Whether it's travelling home to see friends or family or taking the opportunity to visit other nearby countries while studying in the UK, the below provides guidance for international students about travelling during their time at Royal Holloway.
I hold a Student visa, am I permitted to travel in and out the UK?
Your Student visa is a multi-entry visa which means you can use it to travel in and out of the UK as often as you like while it remains valid.
However, all Royal Holloway students sponsored on a Student visa are expected to be in the UK and engaged with their studies during term time, so it is important that you read the below guidance carefully before making any travel plans.
Do I need to let Royal Holloway know about my travel plans?
If you are travelling outside term time (see below) then no, you don't need to let us know about your travel plans.
If in the event of an emergency you need to travel outside the UK during term time, then you must contact your Academic Department and tutor(s) to inform them that you will be unable to attend lectures for a short period of time and you must also submit a notification of absence.
Please note that the International Advice team is not able to grant you permission to travel during term time.
What will be the impact on my Student visa of travelling during term time?
We strongly recommend that you do not leave the UK during term time if you hold a Student visa.
As a Student visa holder, you must remain in the UK and engaged with your course of studies during term time.
As your Student visa sponsor, Royal Holloway has a responsibility for monitoring your engagement. If you are unable to engage with your studies as a result of being outside the UK then we will need to remove sponsorship of your visa and you will no longer be able to continue with your course.
We understand that emergencies and exceptional circumstances beyond your control may occasionally require you to leave the UK. The Wellbeing department can support you during this time but if you need to be outside the UK for an extended period that would mean you would miss a significant amount of teaching and/or assessments then you will need to interrupt your studies which will lead to the cancellation of your Student visa.
Please note that remote study from outside the UK is no longer an option. If you leave the UK during term-time then the University will place a restriction on your college account that will prevent you from accessing online services including Moodle and Turnitin.
Which periods are considered outside term time?
All students are considered to be outside term time before their official course start date and after their official course end date. Please refer to your student status certificate on campus connect for these dates.
Otherwise, the periods of the year you are considered to be outside term time depends on the level of study you are undertaking. Please see the table below for dates specific to the 2023/24 academic year.
Please note that post-graduate taught students do not have a summer vacation period (please see further guidance below).
Dates outside term time 2024/25
| Level of Study | Dates outside term time 2024/25 |
|---|
| Undergraduate |
14 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 (inclusive)
5 April 2025 to 4 May 2025 (inclusive)
14 June 2025 to 21 September 2025 (inclusive)
|
| Post-graduate taught (Masters) |
14 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 (inclusive)
5 April 2025 to 4 May 2025 (inclusive)
|
| Post-graduate research (PhD) |
21 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 (inclusive)
18 April 2025 to 23 April 2025 (inclusive)
Any periods of annual leave agreed with your supervisor as detailed here
|
What documents do I need to travel in and out of the UK?
You will need to ensure that you travel with proof of your valid immigration status.
From 1 January 2025 onwards, all immigration permission will be digital and you will be able to prove this via your eVisa.
If you previously held a physical document i.e. a BRP card or entry clearance vignette, then you must switch to the eVisa before you travel.
If you have already switched to the eVisa then make sure that your UKVI account is upto date. This includes linking your eVisa to your current passport.
The UK Border Force may ask you questions about your reasons for travelling to the UK and/or for being outside the UK. Provided you are travelling to the UK for a valid reason, for example, to return to your studies after a vacation period, then you should not face any problems entering the UK. Please note that the University is unable to influence the decision making process of the UK Border Force.
Will travelling during my studies impact my eligibility for the Graduate Route?
We've asked the UKVI this question and they have confirmed that travelling outside the UK during your studies won't impact your eligibility for the Graduate Route providing that any time you spend outside the UK doesn't ultimately lead to the University cancelling your Student visa or reporting a change of study location (see above) that would impact your 'relevant qualifying period' i.e. the amount of time that you need to have studied in the UK to be eligible for the Graduate visa.
See full guidance on the Graduate Route
Can I travel back to the UK on my Student visa after my course has been completed?
You can use your Student visa to travel to the UK up to the date that it expires. However, the UK Border Force may question why you are returning to the UK after your course has finished.
We've been told that acceptable reasons will include
We suggest that you travel with evidence of any of the above to show to the UK Border Force if they ask.
The above is not an exhaustive list and other reasons will be considered but generally, the UK Border Force will need to be convinced that you are planning to enter the UK in line with the conditions of your Student visa and leave the UK before your visa expires.
Important information for early finishers
If you have finished your degree earlier than originally expected, for example because you didn't undertake a year in industry that was included on the original CAS we issued you, then you will not be granted re-entry to the UK after you have completed your degree.
The Student Administration team will email you to confirm that you are an early finisher and that we have reported this to the UKVI. You are strongly advised not to leave the UK after the release of your final marks if you later wish to return using your Student visa.