Exploring the Student Schengen Visa for Studying in Europe

The Student Schengen Visa is your gateway to a world-class education for embarking on a short-term odyssey. The visa allows you to immerse yourself in the vibrant cultures of the Schengen Countries for 3 months maximum.

Yet, when planning to pursue a degree with longer timelines, a Student Schengen Visa designed to your chosen country’s requirements is the solution.

If you are an Indian student, you are eligible to apply for Schengen visa, which opens the doors to educational exploration and growth. Also, the application process is conveniently accessible from India, ensuring a seamless pathway to your European academic aspirations.  

There are four Schengen Visa Types: Types A, B, C, and D. Let’s explore each separately below.

The Schengen Visa Type A permits the holder to remain exclusively within Schengen Countries’ airports during connecting flights, refer as the Airport Transit Visa. Its purpose is to enable non-Schengen citizens to wait for their next flight within the airports of member countries. Notably, this Schengen Visa Type A does not grant entry into the country.

The Schengen Visa Type B enables the holder to travel freely through the member countries, but its validity is limited to 5 days.

Commonly known as the Short-Stay Schengen Visa, the Type C educational visa allows you to travel unrestricted across Schengen member countries for up to 90 days in the span of 180 days. Some countries and universities might have specific requirements for this visa category.

Schengen Visa Type C is further categorised based on the number of visits to a particular member country:

1. Single Entry Schengen Visa: This permits a single entry into a specific member country. The visa becomes void after departure, even if not expired.

2. Double Entry Schengen Visa: This type allows re-entry into a specific member country once. Once the holder departs for the second time, the visa loses its validity.

3. Multiple Entry Schengen Visa: As the name suggests, this visa allows numerous travels through the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days in the duration of 180 days.

The Schengen Visa Type D is a national long-stay visa designed for those wishing to stay within a Schengen country for over 90 days, up to 1 year. However, during this period, you can also spend a maximum of 90 days travelling to other member countries within a 180-day timeframe.

When considering studying in Europe, understanding the prerequisites for a Schengen Visa is paramount. Aspiring students are often curious about the question, "What exactly are the Schengen Visa requirements?". So let us delve deeper into the aspects you must address before initiating your application.

Naturally, a valid passport is a fundamental necessity in Schengen Visa requirements. A passport issued in the past decade is required, with a minimum of 12 months validity remaining after your intended return.

A copy of the Passport's Biometric Data Page is essential to Schengen Visa requirements. For documentation purposes, it's recommended to have a printout of your passport's biometric data page on an A4-sized paper. This copy ensures a tangible backup of essential information.

Another paramount element among Schengen Visa requirements is a cover letter, where you must elaborate on your specific intent and length of stay. In addition, you must outline the purpose of your visit and the duration you plan to stay to offer a clear perspective on your intentions. As a whole, the letter provides a comprehensive overview of your objectives for the requested stay.

The next essential component of the Schengen Visa requirements is an official acceptance letter from your intended university. This letter holds significant importance in the application process.

A crucial aspect of Schengen Visa requirements is presenting evidence of paid tuition fees to your prospective university. This requirement ensures your commitment to your studies and compliance with the visa application process.

Submitting the results of a language proficiency test recognised by your chosen university or country is also a vital part of Schengen Visa requirements. In this regard, IELTS is widely accepted as a preferred English language proficiency test throughout Europe. Hence, you might need to provide results from specific native language tests depending on the destination's language requirements.

Showing your finances is one of the Schengen Visa requirements, where you must demonstrate your financial capability to sustain your higher studies and stay in the country without financial strain. This documentation can be evidenced through scholarship letters, bank statements or sponsorship letters.

Transcripts and academic documentation are important everywhere and are also the most substantial part of Schengen Visa requirements. So, compile all pertinent documents showcasing your academic history, encompassing degrees, diplomas, or other educational achievements.

Last but not the least! Travel health insurance is a vital part of Schengen Visa requirements. Securing travel health insurance is essential to address unforeseen emergencies. Some institutions mandate coverage for your entire stay, while others require it for the duration of your travels.

Before you collect the documents mentioned earlier, it's imperative to double-check the specific requirements for the Student Schengen Visa in the country and university you're interested in.

Heeding these steps for your documents will make applying more accessible and help you successfully study in Europe.  

After gathering all the essential documents and organising your finances, it's time to understand the fees for the Student Schengen Visa. For Indian citizens, the Schengen visa fee stands at €80, which is approximately equivalent to INR 7,210.25.

Furthermore, children aged six to twelve have a reduced visa fee of €40, about INR 3,605.13. Notably, children under six years old are entirely exempt from paying the Schengen visa fee.

Student Schengen Visa Fees are necessary for processing your visa application, which also covers the outlay of examining your documents and deciding.

However, paying the accurate fee according to your situation and where you're from is important. Having the necessary funds on hand demonstrates your dedication to studying in Europe.

Keep in mind that visa fees are non-refundable, even if your application gets rejected. So, it's a good idea to double-check the requirements and make sure everything is accurate and complete before submitting your application and paying the fee.

Submitting the correct documents and fees will give you the best chance of getting your Student Schengen Visa approved so you can begin your study in Europe.  

Now that you have complete knowledge of what you need for a Student Schengen Visa take a look at the brief pointers explaining the application process. 

• When to Apply: You should apply for the visa between 3 months before your semester starts and 15 days before it begins.
   

• Check if You Need the Visa: It's important to note that only some students necessitate the Student Schengen Visa. Therefore, it's advisable to assess your individual requirements thoroughly before deciding whether you should apply for it.
   

• Know Your Visa Type and Country: If you determine that you require the visa, ensure you identify the precise type of visa necessary and select the country where you need to submit your application.
   

• Visit the Embassy's Website: Once you understand your requirements, you should go to the embassy's website or the relevant country's consulate.
   

• Fill Out the Form: You must fill out the visa application form on the embassy's website when you are ready with all the preparation and requirements.
   

• Prepare Your Documents: You need to prepare and collect all the documents you will need for the Schengen visa application.
   

• Schedule an Interview: You now need to set up an appointment for an interview as required.
   

• Pay the Visa Fee: After completing your interview, you must pay the student Schengen visa fees.
   

• Wait for a Response: After you have paid the fee, you must now wait for a response from the embassy about your visa application.

When you appear for your Student Schengen Visa interview, you will be questioned about your finances, purpose of visit, reason for choosing the specific educational field, family background, and future plans.

Nevertheless, a few student Schengen visa interview questions are frequently asked. If you are well-versed in the answers and can deliver them fluently, it may sway the decision in your favour. The following are the most frequently asked Student Schengen Visa interview questions and their answers.

• How do you intend to finance your education and stay?

  • How to respond: You can start by discussing your sponsors and how strongly they support you. You can even talk about your European relatives. Along with that, you must prepare your bank statements and a letter of scholarship or sponsorship as evidence.

• What is the state of your marriage?

  • How to Respond: You must declare your marital status unequivocally. You should not sound perplexed at all. 

• Do you have any children? If so, what are they doing?

  • How to respond: You must understand your children's actions and keep the information clear.

• Do you have any relatives in the Schengen area?

  • How to respond: This is a crucial question that will help them gain confidence in you. So, recall any names of your relatives confidently, as it may not appear that you are avoiding the question.

• Did you apply to any other universities? What was their response?

  • How to respond: You must answer truthfully and demonstrate to the interviewers that you are happy with your current university and cannot wait to start classes. 

• Why did you choose this particular university?

  • How to respond: To learn more about the university's history and academic settings, head over to its official website. You can also look into the university's exchange and internship programs. Bringing together these details with your plans in Europe would be beneficial.

• Why do you want to study in this country?

  • How to respond: You are required to express your admiration for the country and provide some compelling reasons.

• What are your long-term goals after completing this course?

  • How to respond: Mainly, it depends on your future goals, but still, you should express your desire to return to your home country. Refrain from giving the impression that you are going to Europe to live and then apply for a long-term visa. While answering, keep in mind the study and research area as well as your professional skills.

Getting a Schengen Visa for Tier 4 students is pretty easy, provided you have all the required documents. You can easily crack your visa interview with honest answers and genuine documents. So, get ready your finances, documents and educational scorecard in order and start your journey to Schengen Countries.  

Q. What are the Schengen Countries?

A. The Schengen Countries comprises 27 European nations that have abolished internal borders, allowing people to travel between them without the need for individual visas.

Q. Can I apply for a Schengen visa as a student?

A. Yes, you can apply for a Schengen visa as a student. The Student Schengen Visa allows you to study in Schengen countries for up to 3 months.

Q. How much does the Student Schengen Visa cost?

A. The fee for a Student Schengen Visa is 80 EUR for adults. But the reduced fees apply to children aged 6 to 12, while those under 6 are exempt from paying the price.

In the end, acquiring a Student Schengen Visa for educational pursuits in Europe demands careful preparation and adherence to requirements. You can navigate the application process confidently with the proper documents, financial backing, and thoughtful responses.

Your journey to the diverse landscapes of Schengen Countries awaits, offering enriching academic and cultural experiences. We hope the information shared in the blog can assist you in determining your interest in pursuing education in Europe.

We encourage you to speak with our expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC) if you need more clarification or profound insight. If you cannot travel to our offices, we offer online counselling services via our website.

Our dedicated counsellors will provide the best guidance regarding your application to study in Europe. Don’t hesitate to contact us at application02@meridean.org or call us at 1800-1230-00011.