How to Apply for UK Student Visa

How to Apply for UK Student Visa

FAQs, requirements, application processes, and information about UK student visas

In This Article

Before starting their courses, international students who have been admitted to a British university must apply for a UK student visa.

The prior Tier 4 (General) Student Visa has undergone a “rebranding” in the wake of Brexit, primarily because students from the EU and EEA must now apply for a visa in order to study in the UK.

Changes to UK Tier 4 Student Visa

Starting on October 4, 2020, the “Student Route” will take the place of the former Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. Before Brexit, EEA nationals were exempt from needing a visa in order to study in the UK. Now, however, they will have access to the new Student Visa offered by the UK, known as the Student Route.

As per the British Government, there is no limit on the number of students who can obtain a visa under the recently implemented Student Visa program.

The following are some of the primary modifications to the UK Student Visa that took effect on October 5, 2020:

• It is split into two categories: the Student Route (for adult students 18 years of age and up) and the Child Student Route (which, with the replacement of the Tier 4 Child Student Visa, is for pupils 4 to 17 years of age).
• EU/EEA nationals who plan to enter the nation after January 1, 2021, must also apply for a visa.
• Instead of three months, you can now apply for a student visa up to six months before classes begin.
• There is a Point-Based System that determines your eligibility for a visa. To win, you must accrue 70 points.
• By summer 2021, graduates of British universities will be eligible to apply for the post-graduate visa, which will grant them the ability to work or search for work in the UK for a maximum of two years.
• The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and English language competency standards are still the same as they were for the Tier 4 Student Visa.

Are Students in the EU/EEA Requiring a UK Student Visa?

You will need to apply for a student visa if you plan to enter the UK after January 1, 2021. You must apply for the EU Settlement Scheme if you are currently a resident of the UK before January 1, 2021.

Who Can Apply for a UK Student Visa?

Applicants for the new UK Student Visa must be citizens of the EU or EEA and must receive 70 points under the Point Based System. The system calculates if you fulfill the prerequisites to study in the United Kingdom, including:

• Have you been accepted into an approved institution? The institution issues the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) as proof.
• Do you have the money necessary to pay for your stay? You will also need £1,265 per month if you are studying in London or £1,015 per month if you are studying outside of London, in addition to the course fees. You will require about £800 a month for each dependent if you have any.
• Can you speak English well? You must pass an approved English proficiency test from the provider when you apply for the visa.
• B2 for Degree-level courses or above.
• B1 for below Degree-level courses.
• Does your course meet the set-out course requirements? See below.

UK Student Visa Course Requirements

If you’ve been accepted into any of the following courses, you can apply for a student visa to enter the UK:

• A full-time, non-degree-granting course requiring more than 15 hours of study each week. Known as RQF level 3, 4, or 5, this comprises apprenticeships, the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, or A levels, which are essentially the final two years of high school.
• A full-time program that results in a degree or a certification above one. consists of Bachelor, Postgraduate, Masters, or Doctorate degrees (RQF levels 6, 7, and 8).
• A part-time course at a degree level above RQF 7 (Postgraduate, Masters, or Doctorate degree).
• An approved program for postgraduate doctors or dentists.
• A level B2 or above English language course according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

How to Apply for a UK Student Visa?

If you are not in the UK, you can apply for a UK student visa up to six months before your classes begin. Prior to showing up at a Visa Application Center in your nation to provide your biometrics, you must begin the online application on the UK Government website.

Your education provider will send you a reference number known as a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies as soon as they offer you a spot on the course. This number is required to be entered while registering online. Depending on your country of residence, you will receive instructions on how to proceed after submitting your online application.

Child Student Visa applicants will need the consent of a parent or a guardian.

Can I Switch to a UK Student Visa?

As long as your present visa does not fall under any of the following categories, you can convert to a student visa if you are already in the UK:

• Visit visa
• Short-term student visa
• Parent of a Child Student visa
• Seasonal worker visa
• Domestic worker in a private household visa
• Leave outside the immigration rules

Up to three months prior to the start of your classes, you can apply to transfer to the UK Student Route. Both your current visa and acceptance into one of the authorized universities are prerequisites.

UK Student Visa Processing Time

It will take about three weeks to get a decision on your application for a student visa if you apply from outside of the UK. A decision on your application will be made after about eight weeks if you apply from within the United Kingdom (switch to Student Visa).

UK Student Visa Fees and Costs

The fees for a UK Student Visa are:

• £348 if applying from outside the UK.
• £475 if you apply to extend or switch to a Student Visa from inside the UK.

You must pay a separate fee for yourself and each family member that joins you.

In addition to the visa fee, you also have to prove that you have enough money to finance your stay:

• At least £1,265 per month if studying in London (for up to nine months).
• At least £1,015 per month if studying outside London (for up to nine months).

Documents Required for a UK Student Visa Application

When applying for a UK Student Visa, you need the following documents:

• Your valid passport.
• The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your school.
• Proof you have enough financial resources to support yourself and ant family members.
• An Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if applicable.
• Criminal record certificate.
• Proof of English Language proficiency.
• Tuberculosis test results.
• For students under 18:
• Proof of parental consent
• Proof of your relationship to your parent or legal guardian
• Any additional documents required during the application process, like cover letter for student visa, etc.

How Long Is the UK Student Visa Valid?

The duration of the UK student visa is determined by the start date of the study. For a maximum of five years, an adult student enrolling in a degree-level course may be given a visa. For two years, if you are enrolled in courses below the degree level, you will be awarded a visa.

Can I Extend a UK Student Visa?

If you are accepted into a different course in the UK, then you are able to extend your UK student visa. The level of the course needs to be greater than what you have already finished. If you hold a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, you are also eligible to renew your visa. Three months prior to the commencement of your new classes is the earliest you can apply.

Can I Stay in the UK After My Studies?

Yes, foreign students studying in the UK who have earned a degree at the undergraduate level will be eligible to apply for the Graduate Visa beginning in the summer of 2021. After graduating, you can work or look for work in the UK for up to two years with a Graduate Visa. Graduates with a PhD may stay for three years.

If you find a suitable job during that time, you will be able to switch into a different immigration category, such as a UK Work Visa.

Can I Work With a UK Student Visa?

Yes, international students in the UK can work under certain conditions. For example, you can work as a student union sabbatical officer, but you will not be able to claim public benefits and pensions. What type of work you can do in the UK while on a Student Visa will depend on what you are studying and if you will be working during the term-time or during breaks.

Certain occupations are also prohibited, including being a self-employed individual or a professional athlete or sports coach.

Can I Have Dependents With a UK Student Visa?

Yes, you can bring your dependent family members to the UK with you as you pursue your studies. This includes:

• Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
• Your dependent children under the age of 18.

It must be demonstrated that you and your family have adequate money to support yourselves while in the UK. Apart from your own financial needs as a student, every member of your family has to have the following funds:

• £845 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• £680 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London