Student Visa Information for Zen Shiatsu London


updated 18th March 2010



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Zen School of Shiatsu

Healing Tao

Zen Shiatsu Society

Frequently Asked Questions


Zen School of Shiatsu is accredited by the British Accreditation Council and Licensed by the UK Border Agency to sponsor International (non-EU) Students applying for visas to study Shiatsu.

The Zen School of Shiatsu is an independent fee-paying school providing a two-year training with 15 hours of organised daytime study each week. The course runs for two years from the date you start.

One of the benefits of training with us is our 'continuous enrolment' system whereby you can join and start your course at any time during any term, and so are not bound to the academic year. (You would be wise to allow about two months from application to the date you want to start.)

Other benefits special to overseas students are class-time opportunities for supervised practice writing shiatsu case-studies, and for the practice-treatments that are a necessary part of the training (you may not know as many people as a local student to be your 'guinea-pigs,' so we find them for you!)

Registration and Attendance
You would enrol on the Combined Course (COM/OVS) and attend at the School on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, between 12 noon and 5.30 pm. The Combined Course runs for two years from the time you start - with our Continuous Enrolment you can start any time of year.

As a UKBA Tier 4 Licensed Sponsor we are bound by government policies and procedures regarding students from outside the European Union. Please click here for the UK Government web site explaining how to apply.

A good standard of English is a UKBA requirement, to at least Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level B2 Learn more here and you will need to provide us with evidence of this. Click here for a simple self-assessment guide

When you have read through the official policy you should then contact your local British Embassy, High Commission or Consul to start your application process. If you'd like to know more about the Zen School of Shiatsu browse through the web site with a click here
or for Frequently Asked Questions click here
or email us
or call 00 44 20 7739 9916 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday between (UK time) 12 noon and 3 pm

When you have all the information you need, complete the Application Form - download with a click here, and post it to us, together with photocopies of your passport, evidence of English language proficiency, and education certificates;

* We vet your application and if approved write to you with a 'Conditional Offer' of Sponsorship and an invoice for the fee; (current fees are shown in our Zen School Prospectus and Tier 4 Students pay the Combined Course Fee)

* If you accept the offer you pay the fee;

* We then assign your Certificate of Acceptance to Study (CAS) as a Tier 4 General Student at the Zen School of Shiatsu. The CAS not a paper Certificate but a special number for you to enter in your visa application;

* If your visa is granted you can finalise your arrangements. If your visa is refused you must send us Evidence of Refusal so we can refund your fee less an administrative charge, currently not more than £250 plus VAT.

We contact you to finalise arrangements.

When it's all done, find your flight!

I look forward to meeting you here
Kris Deva North
Director, Zen School of Shiatsu

Useful Information
Living in London
London is big and exciting, and the Zen Schol of Shiatsu is right in the heart, postal district EC2. The main Banks, a Post Office, Tube (Underground - Old Street on the Northern Line) Station and Railway/Tube (Liverpool Street) Station are within easy walking distance.
Your first priority would be to find suitable accommodation, and there is an abundance in neighbouring areas of E1, E2, N1, or a little further out in E3, E8, E9, E14, SE1, SE8, SE16. You might also consider areas on the Northern Line of the Tube network that provide easy access to the school.

Travelling around London is easy but does require a map! Bus and Tube maps are free at stations and can be downloaded. Most Londoners use ‘Oystercards’ that offer cheaper travel options than buying tickets, and are valid on buses, Tube and many rail lines.

Once you have found somewhere to live then you should register with a doctor (GP - General Practitioner) for National Health Service (NHS) treatment if you fall ill. It will be easy to find a GP on-line if you know the full post-code of where you live, although to register you do have to turn up in person!

London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with 250 languages spoken so the chances are you will find someone who speaks yours! Over the years we have trained students from countries on every continent and are well aware of different cultural and religious issues. At the Zen School of Shiatsu we welcome students from all nations, races and belief systems and do our best to make you feel at home.

London Accommodation Website

Zen School of Shiatsu is a UKBA Licensed Sponsor  and welcomes Overseas Visa Students to study shiatsu

London Travel Information

The Zen School of shiatsu is an independent fee-paying school offering a two-year training with 15 hours of organised daytime study each week.

British Embassies and High Commissions world-wide

One of the benefits of training with us is our 'continuous enrolment' system whereby you can join and start your course at any time during any term and so are not bound to the academic year.  The course runs two years from the time you start

Flights and Airlines

 Other benefits special to overseas students are class-time opportunities for supervised practice writing shiatsu case-studies, and for the practice-treatments that are a necessary part of the training you may not know as many people as a local student to be your guinea-pigs, so we find them for you

Living in London

contact your local British Embassy, High Commission or Consul to start your application process. If you'd like to know more about the Zen School of Shiatsu browse through the web site

All about London England

UK Government Student Visa Info

Zen School of Shiatsu
Application Form for
Overseas Visa Students

Overseas Students Supplement to Zen School of Shiatsu Student Handbook

Zen School of Shiatsu Student Handbook

Zen School Prospectus