The CAS Number is valid for 6 months from the date of issue and you must apply for your visa within this 6 months period.

Tier 4 (General) Student Visa

1. An unconditional offer of a place on a course
2. Enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
3. Can speak, read, write and understand English (eg. IELTS Test Result)

You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. 

Guidance on the UK Passport Photograph - No cheeky smiles and covered face!

*Please make sure that your passport photograph meet all the rules. This includes having a plain cream or light grey background and with a neutral expression. Read all the rules here: UK Passport Photo Rules

**For Malaysians, you are required to go through a TB Test at an extra cost (around RM200). You can do this test first before you apply for your visa. An x-ray of your chest will be taken and if your test shows that you don’t have TB, you’ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months. You must include this certificate with your UK visa application.

Note: you must be tested ONLY at a clinic that has been approved by the Home Office. Check this link for the location of the approved clinics, what you need to bring and other information.

Applying the Visa

You will need to apply online via Visa4UK Portal. 

The steps to completing the Visa application are as follows:

1. Register for an account
2. Fill in the application form in English
3. Pay for the Visa fee and IHS online using credit card***
4. Print out your form
5. Book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre****
6. Submit the printed form as well as the original and a photocopy of all the supporting documents you need for your visa at the application centre*****
7. You'll then need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at the visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.

***You may use your parent's credit card for this

****Check the location and opening hours here: Malaysia Visa Application Centre. Arrive at the centre 15 minutes before your appointment time to avoid the process being delayed.

*****Supporting documents needed will be stated in the CAS Statement (such as transcripts etc.) alongside your TB test result and passport. Also, translate any supporting documents and include them with the originals if they aren’t in English.

Read the full information here: UK Visa Application (Tier 4 - Student) Guidance .

Note: This Visa is using a Points-Based System (PBS). To be granted leave, Tier 4 applicants must satisfy the Immigration Rules and score points against two sets of objective criteria to achieve an overall pass mark of 40 points.
Applicants must score points for:

• attributes (30 points)

• maintenance (10 points)

Click here to calculate if you achieve the pass mark of 40 points: Points-Based Calculator.

How Long it Takes

Most applications are processed within 15 working days. If you have purchased a premium service, it should be ready within 3 to 5 working days.

I got mine after 7 working days because I went as early as possible to avoid the peak time of visa application (usually in August).

Your documents will be returned via a courier service to your chosen address if you have opted for it. If not, your documents can be collected during the designated passport collection times.

Do take note that you cannot travel overseas once you have submitted your Passport for the UK Visa application for a period of time. You can only travel to another country once your passport has been returned to you.

You will receive emails on the progress of your application but you will never know the outcome online. So it was quite a nerve-racking experience when I got an email stating that "A decision has been made on your Visa application". 

Was it a yes? Or a no? 

Honestly I did feel queasy on the way to collect my passport at Wisma MCA, but praises be to God, I did get it! It could only mean one thing to me; I am one step closer to sniffing the UK air!

Now, a whole new journey awaits.

1. Search for your Course on the Course Finder
   
   

   University of Birmingham's course finder on the official website.

   Personally, I think this search bar is very useful because you may get overwhelmed by a university's website; Undergraduate Degree, Taught Postgraduate Degree, Research Postgraduate Degree and the list goes on.
   
   
   There is just too many information on the website that the search bar will definitely help you break through the clutter and go straight to the page that you needed to go.
   
   
2. Check the Entry Requirements
   
   
   Of course, check if you are qualified before applying. 
   
   
   You may be able to apply for postgraduate degree even if you do not have an undergraduate degree as long as you have relevant work experiences in the field. Check with the university if it is possible to do so.
   
   
3. Click Apply Now and Register as a New User
   
   

   University of Birmingham's online application portal

   You will be taken to their postgraduate admissions portal and asked to create an account just for the online application submission.
   
   
4. Complete the Form
   
   
   Once you are done with the registration, start to fill in the form with your personal details, permanent address, educational background and so on.
   
   
   This should be straightforward as well.
   
   
5. Have your Supporting Documents Ready
   
   
   This would require a little bit of energy and time because you will need to rummage through your files as well as seek out your professors to obtain the needed documents and scan them to be uploaded to the application portal.
   
   

   Referee Details Form. Do fill in accurately especially the referee's contact details as University of Birmingham reserve the right to contact the referee independently.

   Generally, you will need:
   a) Your Foundation/Diploma and Bachelor Degree's transcripts
   b) 2 Academic reference letters OR 1 Academic and 1 Employer reference letters*
   c) English test result**
   d) Personal statement***

You may also required to show your SPM Certificate (For Malaysian students) because I have been informed that the universities may want to evaluate your progression throughout your studies from high school up to degree.

*Reference Letter

Reference Letter is basically a recommendation letter whereby the referee (or person who writes the letter) would assess your qualities and capabilities and put them in words. The referees would be the ones who tell the reader how well you have performed throughout your educational journey and if they think you are a suitable candidate for the admission to higher education institutions.

Asking for a reference letter can be quite stressful because you would need to figure out who could vouch for you and write letters of recommendation that would eventually help you get into your university of choice.

I cannot stress this enough but everyone should be nice to their professors and lecturers (and even your employers!). Treat them with respect and never get on their nerves. Because someday you might need their help, whether it be for future employment or in my case, asking for reference letters.

I am lucky to have been taught by my parents to never, never disrespect my teachers and never be on their bad side no matter what. Now I am grateful because I have obtained not only one, but two lovely reference letters that described me in ways that I could not think of.

If you have trouble on this part, do check out this guide on How to Ask for a Reference Letter where you will basically learn about the process as well as the proper etiquette in getting your letter of recommendation.

**English test result
As per the requirement, you will need to scan and upload your English test result such as IELTS. More information can be found on my previous entry for the English Language Requirements.

***Personal statement
Personal statement is a word document that tells the reader why you are interested in the course that you have selected and what are the skills and qualities that you have to indicate that you are a great candidate for it.

This is where you describe your ambitions and goals in life. You should also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject and any relevant work experience or placements is an added bonus. It is like a resume for higher institution admissions and thus it should be taken seriously and given some time to draft before you write it.

UCAS Personal Statement Mindmap

Check out this UCAS website for more information on Personal Statements and their useful Personal Statement Worksheet to get you started.

After you are done, carefully proofread and triple-check everything before hitting the submit button.

Some of the universities would not allow you to make amendments via the portal once you have submitted the applications online; so it is important that all of the information given are as accurate as possible.

Now relax, and wait patiently for the results (which could take up to 4 weeks or more).

Good luck! 

Let's face it. It is not easy to decide especially on matters that involve a whole lot of money.

1. You Know You Want to 
   
   
   I believe this is vital in every single thing you do. You have a goal, you have a picture of what you want to achieve, you know what your passion, interests and strengths are, you are firm with what course(s) you want to pursue.
   
   
   I cannot stress this enough because you do not want to do something halfway and end up regretting it after, and then having to start all over again. Make sure you are firm with the decision that you want to do this.
   
   
   Because when you feel like giving up in the middle of the journey, especially during those moments when your stress level reached sky high, you can remind yourself why you wanted to do this in the first place.

   
   
2. You have the Resources 
   
   
   So you know what you want. What's next?
   
   
   Having money and study fund is also essential. Pursuing any kind of degree requires a lot of money particularly if you are an international student. You've got tuition fee and living costs to think about. Let's not forget all the other things you have to pay for even before you're going to the university such as visa application, language tests if applicable, documentations, medical checkups and the list goes on.
   
   
   If you already have a study fund, then good for you. But if you have none, fret not, there is still hope for you if you put effort into finding (and applying) scholarships or even convertible loans. Do your research and have patience. The search engine should be your best friend by this time.
   
   
   For Malaysian students, you may want to check out these two websites as a starting point:
   a) Malaysia Scholarships
   b) International Scholarships for Malaysian Students
   
   
3. You are Still Enthusiastic to go to Classes 
   
   
   There are two types of people after they graduate university:
   a) Those who are still in the mood to continue study
   b) Those who are so done with school
   
   
   If you are going for taught Master's Degree, you will eventually go back to classes or lecture halls to learn from your professors. If the thought of going back to these places bores you, don't proceed.
   
   
   If you still have some room left in your heart to listen to lectures, do individual works and group projects, go for it. Not everyone is willing to go through all that again after they have received their undergraduate degrees.
   
   
4. You have Few Obligations 
   
   
   Personally, I think this is the best time for me to continue my study because I do not have many factors that would hold me back from going to a university again. I do not have bills to pay. I do not have children of my own to look after. This makes it easier for me to decide because I have little commitments.
   
   
   This does not mean that you cannot pursue a postgraduate degree after you have all sorts of commitments and responsibilities. You can. A lot of people do; and they still excel at it. It is just that if you have the opportunity now while you have few obligations, why wait?
   
   
5. You have a Support System 
   
   
   Everyone needs support in whatever they do. That is only human. If you have someone who would encourage you to go further, who would have your back when you needed it the most, they will play a crucial role in helping you to reach your goals.
   
   
   It is just so much easier if you have a solid support system because if anything goes wrong, you know you can count on them. Sometimes all we need is a little push from the ones we love and care about to stand strong and keep going.
   
   
   In my case, if it were not because of the endless encouragement from my family, I would probably have not consider pursuing Master's Degree as an option right after I graduate Bachelor's Degree. They have indeed given another option for me to further equip myself with knowledge so that I could enhance my life.
   
   
   Know that the road to pursuing postgraduate degree is not as easy as it may seem. You may feel overwhelmed and unnerved even before you go to the university of your choice. Having a support system that helps you go through all these processes is definitely a win.

So these are the 5 factors that you may want to consider before applying for your postgraduate degree, from my point of view. 

Of course there are a lot more factors to it as different people have different circumstances. However, as the saying goes "Where there's a will, there's a way". If you really want to continue, I say, go for it! 

Good luck and all the best!