Can You Study in the UK on an ETA? Short-Term Study Rules Explained

If you are planning a short course, a language programme or a brief period of academic research in the United Kingdom, you may be wondering whether an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is enough. An ETA can cover short-term study, but it is not a study visa and it comes with strict limits.

What 'Short-Term Study' Means for ETA Holders

An ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK for a limited range of activities. The official UK government guidance states that with an ETA you can come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, on a business trip or for short-term study.

Short-term study under an ETA is not a separate visa category. It is simply one of the permitted visitor activities. The ETA holder must still be seeking permission to enter the UK as a Visitor, staying in the UK for up to 6 months.

The decision about whether your planned study is acceptable is made by a Border Force officer when you arrive, not by the ETA itself. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, and the holder of an ETA will need to obtain permission to enter on arrival in the UK.

It is also important to understand that an ETA is linked to the passport you used when you applied. Your ETA will be linked to the passport you applied with, and an ETA will be valid and confer permission to travel only where the holder travels using the passport specified in the ETA application.

The most important restriction for anyone considering study on an ETA is the length of stay.

An ETA lets you travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. However, this is a travel authorisation, not a residence permit.

You cannot marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership, with an ETA; you need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa.

When You Need a Student Visa Instead

An ETA is not a substitute for a Student visa. The UK government's ETA guidance states that you can apply for an ETA to come to the UK as a tourist, to visit family or for certain other reasons for up to 6 months.

You also need to consider your nationality. If you're from a country that needs a visa, you'll need to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK.

There are also situations where an ETA is not needed at all. You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you have a UK visa.

If you are a British or Irish citizen, you do not need an ETA to travel to the UK. If you're a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, you cannot get an ETA.

Permitted Activities vs. Prohibited Work

Understanding the difference between permitted study and prohibited work is essential.

With an ETA you can come to the UK for a permitted paid engagement.

With an ETA you can come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession.

If you have a criminal record or were previously refused entry into the UK, you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead.

Applying for an ETA for Study Purposes

If your planned study fits within the 6-month visitor limit and does not involve work, you can apply for an ETA before you travel. The application process is the same whether your purpose is tourism, business, family visits or short-term study.

Before applying for an ETA using the app, you need the passport you will travel with, an email address, and a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. On the UK ETA app you'll need to use your phone's camera to scan your passport and your face.

If the photo of the face of the person applying does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.

An ETA costs £20 to apply for. For example, four applications cost £80.

You cannot get a refund after you apply for an ETA. You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app, and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) cannot help with ETA enquiries over the phone.

You can apply for someone else's ETA on the UK ETA app if they're with you. If the person you're applying for is not with you, you must apply for their ETA online. The 'UK ETA' app is available for iPhone 7 and newer models, and you can delete the app after you finish applying.

An ETA application must be made in accordance with the application process on the gov.uk website using either the mobile application 'UK ETA' or the specified online form 'Apply for an ETA to come to the UK'.

After you apply, you must wait until you get an email confirming you have an ETA before you travel to the UK. If you have not received a decision after 3 working days, check your spam or junk email folder before contacting UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). An ETA will be valid for 2 years from the date of grant or until the expiry of the holder's passport used in the ETA application, whichever is sooner.

A person holding a valid ETA may make multiple journeys to the UK, for the purpose of seeking permission to enter on arrival as either a Visitor, seeking entry for up to 6 months on each occasion, or a Creative Worker who is seeking entry to the UK pursuant to Appendix Temporary Work - Creative Worker at CRV 3.2.

For full details on what you need before you start, see our guide to uk eta application requirements. If you are budgeting for your trip, check how much does a uk eta cost.

Arriving in the UK and Proving Your Study Plans

An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man. When you arrive, a Border Force officer will decide whether to grant you permission to enter as a Visitor.

If you are transiting through a UK airport on the way to a study destination elsewhere, the rules are different. You do not need an ETA if you're transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (airside). You need an ETA if you're passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey.

With an ETA you can transit through a UK airport if you'll pass through border control.

You do not need an ETA if you have permission to live, work or study in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

You do not need an ETA if you're a child travelling on the France-UK school trip travel information form. An applicant who is lawfully resident in the Republic of Ireland and is travelling to the UK from elsewhere in the Common Travel Area does not need to obtain an ETA.

You do not need an ETA if you're both from a country that would normally need an ETA to travel to the UK and entering the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

If you already have permission to be in the UK, such as a UK visa, indefinite leave to remain, or settled or pre-settled status, you do not need an ETA. Most visitors need an ETA or a visa, but not everyone needs an ETA to travel to the UK. You can check online if you have an ETA and when your ETA expires.

You can use the service to check if you have an ETA to visit the UK and when your ETA expires. If your ETA has expired, you can apply for a new ETA. You cannot use the service if you recently applied for an ETA and have not received one yet.

Refusals and What Happens Next

An ETA application can be refused in certain circumstances. An application for an ETA must be refused where the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas for which they have received a custodial or suspended sentence of 12 months or more. An application for an ETA must also be refused where the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK or overseas unless more than 12 months have passed since the date of conviction.

A person refused an ETA will need to apply for a visa if they wish to come to the UK. A person who is refused an ETA has not been refused permission to enter the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

No.

Can I do a work placement as part of my short course on an ETA?

No.

Do I need an ETA if I already have a UK visa?

No. You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if you have a UK visa.

How much does an ETA cost for study purposes?

An ETA costs £20 to apply for.

Does an ETA guarantee I can enter the UK to study?

No. An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.

This guide is independent general guidance, not a government service. You should verify requirements with official sources before travel. The most reliable source is the official GOV.UK ETA page at www.gov.uk/eta.

Official sources checked

• GOV.UK: what you can and cannot do with an ETA
• GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix ETA
• GOV.UK: using the UK ETA app
• GOV.UK: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
• GOV.UK: when you do not need an ETA
• GOV.UK: apply for an ETA
• GOV.UK: check your ETA

The facts in this guide were last compared with these official pages on 25 October 2026. Check the current page before you apply or pay.