Best way to stay for a year total over a 2 year period?

I am just wondering about visas. I know that I am allowed to be in the UK at 6 months at a time. And that my "time" renews every time I leave and re enter the UK again.
I want to know how I should go about staying in the UK a total of about a year over the time span of 2 years. I have a pretty specific goal and inquiry.
Here goes it...

I am going to be enrolling in a distance learning program with a Tier 4 education sponsor, but my program because it is distance learning does not give unconditional offer letters to be sponsored for a student visa.
I have to study for a series of 14 exams(6 sittings of exams which I have a max of 18 months to complete)which I hope will be complete in 6-9 months and have to be written in the UK, then be engaged in about 2-3 months of practical training in the UK after the exams are written. To avoid wasting money on airfare I want to stay with a home stay family while I study and get my exams done. I have no problem coming back once or twice or even three times to renew my"time ticket" of 6 months in the UK.
I also want to do some traveling while I am there studying, and my family members and friends want to come visit with me and travel while I am in the UK as well.(which is not a critical factor, I want to deal with the being able to study part first and foremost).

At the end of my training I intend on applying for a tier 5 visa which will enable me to legally work in the UK for 2 years(because I am under 31 with no dependents), in which time I want to obtain a job with a company that can give me very valuable training that I would otherwise never be able to receive in Canada. Then come home to Canada with this great experience under my belt and be able to get any job in my industry I apply for.

I am wondering if I can come and go as I please as long as I abide by the 6 month rule? Or should I apply for a Student Visitors Visa with a certificate to travel or something else....I also have a friend and his family just outside of London who I could live with, or say I will be living with if that helps with anything...
Thanks - Danielle

PS - This is a fantastic forum, thanks for all the great info!

You can't exactly come and go as a visitor in the UK, even if you abide by the 6 months rule.You have to meet the visitors requirements, which are basically intending to visit the UK and go back within 6 months. If the IO are not sure that your true intentions are to enter the UK as a visitor, they may refuse you entry.

If your intentions are to study in the UK for more than 6 months, then you should apply for a proper Student visa. There is not such thing a "certificate of travel", but with a visa, you will be allowed multiple entries in the UK.

If you intend to study in the UK for less than 6 months, you could enter as a student visitor or if you're not sure about what course to take, apply for a prospective student visa.

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