If your Student visa remains valid, then yes, you can use it either to remain in the UK or travel back into the UK until its expiry date. 

If your Student visa is no longer valid or has expired, you will need to apply for a Visitor visa (see below). 

The Home Office and UK Border Force have told us that returning to the UK to attend your graduation ceremony is a valid reason for using your Student visa to re-enter even after your course is finished. 

We recommend that you bring proof that you will be attending your graduation with you, such as confirmation of your booking, when crossing the UK border in case you are asked for evidence of your reason for travelling to the UK.

UK Border Force officials may also ask you for further information about your trip to the UK, including where you plan to stay and when you plan to leave. 

Students who have finished their course earlier than anticipated

If you have finished your degree earlier than initially expected, for example, because you didn't undertake a year in industry that was included on the original CAS we issued you, then you will not be granted re-entry to the UK after you have completed your degree. 

The Student Administration team will email you to confirm that you are an 'early finisher' and that we have reported this to the UKVI, who will then take steps to cancel your visa.

This report will be made shortly after the release of your final marks. Therefore, if you are an 'early finisher' and want to use your Student visa to re-enter the UK to attend your graduation ceremony (or for any other reason), then you are advised to return before the release of your final marks. If you cannot do so, you must apply for a Visitor visa (see below).

If you've left the UK and your Student visa is no longer valid, you will need to be granted a Visitor visa to return to the UK. 

Applying for the Visitor visa.

Whether you need to apply for the Visitor visa before you travel or whether you can be granted it when you arrive in the UK depends on your nationality. 

To check whether you need to apply before you travel or whether you will be granted immigration permission when you arrive at the UK border, follow these steps on the government website.

• Select your nationality.
• Select 'tourism or visiting family and friends.'

I’ve been told I do not need a visa to come to the UK.

You will be granted a Visitor visa for 6 months when you reach the UK. 

We recommend that your passport has at least 6 months' validity remaining before you travel.

We recommend that you travel with evidence of your reason for coming to the UK, i.e. confirmation of your graduation ceremony. 

I’ve been told I’ll need a visa to come to the UK.

You’ll need to apply for the visa and wait for a decision before you travel to the UK.

It costs £127 to apply for a Visitor visa.

To apply, you'll need to

• Submit your online application form.
• Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre.
• Attend your appointment.
• Submit your documents.
• Give your fingerprints and photograph.

Application times can vary according to where you live and the time of year, so make sure that you apply as early as possible to avoid any delays.

You can apply for a Visitor visa up to three months before you need to come to the UK, but no earlier.

If you are travelling with family members who require a visa, they will also need to apply for a Visitor visa. 

We recommend that you provide confirmation of your booking for the graduation ceremony in support of your visa application. 

If you are still in the UK on your Student visa or have switched to another type of visa since completing your course, you can invite your friends and family to attend your ceremony. 

In most cases, they will need to be granted a Visitor visa to enter the UK, and they can follow the guidance above on how to apply. 

We would also recommend that you write them an invitation letter in support of their visa application.

You can find a visa-sample-letter here. 

You need to fill in the blanks with relevant information about yourself and your friend or family member. We advise writing one letter per person.