You can apply for a student visa to study in the UK if you are 16 or over and meet the following conditions:
If you are 16 or 17 and want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.
This visa replaces the Tier 4 (General) student visa.
Whether you apply from within or outside the UK will determine when you can apply.
Six months before the start of your course is the earliest you can apply for a visa.
Usually, you’ll hear back about your visa decision in three weeks.
Three months before the start of your course is the earliest you can apply.
Before the expiration of your current visa, you must apply. Within 28 days of the expiry of your current visa, you must start your new course.
Usually, you’ll hear back within eight weeks.
The course duration and the type of study you’ve already finished in the UK will determine how long you can stay.
You can often remain in the UK for up to five years if you are 18 or older and enrolled in a degree-granting program. You can usually stay in the UK for up to two years if it is below degree level.
To find out exactly how long you can stay, read the instructions.
Extending your stay in the UK
You may be able to:
You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:
You must only travel to the UK after the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.
Each person joining you must pay the visa fee.
The healthcare surcharge must be paid in addition to submitting your application.
The duration of your visa determines how much you must pay. Be sure to ascertain the cost before applying.
You can bring your spouse and kids (also known as “dependants“).
The term “dependants” refers to your spouse and kids, who may be eligible to apply for entry into or extension of stay in the UK.
If your application is approved, you will be informed of what you can and cannot do with a student visa.
You can do one of the following courses:
You can also apply for this visa if you take up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Salaried Officer.
If you are teaching or conducting research on sensitive topics at RQF level 7 or above, you may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate.
If you meet the following requirements and sponsor an approved foundation program, you may apply for this visa:
held a valid degree in dentistry or medicine from the United Kingdom.
obtained this degree from a sponsor who was a registered student.
You studied in the UK for your last year, and a minimum of one additional year is required for this degree.
You will receive This electronic document from the university via email, which is essential to making your Student Visa application. You should note that as the CAS is electronic, you only need to provide the CAS reference number in your visa application form, and there is no requirement to provide a paper copy.
Your education provider will send you a reference number known as a Study Acceptance Confirmation once they offer you a spot on the course.
This reference number needs to be included in your visa application.
After obtaining your CAS document, you have six months to apply for a visa.
You must have sufficient funds to cover your UK course costs and living expenses.
The amount of money you require varies based on your situation and the application.
You must have enough money for a full academic year to cover your course costs (up to nine months). Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will indicate the amount you must pay.
You do not need to provide evidence of your financial stability when applying for a visa if you have been in the UK for at least a year and your visa is still valid.
When you apply, you will have to demonstrate your proficiency in the English language.
You can demonstrate your proficiency in English by:
A certain level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), must be demonstrated.
| What you’re studying? | Level |
|---|---|
| Degree level or above | Equivalent to CEFR level B2 |
| Below degree level | CEFR level B1 |
When enrolled in classes offered by a higher education provider
If you’re pursuing a degree or higher, your Higher Education Provider (HEP) can independently evaluate your English proficiency. This implies you might be asked to take an alternative test.
This still needs to be at least a B2 on the CEFR.
If you are from one of the following nations or territories, or if you have earned a credential in one of them that is comparable to a degree from the UK, you do not need to demonstrate your proficiency in English:
To apply for a student visa, you need to supply:
You might also have to supply:
Written consent from parents or legal guardians is required if you are under eighteen (or from just one parent if they are the only ones responsible).
This needs to involve their approval of:
If you want to stay longer and finish your course or enrol in a new one, you can extend your student visa. This applies if your Tier 4 (General) student visa remains valid.
To prolong your visa, you have to:
A current passport or other valid travel documentation.
Qualifications stated on your CAS. All qualifications listed in your CAS. You should note that if no qualifications are listed in your CAS, you are not required to provide any.
English language evidence. UKVI ask for proof of your knowledge of the English language. Universities can choose how they assess a student’s knowledge of English. Your CAS will confirm how the university has considered your English language ability. If it has been evaluated by you providing a certificate or qualification, then this will be listed in your CAS, and you must provide the certificate listed. If no English language qualifications are listed in your CAS, you will not need to provide any with your application.
Translations. If any document is not in English, the original must be accompanied by a complete translation. The translation must contain:
Proof of finances. You need to prove that you have a specific amount of money for tuition fees and living costs in the UK. See our information on the financial requirements for guidance on how to check what this amount is.
The types of documents you can provide to prove your finances are:
See our information and guidance on finance documents on the Demonstrating Your Finances page. Please note that it is essential to provide finance documents which meet the requirements to avoid a visa refusal.
Letter of consent from government sponsor. Suppose you have received any official financial sponsorship from a government in the past year. In that case, you must provide a letter from this sponsor confirming the sponsor’s consent to make the Student Visa application.
Proof of your relationship with your parent or guardian. If the funds you show are held under a parent’s name, you must prove your relationship to your parent(s). Birth certificates or adoption certificates are accepted.
Letter from parent/ guardian. If the funds are held under a parent’s name, you also need a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) providing consent for you to use the money. The letter does not need to follow a strict format but must be signed and dated.
Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18. If you are under 18 when you start your studies, you will need to provide a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and your birth certificate or adoption certificate. Contact us for more information and advice if needed.
Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you must take the test. Note that if you have been living in a country for the past six months where the TB test is not required, then you will not need to provide this (If you have been living in the UK for six or more months, then you will not need to take a TB test.) See the UKVI information on TB tests to check if this applies to you.
ATAS Certificate (Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate). This is a certificate required by some postgraduate students. (It does not apply to students on undergraduate programmes of study.) You should note that an ATAS certificate takes approximately one month to be issued. Your CAS will confirm if you need an ATAS certificate.
