Tier 4 visa delay... will it even be issued at this point?

No worries. I'm sorry that I can't really be of much help..It's overwhelmingly infuriating that it still seems like UK universities haven't got their stuff straight when it comes to international students and the government's policies..It's understandable why they do what they do, and why the regulations are there in the first place, but it really does screw over the ones who are just trying to do the right thing and enjoy education in the country..

The best thing to do is to just keep your head up, despite how terrible this all is. As long as you do, I'm sure something good will pop up in the near future, just wait and see. 

No worries. I'm sorry that I can't really be of much help..It's overwhelmingly infuriating that it still seems like UK universities haven't got their stuff straight when it comes to international students and the government's policies..It's understandable why they do what they do, and why the regulations are there in the first place, but it really does screw over the ones who are just trying to do the right thing and enjoy education in the country..

To be fair, the university who gave the advice about applying from within the UK, can only do that on the information they are given. If they had been told that the student had dropped off their course at another university and had their student visa removed. That they then re-entered the UK as a visitor (from the opening post "I have spent the last two years living in London, my life is there") they could have given the correct advice. That she needed to return home to apply for the Tier 4 visa and that time would be needed for that.

Universities have sites to help international students apply for a visa correctly. Looking at the site for UCL, the relevant part on their site shows which visa holders can switch (in country) to a Tier 4 visa. Visitor in the UK, is not listed.

Toska made a mistake. I hope she sorts it so that she can get back to where she wants to be soon.

If UCL can help show a genuine reason why she dropped off her course and wants to study at the same level again, UKVI will grant a visa, subject to other immigration rules too of course.

Update:

So my visa was issued today. Of course, it's too late to really matter at this point, but at least I know that I didn't break any regulations which would automatically refuse me from getting one.

I'm going to ask my faculty to defer the place until next September.

Thanks everyone for the help. I really am thankful.

Sirius, I have one more question for you (or anyone else who might be able to answer this for me): I want to go back to London next week to get some of my things and arrange what I'm going to do with my flat for the year. When I enter, I will have to enter as a tourist which means my visa is going to be canceled. You might have answered this before, but I just want to double check: this isn't going to have any affect on my getting another Tier 4 next September, will it? I'm horrified of jeopardising anything, so if it's better that I don't go back to London for a few weeks, I won't.

Also, I might renew my passport before I go back because it's going to expire in May so the new one won't have the Tier 4 visa page. Will I still need to tell them that I have one, but want to have it canceled? This is probably a stupid question, but I'm incredibly paranoid about everything after this experience.

Update:

So my visa was issued today.

Oh no. So close. That's a shame.

You can only hold 1 UK visa at a time, therefore entering as a visitor will cancel your Tier 4, if it isn't cancelled already on information UKVI received from UCL. Did you ask UCL if they have cancelled their sponsorship with UKVI? They will be able to give you all the information you need as they would have seen this before.

Don't worry about your next Tier 4 visa as it doesn't look like it will be a problem. I don't suppose I need to say this, but just make sure you apply in plenty of time.

I don't know the requirements for entering as a visitor, when you have just been in the UK as a visitor. Others on here will know.