Am I allowed to take a continuing ed. course while on a visitor's visa?

Not sure if this belongs in visa queries or education, so I'm putting it here...

I found this continuing ed. course that starts Monday and I'd love to take it, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to.  DH and I don't have my spousal visa stuff sorted out just yet (a topic for yet another thread), so I'm "just visiting" until we do.  Since I don't have my spousal visa and certainly not a student visa, can I take this course?  It's through the University of Glasgow's Department of Adult and Continuing Education.  I'm not planning on pursuing any degree, but apparently I would get four ACE (adult/continuing ed) credits for taking it...I'm afraid that would make it a for-credit course, and that sounds prohibitive.  Any thoughts?  I'm desperate to take this course, but not if it's going to screw up my visa plans.

I'm sure you'll get long replies about this, but in a nutshell. No. 

I'm sure you'll get long replies about this, but in a nutshell. No. 

Damn.  I was afraid of that.  Well, better to have checked it out than have it cause problems for me later.  All the more reason to get started on that paperwork!

Actually, I think you might.  I know that as a postgraduate student (at Glasgow too!), I had the option of starting my studies on a regular visitor's visa as long as I left before the six months were done (or, get a student visa and leave and return to switch over to it).  I'm not sure how that works with Continuing Education.  I'd contact the department and/or the International Office.  It may be that you can leave and return under the student visitor category as well.

Actually, I think you might...

Well, a bit of searching around led me to this clause in 41 (v): http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part2/.  The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a general visitor are that he does not intend to undertake a course of study.

That sounds pretty grim.

I think this is something that must have recently changed, because I came over here last March to take a 4-week English teaching certificate course, and I entered as a visitor, with no prior entry clearance. 

You used to be able to take courses in private colleges on visit visas.  But I think this changed before March 08, so I suspect that you actually had a short term student visit visa.

Vicky

You used to be able to take courses in private colleges on visit visas.  But I think this changed before March 08, so I suspect that you actually had a short term student visit visa.

Vicky

I'm pretty sure you're right Vicky.