UK Student Visa

A person may only come to the UK through the Student Route if they have been issued a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from an approved institution with a valid sponsor licence. The register of Student sponsors can be viewed on the Gov.uk website.

A person aged 16 or over may apply for this visa if they plan to study on a valid higher education course, pre-sessional English language course, foundation programme, or Doctorate Extension Scheme.

If the applicant is aged between 16-17 and wishes to study at a registered Independent School on a Regulated Qualifications Framework Level 3 course, they may apply for a Student or a Child Student Visa.

International students wishing to undertake a course that is 6 months or less in duration should apply for a Visitor Visa. Similarly, a person over the age of 16 seeking to study on an English language course lasting between 6-11 months may apply for a Short-Term Study Visa.

In some cases, a student may submit an application for a dependent partner and children to accompany the applicant during their stay in the UK.

Not all students may bring a dependent with them on their course of study in the UK. The below outlines the main cases where a dependent will be allowed.

Under normal circumstances, a student may apply for a dependent if they are:

• 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.

In order to add a dependent to a Student Visa, the dependent must also meet specific criteria. In general, a dependent must be:

• A husband, wife, or civil partner
• An unmarried partner where the Student and the dependent have been living together in a similar relationship to a married couple for at least two years
• A child (aged under 18)

It may be necessary to show that the relationship between the couple is ‘genuine and subsisting. Further, if a child is to be recognised as a dependent to a person on this visa, there is a requirement for the parents to show that there is a ‘serious and compelling’ reason why the child should live in the UK.

There are specific documents you must provide as part of your application for this visa. These include the following:

• A valid passport or travel document
• A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document issued by a valid course provider

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) certificate is a very important document for the Student Visa application.

It is an electronic document issued by the university for Home Office immigration purposes. Within this document, you will receive a unique CAS number and statement, with the details of your course of study.

The document will outline your contact details, qualifications, English language level, course tuition fees, and other relevant information. After being issued your CAS, you must enrol on your chosen course within 10 days of the course start date.

Student Visa application required documents:

• Evidence of your ability to support yourself financially for the duration of your course
• Where relevant, a valid ATAS certificate
• Evidence of parental or guardian consent (if the applicant is under 18)
• Where relevant, tuberculosis test results
• Where the applicant has a financial sponsor, written consent for the application from the sponsor should be submitted
• Evidence of English language level
• Police registration certificate

Your passport or travel document must contain at least one blank page (front and back). If you are required to submit biometric information as part of the application, you may need to do this at a visa application centre or via a smartphone app.

Below is what you can expect from the visa process. As with most applications, the student visa process can involve a lot of complexity. If you have any doubts about your application, contact an immigration specialist for bespoke support or further advice with your individual case.

How to apply for a UK Student Visa

• Use the Gov.uk website to start the application process
• Pay the immigration health surcharge, biometric fee and application fee
• Book an appointment at a visa application centre

If you are outside the UK, you can only apply for a visa six months in advance of your course starting date.

Applicants are also required to pay the healthcare surcharge fee (£470 per year or £235 per six months).

As part of your application, you must provide your biometric information (facial photograph and fingerprints).

Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked to provide this information at a centre or smartphone app.

When you begin your application, you will be notified of which option you should follow.

If you are asked to provide your biometric information at a visa application centre, you may be able to receive a quicker decision on your application by paying a fee for a priority service.

Fees

The current application fee for the visa is £348. You will be required to own a valid passport or travel document to enter the UK.

There are other costs associated with the visa. One of these includes the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £470). Within this, you will have access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Waiting time

The expected waiting time for this visa (where the application is made outside the UK) is three weeks. This could be up to eight weeks for an application made inside the UK.

Restrictions

Like most visa categories, there are some restrictions on your activities while in the UK. You can find a full list of the conditions at the Gov.uk website.

If you wish to come to the UK on a Short-Term Study Visa (for example, on a short-term English language course), there is a different application process for this.

It is possible to work in the UK on this visa, but there are some restrictions on the type of work you can do and how long you can spend on the work.

Time limits on Student Visas

A person studying in the UK on this visa should not exceed a stay of over five years, with the exception of some courses, including architecture, medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and some law courses.

There are no maximum requirements for international students applying for a course above degree level. The official guidance to the Home Office caseworkers states the considerations when making a decision on a visa extension.

These include how much time was originally granted to study on the course and the length of time requested for the new course. If the total time period will exceed the maximum length of stay allowed in this category, the application is likely to be refused.

Further information can be found on the Gov.uk site.

When you are issued with a visa to study in the UK, the length of your course and the visa expiration date will be listed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If your course lasts 12 months or longer, you will be granted leave to stay for up to four months after the end of your course.

If your course is between 6-12 months, you are permitted to stay for two months after the end of the course.

You must adhere to your conditions of stay and leave the UK when the visa expires. You should not overstay your visa or you will face the risk of not being allowed back into the country in the future, or other legal consequences.

However, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a visa extension or switch your visa category, allowing you to extend your stay in the UK.

From inside the UK, it costs £475 when extending or switching to a Student Visa.

‘Academic Progress’ requirement for Student Visas

If you wish to apply to extend your visa from inside the UK, you should be able to prove that your course meets the criteria of ‘academic progress.’

This means that you are unlikely to be granted a visa extension if you wish to study a course at the same level. If, however you wish to move from an undergraduate to a postgraduate course, you are more likely to be granted an extension.

In some cases, if you can show that a course at the same level is connected in some way to your original course and require further research.

You should submit proof in the form of a degree certificate, academic transcripts, or confirmation from the course leader that you have completed the course

EU Settlement Scheme

Under new immigration rules from the UK government, EU students in the UK who were granted this visa on or before 1 January 2021 should apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. Applicants who apply for this scheme will not need a visa if they apply before the deadline of 30 June 2021.