Student Visa replaced the Tier 4 (General) Student visa and allows those aged 16 or over to come to the UK at an institution that holds a Sponsorship Licence.
Requirements:
Switching to a Student visa
You may be able to switch to a student visa in the UK if you already have permission to be in the UK.
Dependants
The main applicant may bring his family members to the UK, provided that:
Duration of stay in the UK
Applicants will be issued with a visa in line with the duration of their course with additional time at the start and end of the course to settle in and arrange their affairs.
Whilst you may be able to extend your leave to stay or apply for a new leave; please note that if you have previously studied in the UK, you will only be granted additional leave under certain circumstances.