Eligibility

• Students from the European Union (EU) are eligible to study and live in the UK without restriction.
  
  
• Students from outside the EU require a Student Visitor Visa to allow them to study in the UK for 6 months.

English Language Requirement

If your first language is not English, you will need to prove you meet the minimum English language requirements before you will be accepted onto one of our courses.

Proficiency is measured using the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and you will need to demonstrate that you are proficient to CEFR B2 and above or IELTS Level 5 and above.

Please ensure you have acquired this level of English language qualification before applying to the Chefs Academy.

Acceptance Letter & Deposit

You will need a formal letter of acceptance from the Ashburton Cookery School Ltd before you can apply for a Student Visitor Visa to study in the UK.

To be formally accepted onto a course you will need to:

• send us a copy of your English Language Qualification (if English is not your first language).
• undertake an interview (over the phone or in person) with a chef tutor.

Once the chef tutor has accepted you as a candidate for your chosen course, you will need to secure your place with the required deposit.

You will then be able to apply for your Student Visitor Visa.

Student Visitor Visa

For candidates from outside the EU that have been offered a place on one of our courses, you may need to apply for a Student Visitor Visa.

Note: The requirements for Visas vary from country to country. Please check your own country's requirements with the UKBA country finder here.

What are the conditions of a student visitor visa?

• You must be 18 years or above
• You will have to show that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees and to support yourself (usually estimated at approximately £800 per month) and to meet the cost of your return journey. If you have already paid your tuition fees you will need to provide proof of this.
• You must leave the UK at the end of your visit as it is not possible to extend a student visitor visa.
• You will not be permitted to work in the UK.
• You are not able to bring family with you as dependants.

The Ashburton Cookery School Ltd is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) as a Short Course Provider, so candidates from outside of the EU may apply for a Student Visitor Visa for up to 6 months to study with us.

We are unable to help you with your Visa application. To find out how to apply for a Student Visitor Visa visit the UK Border Agency website here.

Terms

1. You should allow at least 8 weeks prior to the start of the course to apply for your visa.
2. Upto 6 weeks from the start of the course, should you have been accepted onto a course and paid the course deposit but are refused a Student Visitor Visa, you will be entitled to a full refund of deposit, less an administration charge of £99 and any related bank transfer charges.
3. All course fees must be paid in full at least 6 weeks prior to the start of the course. If you have not paid your course fee in full by this time, your could lose your place to another candidate.
4. For students taking the Professional Culinary Diploma, should you fail any part of the course, that is unable to be retaken within the 6 months duration of your Student Visitor Visa, you would need to exit the UK and reapply to return at a later date to complete your qualification.
5. Our standard terms and conditions apply to all bookings.