UK Student Visa
International students who would like to study in the United Kingdom will need a UK Student Visa. This visa permits applicants 16 and older to live and study in the UK throughout their course.
If you have any questions regarding the UK Student Visa applications or for other immigration issues, contact us today. You can call us on 0333 305 9375, or contact us online seven days a week via our live chat.
Page Content:
- Who is eligible to apply for the UK Student Visa?
- How to get enough points for the UK student visa
- What are the financial requirements set out by the UK Student Visa?
- What is possible with a UK Student Visa?
- What is not allowed on the UK Student Visa?
- What is the English language test?
- What is the student visa application process?
- What are the required documents for the UK Student Visa?
- What are the UK Student Visa fees?
- Is it possible for my family members to come with me while I am in the UK?
- Can student visas be extended?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK Student Visa and who is eligible?
International students interested in getting a student visa in the UK must be at least 16 years old and must meet the following requirements:
- Been offered a place on a course of study by a certified student sponsor in the UK
- Can prove they have enough money to support the needs and tuition fees of the international student (this is applicable if the student is from a country that requires this)
- Can prove that they have English language proficiency (if you are from a country that requires this)
- Applicants aged 16 and 17 must have written consent from their parents
- Applicants under 16 may be eligible for the child student route (UK Child Student Visa) if they would like to study at an independent school in the UK
- Have 70 points towards the UK immigration points-based system
The list of acceptable educational institutions can be read here through the UK government immigration website, which also includes additional information about visa and tuition information.
When the students get their offer letter, the education instruction will/can provide a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS). You must apply for the visa within 6 months of receiving the CAS.
UK Student Visa Requirements: How to get enough points?
Most applicants do not have much trouble reaching the required 70 points towards the UK student visa. If you meet the main eligibility criteria, you will hit the 70-point threshold.
The points are set up as follows:
- 50 points: Receiving a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
- 10 points: Meeting the financial requirements
- 10 points: Able to demonstrate your English language ability is at the level of B2 as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
UK Student Visa Financial Requirements: What do you need to prove?
You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. You will need to be able to prove that you have this sufficient money for 28 consecutive days, and the end date of this period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for the visa.
The financial requirements are:
- £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
- £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London
UK Student Visa Permissions: What can you do with the visa?
With the UK student visa, holders are permitted to:
- Attend a full-time educational course leading to a qualification that is below a degree level (for example RFQ level 3-5) with a minimum of 15 hours per week of daytime study
- Join courses leading to a qualification that is degree level or higher (for example RFQ level 6, 7, or 8)
- Join courses 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
- Join courses leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RFQ level 7 or above)
- Join a recognized foundational program for postgraduate doctors or dentists
- Join an English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Work a full-time position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer
Regarding postgraduate doctors and dentists, they are permitted to apply for a student visa to attend a recognition foundation program if, they’ve already completed a recognized United Kingdom degree in medicine or dentistry and received that degree from a registered student sponsor and spent the final year and at least 1 other year of studies that got them that degree in the United Kingdom.
UK Study Visa Restrictions: What is not allowed on the visa?
The UK Student Visa does not permit the following:
- The student cannot claim public funds or pensions in the UK
- Get a job working in certain jobs such as a professional sportsperson or sports coach or be self-employed
- Study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also called a maintained school)
English Language Test for UK Student Visa Applicants
As part of the application, applicants have to demonstrate a good level of English. This is done by doing a SELT English language test, which can be done at one of the test centres around the world.
However, there are some exemptions from the English language requirements. These exemptions are:
- You have already completed a course in English at either undergraduate or postgraduate level at one of the approved educational providers
- You have already proved the required level of English via a different visa application
- You are applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA
Students from a majority of English-speaking countries will not need to fulfil the English language requirements. These countries are exempt:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- UK
- USA
How to apply for a UK Student Visa
There are a number of steps to applying for a UK student visa and you can start the application six months before you plan to start your studies in the UK.
- You must apply for a UK eligible course and be issued an acceptance letter
- You can apply online from inside and outside the UK
- You must provide all supporting documents and pay the visa fee as part of the application process
- If requested you must attend an interview at a local UK embassy to provide biometric information and answer any questions about your plans to study in the UK.
- You can expect to receive a decision on your application within three to eight weeks depending on whether you applied from overseas or in the UK.
- Students can arrive in the UK up to 1 week before their course starts, if the length of your course is 6 months or less, or can arrive in the UK up to 1 month before the course starts if it lasts more than 6 months.
What are the required documents for the UK Student Visa?
As per the Student Visa application, you are required to submit certain information and documents. Without providing this information and documentation, your application will be rendered unsuccessful.
Some of the required information and documents for the UK Student Visa are:
- Your current passport or another valid travel document
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your educational provider
- Proof that you have the necessary financial means
- A valid Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate (if applicable)
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applicable)
- Written consent from your sponsor if they have agreed to financially support you for your course fees and living costs
If you are under 18 at the time of study in the UK, you will need to provide additional information including written consent from your parents/legal guardians showing that they consent to your visa application, your living and care arrangements in the UK, and your travels.
All documents must be translated by an accredited translator into English or Welsh.
Identification verification is an important step at this stage of your student visa application. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.
You will either provide fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) to a visa application centre or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document. To use the app, you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
Normally, the student visa process does not involve an interview for many international students, unless your case is considered complex.
Should your application be approved, you will receive a shareable code as proof you can study in the UK through the ‘UK Immigration: ID check.’
UK Student Visa Fees: How much does the visa cost?
At present, the visa fees for the student visa are as follows:
- £524 for applications made outside the UK
- £524 for application made inside the UK
- £524 for Student Visa extensions
You will also be responsible for paying the immigration health surcharge fee and biometric fee.
Reasons for Student Visa Rejection
There are a number of reasons why your application for a student visa may be rejected. You will be informed by the UK Home Office why your application was rejected and whether you can appeal the decision.
The most common reasons for rejection of an application are:
- Failure to meet the financial support criteria
- Incomplete or inaccurate documents
- Providing incorrect or misleading information as part of the application.
You should reach out to an immigration expert for advice on the next steps following a visa denial.
Is There a UK Post-study Work Visa?
If you wish to remain in the UK after finishing your study then you may be eligible for the UK graduate visa or a skilled worker visa.
Both of these options allow holders to work in the UK in qualifying job roles. The route allows international students to work or look for work after their studies for two years, or three years for PhD students – importantly there is no need to have employer sponsorship for a graduate visa.
UK Student Visa Dependents: Can family members join you?
As of January 2024, international students will not be able to bring dependents with them to the UK unless they are either:
- A government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts 6 months or longer
- Enrolled in a postgraduate course designated as a research programme that lasts 9 months or longer
Eligible postgraduate programmes include PhDs and other doctoral qualifications or masters programmes with a research component, including a requirement to produce original work.
International students who do not fit either one of these categories will not be eligible to bring their dependents with them to the UK.
This restriction will apply for all international students starting courses from 1 January 2024.
The UK government defines a dependent as a legal spouse, civil partner, or common-law partner, children under the age of 18. Families will need to prove their relationships with their dependents by providing original copies of marriage/civil partnership paperwork and/or birth certificates for children.
If your child/ren does live with you, you’ll need to provide 2 of the following documents:
- A bank account statement
- Credit card bills
- Driving license
- NHS (health insurance) registration document
- An official letter from their university degree program or college
The dependent visa will be valid for as long as the Student’s visa is valid.
UK Student Visa Extension: Can the visa be extended?
It is possible to apply to extend your visa before the end date of your current student visa, up to 3 months early. In order to extend, you have to:
- Be in the United Kingdom on a UK Student visa
- Hold an unconditional offer from a course based in the UK that is licensed to sponsor student visa holders by the United Kingdom’s government
- Show that your studies are offered at an academic level that’s higher than your current course (called the ‘academic progress requirement’)
Therefore, your new course must be one of the following:
- Be a higher academic level than your current course
- Be at the same level and related to your previous course, educational opportunities, or career aspirations
- Be related or a continuation to medicine, dentistry, or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa
To continue your study in the UK, it is also possible to switch to a Graduate student visa, another student route that permits another 2 years after completing your course.
If your dependents came with you to the United Kingdom, they will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They do their new visa applications at the same time as you, or before their current visa expires.
The application fee to extend the visa is £524 per person and it normally takes around 8 weeks.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, all time spent in the UK via the student route does not count towards the minimum UK residency requirements.
That being said, international students who extend their visa in the UK through the Graduate Visa or apply for a work visa after studying will start to accumulate time towards the minimum UK residency requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain and even British citizenship.
Depending on your citizenship, some students do not need to meet the financial requirements such as the following:
- You received a UK visa for a period of at a minimum of 12 months directly prior to the date of your Student Visa application and you are currently in the UK
- You are applying as a student union sabbatical officer
- You are applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised foundation programme
The points-based immigration system is used by the UK government to decide if an applicant is eligible for the visa. International students need to score 70 points on the system to be eligible for a UK study visa.
