Is it legal for a US citizen on a 6m visitor's leave to study on a course that is more than 6 months in total for a semester that is less than 6 months?
A student visa is not required to take a course of study that is less than 6 months.
What if a course is more than 6 months but one would like only to take a single term of it before converting their visa. Is this permitted?
From https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules
“Study
25 Visitors may carry out the following study:
(a) educational exchanges or visits with a state funded school or academy or independent school; or
(b) a maximum of 30 days study on:
(i) recreational courses (not English language training);
(ii) a short-course (which includes English language training) at an accredited institution;
provided that the main purpose of the visit is not to study and the study is not at a state funded school or academy.“
Note: There is no mechanism to convert from visitor status to a study visa from within the UK.
