Send us an online enquiry form
Current Student
Prospective Student
Staff who support students
Immigration resources for supporting staff
Student immigration advice
We are here to help you get your Student visa and protect your immigration status while you are studying.
Our four immigration advisers provide personalised, accurate advice to students and their dependants.
All team members are highly skilled professionals who strictly adhere to the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) Code of Practice
Student Administration is situated on the left as you enter the Quad at Old College.
Our service is free of charge and is provided in line with our conditions of service.
Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) website
The University is required to report students' potential visa breaches, non-attendance, and significant circumstances to immigration authorities. When discussing visa matters with our advisers, be aware that information you share may not remain confidential if it must be reported under the University's sponsorship obligations or legal requirements.
Parents/Guardians of students:
We require written consent from students to discuss their visa applications. A brief email confirming their consent is typically sufficient.
Our key responsibilities
- Ensure all international students have the right to study in the UK
- Issue Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) numbers to students applying in the Student visa route
- Provide Student route and post-study immigration guidance
- Protect and maintain the University’s Student Sponsor Licence
Immigration advice we provide
We offer support with:
- Specialist Student visa advice, such as Student visa eligibility requirements and application form guidance
- Standard visitor visa eligibility and application form guidance (only where study is the main purpose)
- Student dependant visa eligibility and application form guidance
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
- Student and standard visitor application refusals
- Student visa conditions (how to protect your immigration status)
- Graduate visa eligibility information
Limitations of our immigration advice
We cannot provide guidance on:
- Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR/settlement) applications
- Naturalisation/citizenship applications
- Applications falling outside of the UK Immigration Rules
- Family visa applications falling outside of the Student route
- Standard visitor visas for non-study purposes
- Applications for countries other than the UK, including Schengen visa applications
- Asylum and human rights-based applications
- Student visa applications that will be sponsored by another UK institution
We can offer initial guidance on post-study work options like Skilled Worker or Global Talent visas, but cannot assess individual eligibility or review specific applications.
Alternative ways to contact us
Phone: +44 (0) 131 650 9265
You may be able to contact us by phone on the following days and times (UK time zone):
- Monday: 1pm-3pm
- Wed: 10am-12pm
- Friday: 1pm-3pm
We can only provide general information on the phone and not specialist advice. If you require specialist immigration advice, you will be asked to contact us via our online enquiry form.
If you have already contacted the team, please have your student number and UniDesk reference number ready (this is in the subject line of the confirmation email you received from us an will look like this: I250000-0000).
One-to-one appointments
You may be able to request for a MS Teams appointment with an adviser, where you require immigration advice. We may offer in-person appointments where preferred and based on staff availability.
You must contact us by using the relevant enquiry form before we can offer you an appointment. Please include as much information as possible when completing the form.
An adviser will assess a request for whether an appointment would be suitable and necessary.
Other support
Accessibility support
If you need extra assistance to access our services, or information in an alternative accessible format, then let us know by contacting us through our online enquiry form.
External immigration advice
If you require further assistance with the application process or help in deciding which visa you may be eligible for, you may wish to seek advice from an Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
Find an regulated immigration adviser - GOV.UK
Free information and Advice for International Students - UKCISA
Get specialist immigration advice - Citizens Advice
Scottish Migration Service - Scotland Government
Security and out of hours emergency support
If you experience a crisis or emergency outside normal working hours, or you're a parent or supporter of a current student, you can contact the University through the University Security 24/7 contact number 0131 650 2257
A member of Security will assist or redirect to the appropriate services.
Emergency student support (out-of-hours)