Most international students coming to the UK for a course longer than six months need a Student visa, the points-based route that replaced the old Tier 4 (General) student visa. The mechanics are largely the same wherever you're applying from, but the specific evidence you'll need, the fee amount, and processing times are all reviewed periodically by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), so treat the figures below as a planning framework rather than fixed facts. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and processing times on the official GOV.UK Student visa pages or with your sponsoring institution before you submit anything.
The visa: UK Student route
The Student visa is a single route, but who applies for it — and which variant — depends mostly on age and course type. Most degree-level applicants over 18 use the standard Student visa; those aged 16–17 studying at an independent school may instead need a Child Student visa; and those on short courses of 11 months or less, including some English language courses, may be able to enter as a Short-term student instead of using the Student route at all.
| Route | Who it's for | Typical length of stay |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa | Applicants 16+ on a further or higher education course sponsored by a licensed provider | Up to 5 years for degree-level courses (18+); up to 2 years for below-degree-level courses |
| Child Student visa | Applicants aged 4–17 studying at an independent fee-paying school | Tied to course length, with age-based limits |
| Short-term student visa | Applicants on an eligible short course (including some English language courses) of 11 months or less | Length of the course, generally under a year |
If you already hold another type of UK immigration permission, note that you cannot hold two categories simultaneously — a successful Student visa application will cancel any other permission you currently hold, so switch only when you're ready to commit to full-time study.
Eligibility & key requirements
To qualify for a Student visa you generally need to show that you:
- Have an unconditional offer from a UK education provider that holds a student sponsor licence, and hold the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) they issue once you accept your place. A CAS is tied to a specific course at a specific institution and is the document that unlocks your visa application — you cannot apply without it.
- Meet the financial requirement — enough money to cover your course fees and living costs, with the exact amount depending on your circumstances (see below).
- Demonstrate knowledge of English to the level required for your course, usually through an approved test or your academic qualifications.
- Provide parental consent if you are 16 or 17, along with evidence of that consent.
- Pass a TB test if you're coming from a country where this is required as part of your visa application.
- Hold a valid passport or other travel document for the length of your stay.
If you're applying for a postgraduate research degree in certain sensitive subject areas, you may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before you can apply for your visa — check this early, since it adds its own processing time.
Proof of funds
The UK's financial requirement is calculated from two components: your remaining tuition fees for the first year of your course (as shown on your CAS) plus a fixed living-costs contribution for each month of your course, up to a capped number of months, with a materially higher living-costs rate if your course is in London versus outside London. Exactly how much you need to show, and for how many months, depends on your personal circumstances — including whether your sponsor is certified to confirm your finances on your behalf, in which case you may not need to show separate bank evidence at all. Because these figures (and the list of exemptions) are reviewed periodically by the Home Office, always confirm the current maintenance/financial requirement on the official GOV.UK Student visa "money" page before you assemble your bank evidence, and check with your university whether they qualify for the financial-evidence exemption.
Required documents
Assemble the following before you start your online application:
- Valid passport or other identity document
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your sponsor
- Evidence of your financial requirement (bank statements or sponsor confirmation letter), unless your sponsor is exempt from this requirement
- Proof of English language ability (test certificate or qualifying academic certificate)
- Parental consent evidence, if you are 16 or 17
- TB test certificate, if required for your country of residence
- ATAS certificate, if required for your course and level of study
- Academic qualifications listed on your CAS (transcripts, certificates)
Application process & timeline
- Get an unconditional offer and receive your CAS from your UK sponsor once you've accepted your place and met any conditions.
- Check when you can apply. If you're applying from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is 6 months before your course starts; from inside the UK, it's 3 months before.
- Complete the online application and prove your identity — either using the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document, or by booking an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photo.
- Pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The Student visa application fee and the IHS are both set by the Home Office and reviewed periodically — confirm current amounts on the official GOV.UK fees page, since the IHS scales with the length of your visa.
- Submit supporting documents as prompted by your application, and attend a visa application centre appointment if required.
- Wait for a decision. You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK, or 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK; a priority (faster decision) service may be available for an extra fee.
- Receive your eVisa, a digital record of your immigration status, and set up your UKVI account to access it.
- Travel to the UK no earlier than 1 week before your course starts if it's 6 months or less, or 1 month before if it's longer than 6 months — never before the start date shown on your visa.
Processing times are UKVI averages, not guarantees, and can extend if your application is flagged as complex — for example if your documents need extra verification, you're asked to attend an interview, or your personal circumstances (such as a previous immigration issue) require additional checks. Apply as early as your CAS and the application window allow, and never book non-refundable travel until your visa is confirmed.
Working while studying and after graduation
What you're allowed to do while on a Student visa depends on your course level and your sponsor's licence conditions — some students can work part-time during term and full-time during vacations, while others (particularly on below-degree-level courses) face tighter restrictions or none at all. You cannot be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or coach, or claim public funds on a Student visa, regardless of your course level. Your visa decision letter or eVisa status will confirm exactly what work you're permitted to do, so check this directly rather than assuming a standard allowance applies.
After graduating, eligible students can switch to the Graduate visa, which allows you to stay and work (or look for work) in the UK for a set period after successfully completing your course — typically longer for those who complete a PhD or other doctoral qualification than for bachelor's or master's graduates. Because the exact length of the Graduate visa and its eligibility conditions are set by the Home Office and can change between application windows, confirm the current terms on the official GOV.UK Graduate visa page before you plan around it.
Common refusal reasons & practical tips
- Financial evidence that doesn't meet the exact requirement. Bank statements showing funds below the required threshold, held for too short a time, or from an unclear source are a leading cause of refusal.
- CAS details that don't match your application. Your CAS is tied to a specific course, institution, and set of qualifications — any mismatch with your application or supporting documents can trigger a refusal or delay.
- Missing or invalid English language evidence. Confirm your test type and score are on the Home Office's accepted list for your specific course level before you rely on it.
- Incomplete supporting documents for dependants. If you're bringing a partner or children, their evidence requirements are assessed alongside yours, and gaps here can delay the whole family's application.
- Applying too early or too late. Submitting before the application window opens, or so close to your course start date that there's no buffer for processing delays, both cause avoidable problems.
- Not verifying your sponsor's licence status. Confirm your institution appears on the register of licensed student sponsors before you rely on its CAS.
Read the official GOV.UK guidance for your exact course level and nationality rather than relying on general forum advice, keep every financial and academic document consistent with what's on your CAS, and apply as soon as your application window opens to leave maximum room for processing delays.
Before you finalize where to apply, our guide to the top universities in the UK for international students can help you shortlist sponsors, and our cost of studying in the UK guide breaks down the tuition and living-cost figures that feed directly into your financial requirement calculation. You can also explore scholarships for studying in the UK and use our scholarship finder to find funding that can strengthen your financial evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a CAS before I apply for a UK Student visa? Yes. You cannot submit a Student visa application without a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number issued by your sponsoring institution once you've accepted an unconditional offer and met any conditions attached to it. The CAS is tied to a specific course and provider, so it must match your application exactly.
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa? The financial requirement is based on your remaining first-year tuition fees plus a fixed monthly living-costs allowance (higher for London than elsewhere), for a capped number of months. Some sponsors are certified to confirm your finances directly, which can remove the need for separate bank evidence. Because these figures are reviewed periodically, confirm the current amount on the official GOV.UK Student visa "money" page for your specific circumstances.
How much does a UK student visa cost? There is a visa application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which scales with the length of your visa. Both are set by the Home Office and reviewed periodically, so confirm the current fee and IHS amount on the official GOV.UK fees page before budgeting.
Can I work while studying on a UK Student visa? Work rights depend on your course level and your sponsor's licence conditions — some students can work part-time in term-time and more during vacations, while others face tighter limits. You cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or coach on this visa. Check your visa decision letter or eVisa status for your specific permitted working hours.
What happens after I graduate — can I stay and work in the UK? Many graduates are eligible to switch to the Graduate visa, which permits you to stay and work (or look for work) in the UK for a set period after completing your course, typically longer for doctoral graduates. Because eligibility and visa length are set by the Home Office and can change, confirm the current terms on the official GOV.UK Graduate visa page before relying on it.