UK Student Visas for Pakistanis

The UK is a popular destination for international students, allowing them to receive a world-renowned university education, practise their English language, and experience living in a foreign country. People travelling from Pakistan to study in the UK will have to apply for a UK Study visa to legally enter and live in the UK for the duration of their course.

There are a few different types of Student visas available for Pakistani students, and the one you apply to will depend on your length of study in the UK and your age. To study in the UK for up to six months, you can apply for Student visitor visa, whereas to study a full-time course for over six months, you will have to apply for a longer-term UK Student visa or Child Student visa.

For 6 to 11 month English language course, you can apply for a Short Term Study visa.

Each visa has different eligibility criteria and required documents and will grant you different permissions for the duration of your stay in the UK. Typically, you must submit proof that you have been accepted on a course and have enough money to pay for yourself while you are in the UK. You should apply for all of these visas at least three months before your course begins.

Please note that these longer term visas were historically called Tier 4 General Student and Tier 4 Child Student visas and have since been renamed to simply Student or Child Student visas.

Page Contents

• UK Student Visa Overview
• Short Term Study Visa
• UK Student Visa
• Child Student Visa
• UK Study Visa Requirements for Pakistani Students
• Documents Required for a UK Student Visa
• Financial Requirements
• English Language Requirements
• Dependents
• How to Apply for a UK Student Visa
• UK Student Visa Processing Time and Fees
• Visa Interview Preparations
• Extending Student Visa
• Working on a UK Student Visa
• Common reasons for Student Visa refusals
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The UK Short Term Study visa is available for Pakistani students who want to study a course for six months or want to specifically take a short term English language course for up to 11 months.

This visa is more restrictive than other UK visas and does not allow you to bring any family members or carry out any paid work, and you can only arrive in the UK one week before your course begins.

If you plan to study a full-time course, you will have to apply for a Student visa (previously the Tier 4 General Student visa) to have permission to stay in the UK for more than six months.

This visa applies to students aged 18 years old and above who are attending a UK-accredited educational institution and will allow you to stay in the UK for up to five years (if attending university) and up to two years (if studying below degree level).

This visa will allow you to arrive in the UK a month before your course begins. You may also be able to include dependents if you’re studying a government-sponsored course for longer than six months or a full-time post-graduate course at a PhD or research-based higher degree level.

The Child Student visa is available for children between 4 and 17 years old who are accepted on a course at a UK-accredited educational institution with a student sponsor, which could be an independent private school.

Children between 4 and 15 years old must attend an independent fee-paying school to be eligible for a Child Student visa.

To apply for a UK Study visa from Pakistan, you must receive an unconditional offer to study in the UK from an official student sponsor, have proof that you have enough money to pay for yourself while in the UK and your course fees, and be able to speak, read and write in English.

When you receive an offer on your course, you will receive an officially recognised virtual document called a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance for Study‘ or ‘CAS’. This CAS contains vital information for your course, including any requirements you must meet or provide evidence for, and is required for your visa application.

Depending on your circumstances, each person’s visa application may require different documents. Some are required by all applicants, and some are specifically requested by your CAS.

These required documents include:

• A current passport or other valid travel document
• Passport-sized photograph
• A CAS from your course provider, including certificates of qualifications or English if requested by your CAS
• Evidence you have enough money to pay for your course and to look after yourself for the duration of your stay in the UK
• A letter from your financial sponsor if you have received sponsorship for course fees or living costs in the last 12 months confirming the sponsor’s consent for you to apply for a UK Student visa
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results if you have lived in Pakistan for at least six months within the last six months
• National ID card and birth certificate from NADRA
• If you’re under the age of 18 years old, you will need to submit proof of parental/guardian consent and proof of relationship to your parent/guardian
• Certificate of health insurance for the duration of your stay in the UK
• An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (only certain post-graduate students)
• Additional documents if you are responsible for any dependents

If any of your documents are not written in English, you will need to have them translated by a certified translator following the UK government guidelines.

You will also need to include a statement of purpose as part of your application. This will explain your reason for travelling to the UK, your previous academic, employment and immigration history, and confirm you can pay for yourself while in the UK.

To receive a visa to study in the UK, UK immigration officials need to be assured that you can pay for your course and pay to live in the UK, as you will not have access to public funds and support. The amount you need will vary depending on your circumstances and course.

It is possible to receive sponsorship from a university, government sponsor body, or other official sponsor. If an institution is sponsoring you, you will have to provide evidence of sponsorship as part of your visa application. If you don’t have a sponsor, you will have to provide proof of personal funds that will cover your stay in the UK.

You must have enough money to pay for one academic year (up to nine months), as outlined in your CAS document, and you will have to have this money for 28 consecutive days from within the 31 days before you submit your visa application.

You can show that you have enough funds by using an official sponsorship or grant, a student loan, your personal or parents’ money (including a letter confirming you can use their money), or your partner’s money if they’re in the UK or applying at the same time.

For proof of funds to pay to live in the UK, you will need to prove you have:

• £13,347  if you are studying in London (for nine months)
• £10,224 for courses outside London (for nine months)

People who have been in the UK with a visa for 12 months already will not have to prove finances on their application; this includes dependents who have been in the UK for this amount of time.

One of the eligibility requirements for a UK Study visa is that your English language ability is at a certain level, and you must provide evidence of your proficiency. When applying for your visa, the application form requests that you either have the following:

• A qualification from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT)
• At least a GCSE (or equivalent Scottish qualification) in English gained through study at a UK school that you began before you were 18 years old

Your English language requirement will be outlined in your CAS, and the university or institution may choose to assess your level themselves. Typically, if you are studying at degree level or higher, you’ll need to have an equivalent to B2 English, or if you are studying below the degree level, you will need B1 English.

You may be exempt from the language requirement if you have received a qualification (equivalent to a UK degree) in certain countries or territories, although this does not include Pakistan, or if you have proved your English in a previous visa application.

It is not possible to bring dependents with you on the Short Term visa; however, in some instances you can include dependents when applying for your UK Student visa, including if you are:

• A government-sponsored student
• A full-time postgraduate PhD or doctorate student studying for more than nine months
• A full-time postgraduate student studying a research-based higher degree

Dependents can only include a partner or child under 18 years old, and you will have to submit additional documents to prove their relationship to you.

If the application for your dependents is successful, they will be allowed to stay in the UK for the same amount of time as you.

You can apply for your Student visa through the UK government website (gov.uk). You will have to:

• Complete a visa application
• Submit all of your required documents
• Prove your identity. This step may involve providing your fingerprints and a photograph at a visa application centre.
• Sometimes, you may have to have an interview to clarify specific points on your visa application
• Visa decision

UK Student Visa Processing times

If you are applying from outside the UK, you can expect to receive a decision on your student visa within three weeks of your application; this estimate increases to eight weeks if you are applying from inside the UK. However, applying with plenty of time is also good to allow for any delays.

UK Student Visa Fees

A Student visa costs £524 to apply from outside of the UK and the same to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK. There is also a fee of £524 for each person that is included in your application.

Priority Processing

It is also possible to pay for a priority service on your visa decision. This fee is in addition to your Student visa fee and will reduce the amount of time you have to wait for a decision on your visa to 5 working days (priority services costing £500) or 2 working days (super priority service costing £1000).

What is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), how much is it and how do you get access to NHS?

People from Pakistan staying in the UK for more than six months must pay for a healthcare surcharge, Pakistani students, like most immigrants in the UK, must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access healthcare provisions. This must be paid at the time of your application and before your visa is granted. The UK offers a free public healthcare system, the National Health Service (NHS), and foreign nationals are expected to contribute by paying the mandatory charge.

Students pay a reduced rate for Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for every year in the UK. This must be paid in advance. Therefore, if you are in the UK on a two-year course, you must pay £1552. Once you have paid IHS and your visa is approved, you can come to the UK. You can use all public health services like a UK national, allowing you to register and book appointments with a GP and access emergency services.

The UK student visa interview process is a necessary aspect of an application for UKVI officers to determine your intentions upon entry to the UK. The interview can be conducted online, in person or over the phone.

When will the interview take place?

The interview takes place before a UK Student Visa permission being granted. Applicants are typically contacted by email to schedule an interview.

What will the interview cover?

It is important to be prepared to answer questions about the purpose of the stay, reasons for studying in the UK, and financial means to sustain life in the UK. Immigration officials will likely ask about funding planned living arrangements and studies. They may also ask about your course, future plans and ties to your home country.

How to prepare

Immigration lawyers can help prepare for a visa interview, ensuring concise and authentic answers to common visa interview questions. In general, answers must be supported by documentation to prove genuineness. Visa officials want to feel confident that there are no plans to overstay or breach visa conditions in the UK. Be confident, honest and forthcoming when asked questions.

How long is the interview?

The interview for a Student Visa in the UK is typically 15-30 minutes. The length varies depending on how clear and convincing an applicant’s intentions come across.

When is a decision made on an application?

Once the interview has been conducted and a full transcript sent to an entry clearance officer, a decision is made on a visa application. The processing time for a UK Student Visa is normally 3 weeks if applying outside the UK or 8 weeks if applying inside the UK. Priority services can fast-track a visa application for a decision within 5 working days (priority service) or 2 working days (super priority service).

If you wish to continue studying following the end of your course, you can extend your Student Visa if you can show academic progress by studying your new course or continued study. Typically you must:

• Have an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor, confirmed by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Already be in the UK on a Student Visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa

To apply for an extension, your new course must be one of the following:

• At a higher academic level than your current course. This is called the ‘academic progress requirement’. There are some exemptions listed below.
• At the same level but related to your previous course or career aspirations, provided it is degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• Intercalated to a medicine, dentistry, or medical science program started under your Student visa (or Tier 4 (General) student visa)

Exemptions from Academic Progress Requirement

Once a UK Student Visa ends, you may be able to renew your permissions when:

• Resitting exams or modules
• You have or plan to complete a study abroad programme or work placement
• Applying to complete a course at a new institution due to your previous institution losing its student sponsorship licence
• Completing a PhD or doctorate that you began under your last Student visa (or Tier 4 visa)
• Continuing a medical, dentistry, or medical science degree after an intercalated course
• Applying after serving as a student union sabbatical officer to finish a qualification started under your last Student visa (or Tier 4 visa)

It is essential that you check the guidelines included on your visa, which will outline any restrictions around working while studying in the UK. Generally, Pakistani students can work in the UK under specific conditions that depend on the course they are studying. Some students can also work during any breaks between your course.

There is often a limit to the number of hours you can work; usually, this is 20 hours per week for undergraduates, masters students, or study abroad students, and 10 hours per week if you are studying below degree level.

How can Pakistani students apply for the UK Graduate Visa to stay and work in the UK after completing their studies?

Pakistani students can apply for a UK Graduate Visa to continue their stay and work in the UK. You must apply before your Student Visa expires, and your education provider must have told the Home Office you have successfully completed the course. The Graduate Visa permits a two-year stay with working permissions and three years for Doctoral students.

The UK Student Visa has a low rejection rate between 3% and 5%. Ensuring documentation is uptodate and relevant, offers the best possible chance of success. Here are some of the most common reasons for visa rejections:

• Insufficient Financial Proof

You must prove you can support yourself for your stay in the UK, prove you can return home, and submit eligible financial documentation. For example, bank statements must be less than 31 days old.

• Incorrect or incomplete documentation

Submitting incorrect or outdated documentation can be a cause for refusal. All documents not in English should be certified, with notarised translations if necessary. If required supporting documents are missing, an application may be rejected.

• Incorrect visa category

Applying for a visa that does not match the purpose of your stay can lead to refusal. For example, officers might deem that your main intention is to work or find employment in the UK.

• Criminal record

If immigration officials decide you pose a safety and security concern to the UK due to the severity of a crime you have committed and evidenced by your criminal record, they may reject your application.

• Proving genuine intentions in the interview

If you fail to convince the immigration officers of your genuine intention to study in the UK, you may be refused a Student Visa. If you don’t disclose relevant facts, have falsified documents or engaged in deception, an application may be rejected.