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I am an Australian student going on exchange to the UK for six months. I am intending on travelling prior to the commencement of my studies. As a condition of my student visa I am unable to enter the UK until 1 week before my studies commence. I was wondering if I can enter the UK as a tourist (approx. six weeks before study) then travel around Europe and come back into the UK on my student visa one week before I start studying? Or would I have to go back to Australia first?

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    If you're going to travel around Europe, can you simply avoid going to the UK first?
    – Greg Hewgill
    Jun 20, 2014 at 1:43
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    I was intending on leaving majority of my luggage in a storage place at the university as I do not want to carry it all around with me. Also the tour which I was planning on booking begins in the UK. But, yes if worse comes to worst I will have to change my plans.
    – Emma Robins
    Jun 20, 2014 at 1:48
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    I have similar situation myself at the moment. What did you end up doing?
    – lxop
    Feb 20, 2017 at 20:50

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I am in exactly the same boat: arriving 7 weeks before my course starts from Australia.

From what I have heard, as long as you can prove at immigration when you enter the UK that you are leaving before the start of your student visa, and have a good reason as to why you can come in beforehand, it should be okay.

However, I don't know anyone who has done this, and none of my Google searches have proved fruitful, so I am hoping that it will be OK. I hope this makes sense!

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A tourist visa would allow you to enter the UK and stay for up to three months. If you wanted to travel six weeks through the UK with a tourist visa, then stay six months with your student visa, that would seem very dodgy to me and I wouldn't try unless you get some official confirmation that it is fine. (The reason why I think it's dodgy is because you enter with a tourist visa with the intent to stay 7 1/2 months).

Entering the UK with a tourist visa and then travelling through Europe, returning to the UK when your student visa allows it, should be fine.

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  • Actually OP wont need a tourist visa if they are an Australian citizen. They can get a stamp on entry which is valid for 6 months not 3 months. but yes, they can come, leave the uk then come back in on re-entry
    – BritishSam
    Jun 8, 2017 at 14:20
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As an Australian citizen you can come to the UK as a visitor for 6 month. On arrival be honest with the border guard, tell him/her you are coming in as a tourist, leaving the country and coming back on a student visa and you will be fine. I have learnt from past experience to just always be honest with border officials and you will be fine. I'd also advise you show proof of you planned travel to Europe like flights and hotel itinerary.

What you don't want to do is not mention your studies and the border officer find out about them, then it will look like you are up to something.

Enjoy your holiday and studies in the UK and the rest of Europe.

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