Student Visa UK For Canadians
A Student Visa is a type of visa that grants Canadian citizens, as international students, the ability to live and study abroad in the United Kingdom.
If you have any questions regarding this Canadian Student Visa or other options for Canadian students, you can contact our expert immigration lawyers to discuss any concerns you may have, or for some help navigating the application process. You can call us on +1 844 290 6312 , or contact us via our live chat.
Page Content:
- What are the eligibility requirements for a UK Student Visa?
- What can you do on a UK Student Visa?
- What are the requirements for Postgraduate doctors and dentists?
- What is not permitted on a UK Student visa?
- What is the UK visa application process?
- What are the required documents for a Student Visa?
- What are the fees?
- Can my dependents join me in the UK?
- How to extend your international Student Visa
- Frequently Asked Questions
Requirements for Canadian Students Applying to Study in the UK
Canadian students must be 16 years or older and hold an acceptance letter from a United Kingdom-based college or university degree programme that has been approved by the UK government as a licenced sponsor.
With your offer letter, the educational institution to which you have been accepted should provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) letter. You must apply for the study visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
In addition, student applicants must also:
- Demonstrate that they have sufficient personal finances to support themselves and their studies
- Speak, read, write and understand English (this is not applicable if you are a Canadian national)
- Have consent for studying in the UK from the applicant’s parents/guardian or carer if the applicant is younger than 18 years old
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Study Options for Canadian Students in the UK
Canadian students who are studying abroad in the UK are able to do the following:
- Attend a full-time course leading to a qualification that is below degree level (for example RFQ level 3-5) with a minimum of 15 per week of daytime study
- Attend a full-time course leading to a qualification that is degree level or higher (for example RFQ level 6, 7 or 8)
- Attend a full-time course at degree level or above (for example RFQ level 6,7 or 8) that’s equivalent to a United Kingdom higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas
- Attend a part-time course leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RFQ level 7 or above)
- Attend a recognized foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists
- Attend an English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Taking up a full-time position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer
UK Student Visa Requirements for Postgraduate Doctors and Dentists
The UK Student visa also allows for postgraduate doctors and dentists from Canada to come to the UK for the purposes of attending a recognition foundation program. In order to apply for a UK Student visa, doctors and dentists must meet the following requirements:
- The doctor or dentist has already completed a recognized UK degree in medicine or dentistry and received that degree from a registered student sponsor – considered “world-class graduate education.”
- The doctor or dentist has spent the final year and at least 1 other year of studies leading to that degree in the United Kingdom
Restrictions for Canadians on a UK Student Visa
Canadians who are in the UK on a student visa are not allowed to do the following:
- Claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
- Work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach or be self-employed
- Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)
How to Apply for a UK Student Visa from Canada?
To start the application, Canadians will need an acceptance letter from the educational institution they wish to attend before applying.
You may start the process 6 months before starting your chosen course of study.
If successful, you may enter into the United Kingdom up to 1 week before (if the course is 6 months or less) or up to 1 month before (if your course lasts more than 6 months). You must not travel before the start of the visa, regardless of the length of the programme or when the university degree programme starts.
Required Documents for Canadians Applying for a UK Student Visa
Canadian citizens applying for a Student visa in the UK may need to provide the following required documents with their application form:
- A current passport or other valid travel documentation with at least one blank page
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
- Proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course (not applicable for Canadians)
- A valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it
- Proof of parental/guardian/carer consent if you’re under 18 and proof of your relationship (such as a birth certificate with their names) to your parent or guardian if you’re under 18. They must provide consent for your application, your living in the United Kingdom, and your travel.
- Tuberculosis test results (if applicable)
- Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
Identification verification is an important step in the application. As a Canadian, you can do this using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document online and create and sign in to your personal UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. Typically, this is a faster option than others and you can even get your visa within 5 days. Otherwise, it will take around 3 weeks to get your decision.
Normally, the process does not involve an interview unless your case is considered complex.
Should your application be approved, you will receive a shareable code as proof of your new status through the ‘UK Immigration: ID check.’
UK Student Visa Fees for Canadians: What Are the Costs?
The fees associated with getting this visa are £558 when applying from either outside or inside the UK.
You must also pay for the United Kingdom immigration health surcharge, which is £776 per year for students and needs to be paid each year of your visa. You will also need sufficient finances to pay for travel, accommodation, and your course(s).
A summary of UK Student Visa Fees
| Visa Type | Application Location | Visa Fee (£) | Healthcare Surcharge (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa | Outside the UK | £558 | £558 |
| Student Visa | Inside the UK | £558 | £558 |
| Priority Service | Outside the UK | £500 | £776 per year |
| Priority Service | Inside the UK | £500 | £776 per year |
| Super Priority Service | Outside the UK | £1000 | £776 per year |
| Super Priority Service | Inside the UK | £1000 | £776 per year |
How to Bring Dependents to the UK as a Canadian Student?
It is possible to bring your dependents with you to the United Kingdom if you are going to be doing the following:
- Be a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RFQ level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer
- Be a new government-sponsored student on a course that lasts longer than 6 months
- Be a Doctorate Extension Scheme student
In this instance, a dependent is defined as a legal spouse, civil partner, or common-law partner, and children under the age of 18. You will need to prove your relationship with the dependents by marriage/civil partnership paperwork and birth certificates for children.
All dependent visas will be valid for as long as the main student’s visa is valid.
Steps to Extend Your UK Student Visa Before It Expires
You can apply to extend before your current international Student Visa expires up to 3 months early.
To do this, you must:
- Be in the United Kingdom on a UK Student visa
- Have an unconditional offer to a course that is a licensed student sponsor by the UK government
Prove that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course (called the ‘academic progress requirement’) Your new course must be one of the following:
- A higher academic level than your current course
- At the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations
- Related or a continuation to medicine, dentistry, or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa
There is the possibility of switching to a Graduate visa to stay in the United Kingdom for at least 2 years after completing your course.
If you brought your dependents over to the United Kingdom alongside you, they will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you or at any time before their current visa expires.
The fees to extend the visa are £490 per person, including each dependent. It typically takes 8 weeks to be informed if you have been successful or not.
How can Total Law help you with UK Student Visa Applications?
Being able to travel abroad for your studies is a valuable experience that many Canadians may dream of.
If you’re looking to apply for a Student visa to travel to, and study in, the UK, Total Law can help.
We offer complete and comprehensive legal services for Canadians looking to come to the UK for study, work, residency or any other reason. Our expert legal advisers can help you overcome any immigration issues you have and ensure that your pathway to your destination country is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
For more information, call us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online seven days a week via our live chat.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many Canadian applicants are exempt from proving that their finances are sufficient when applying for a student visa. However, there are many costs associated with this application, so it is important to consult with an immigration lawyer.
You can work on a student visa if you have a Student visa.
However, how long you can work may depend on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time. Consult an expert before taking up employment to avoid any potential infringements of your visa.
The earliest you can begin a student visa application is three months before the start date of your course, as stated in your CAS.
If you submit your visa application earlier than this time, it will be refused. If you leave your application too late, you could miss your start date.
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