International Students
Cardiff Steiner School offers the international Steiner Waldorf curriculum. We welcome International students and have a rich and diverse range of nationalities within our student, parent and teaching bodies.
International students age 3 to 16 can join us for a unique British Steiner School experience. Students are integrated into the life of our School, speak English, work, relax and enjoy all activities with the rest of their Class. Our UK students benefit from the multi-cultural nature of their School and make friends for life from across the globe.
Our broad and balanced programme is rich in both oral and written English, giving International students a unique and immersive exposure to UK language and culture. Our pioneering Upper School programme (age 14-18/19) offers the Certificate of Steiner Education – the first trans-national qualification to be fully based on the Steiner educational curriculum, and is a valid, alternative secondary school qualification that allows students to progress to further/higher education.
Please Note: We do not currently offer boarding at Cardiff Steiner School and can therefore only accept International students who are staying with a parent or appointed guardian whilst in the UK.
Students from EU/EEA country
If your child is a citizen of an EU/EEA country, they do not require a visa to study in the UK.
Visiting Non-EU/EEA students – studying for under 6 months
We can accept visiting non-EU/EEA students accompanying their parents as Academic or Business Visitors to the UK.
Non-EU/EEA students studying in the UK for over 6 months
Non-EU/EEA students who are under the age of 18 and want to study in the UK for over 6 months require a Tier 4 (Child) Visa. Cardiff Steiner School is a registered Tier 4 school, which means that we are able to sponsor non-EU/EEA students to study in our School.
You can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa if you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.
You must also:
- have a place on a course
- have the consent of your parent or guardian
- have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs
- be from a country that’s not in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
- meet the eligibility requirements
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before you start your course.
You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You can check visa processing times for your country.
It costs £335 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa from outside the UK.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
Your age and the length of your course of study will affect how long you can stay.
Age when you apply | How long you can stay |
---|---|
Under 16 | Course length (up to 6 years) plus 4 months afterwards |
16 or 17 | Course length (up to 3 years) plus 4 months afterwards |
(You may be able to apply to extend your Visa)
You can arrive in the UK:
- up to 1 week before your course starts if your course lasts 6 months or less
- up to 1 month before your course starts if your course lasts more than 6 months
If a Tier 4 (Child) student turns 18 years old, they can carry on with their course until their permission to stay ends. If they want to do further study in the UK, they will have to apply under another category, for example Tier 4 (General).
You can:
- study at an independent school
- apply from outside the UK
- apply to extend your stay
You can also work, if you’re 16 or over:
- part-time during term for up to 10 hours per week
- full-time during vacations
- on a work placement as part of your course, (but not for more than 50% of your course time)
- as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years
You can’t:
- study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school) or further education college
- get public funds
- take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed
- work as a doctor or dentist in training
- work as a professional sportsperson (for example a sports coach) or entertainer
- settle in the UK on this visa
- bring in family members (‘dependants’) – if your parents want to accompany you, they’ll need to apply for a Parent of a Tier 4 (Child) visa
Read the UK Government full guidance on the Tier 4 (Child) student visa.
The School will make all reasonable efforts to assist students and parents to comply with the UK Government’s requirements on visa entry for students who wish to come to the UK to study. However responsibility for making a visa application rests with the students’ parents. The School cannot assist with resolving visa related issues other than those under Tier 4 either for a current student or for a student who is proposed to be admitted.
International Students Admissions Procedure
- Complete and return our standard Application Form along with current school reports, a copy of the student’s passport and any other relevant reports and documents listed on the Application Form. There is no fee to apply.
- The application will be considered and we will make an Offer if the applicant is thought suitable for admission into the relevant Class. The School may request on on-line video (Skype) interview.
- We will contact you with an Offer of a Place. You then fill in an Acceptance Form and pay a deposit of £300 to secure your place and a Registration fee of £100. (The deposit is £500 for non-EU/EAA students who require a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa). The deposit is returnable when the student leaves the School as long as all fees are paid and up to date.
- For non-EU/EAA students who require a Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa, we will issue a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Study) number for parents to apply for a Visa. The CAS number must be used within six months to obtain a Tier 4 (Child) Visa.
- Parents Handbook will be sent out.
- Student arrives – We arrange a meeting with Parents/Guardians and student and Registration Interview with our Admissions Office. The School is required to photocopy a student’s passport and visa on the first day they arrive at the School.
- The Invoice for the first term’s fees will be sent to the parents/guardians.
Ready to find out more?
Nicola Robinson, in our Admissions Office, is looking forward to talking with you about studying as an International student at Cardiff Steiner School. Please contact her to find out more.
