UK if you meet the following conditions:
- Are a non-visa national; and
- Come to the UK for a study visit that is less than 6 months long; and
- You do not need to apply for a visitor visa in advance.