As a prospective student it is very important that you request permission ('leave') to enter the UK as a 'Prospective student' (rather than as a 'visitor').
You will be required to meet the following conditions:
- The course you want to study, and the institution you want to study at, must fit the requirements of the student;
- You must genuinely intend to start a course within 6 months of arriving in the UK and it must be realistic to think you will be able to;
- You must intend to leave the UK at the end of the 6 months, if you do not manage to start a course and at the end of your studies if you do start a course (unless you a are a degree student hoping to stay on to work when you finish your studies and you are not sponsored by your government or by an international scholarship agency);
- You must have enough money without needing to work(or engage in business or claim 'public funds') to pay for the accommodation and maintenance of yourself (and your husband, wife, civil partner and children if they come with you) for the first 6 months and during the course, and your course fees.
Warning: Do not come to the UK as a visitor or as a student visitor. Visitors and student visitors are not allowed to extend their permission to be in the UK as students.
VIsit UKCOSA website for more information.