UK Student Visa FAQ

The UK Student visa (formerly Tier 4 General Student visa) allows international students aged 16 or over to study at a licensed UK educational institution for longer than six months.

You need: a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor, proof of sufficient funds, valid English language proof, a current passport, and a TB test certificate (if required).

A CAS is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is a unique electronic document issued by your university confirming you have been accepted. It contains your personal details, course information, and a unique reference number.

Apply online at gov.uk/student-visa. Complete the application form, pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, upload documents, and attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre.

The Student visa application fee is £490 for applications from outside the UK. You must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), typically £776 per year of study.

Standard processing takes 3 weeks from your biometric appointment. Priority service (decision within 5 working days) costs an additional £500. Super-priority (next working day) costs £1,000 extra.

You can stay for the duration of your course plus additional time: up to 5 months for courses over 12 months, 2 months for courses 6-12 months, and 7 days for courses under 6 months.

Required documents: passport, CAS, proof of funds (bank statements), English language test results, TB test certificate (if applicable), and ATAS certificate (for certain science courses).

You need: tuition fees for the first year (or full course if under one year) plus £1,023 per month for living costs outside London (£1,334 in London), for up to 9 months.

Yes. You can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during official holidays. You cannot be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson, or fill a permanent full-time vacancy.

Only students on postgraduate research programmes (PhD) can bring dependants from September 2023 onwards. Undergraduate and taught postgraduate students generally cannot bring dependants.

The IHS is a fee paid as part of your visa application that gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). For students, it costs £776 per year of visa duration.

Yes. After completing your degree, you can apply for a Graduate Visa (2 years, or 3 for PhD) and then switch to a Skilled Worker visa if you find eligible employment with a licensed sponsor.

The Graduate Visa allows international students who complete an eligible UK degree to stay and work (or look for work) for 2 years (3 years for doctoral graduates) without needing a job offer.

If you are from a country where TB is prevalent (including most of South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia), you need a TB test certificate from an approved clinic. The test is valid for 6 months.

ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) is a certificate required for certain postgraduate courses in sensitive science and technology subjects. Your university will tell you if you need one. Apply free at the FCDO website.

Yes, you can apply to extend your Student visa if you are continuing your studies, starting a new course, or need extra time to complete your current course. You must apply before your current visa expires.

If refused, you will receive a refusal letter explaining why. You can either apply again addressing the issues, or request an administrative review if you believe an error was made. You may also appeal in certain circumstances.

You can arrive in the UK up to 1 month before your course start date if your course lasts more than 6 months. For shorter courses, you can arrive up to 1 week before.

Yes, you must prove your English at CEFR B2 level (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 overall with no band below 5.5 for degree-level courses). Your university will verify this and include it on your CAS.