The UK Student visa (formerly Tier 4) is the immigration permission international students need to enrol in a full-time course at a UK university or college that holds a Home Office-approved sponsor licence. It covers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, foundation years, language courses of six months or more, and certain professional programmes. For the 2026 intake the Home Office received over 350,000 student visa applications — demand that continues despite tighter scrutiny — making clear, accurate preparation more important than ever.
This guide walks you through every stage: what the visa covers, how to obtain your CAS, the exact maintenance funds you must show, the documents you need, the fees you’ll pay, and what happens after you graduate.
Who needs a UK Student visa?
If you are a non-EEA, non-Swiss national and your course lasts longer than six months, you almost certainly need a Student visa. Citizens of Ireland are exempt. EU/EEA citizens who arrived after 31 December 2020 and have not yet applied for the EU Settlement Scheme also require one. A Standard Visitor visa does not permit enrolment in a programme that spans more than six months — using one to study is a common and serious mistake.
Courses of six months or less (and some English language courses under eleven months taken outside London) may be covered by a Standard Visitor visa, but confirm with your institution before assuming.
Step 1 — Get your CAS from a licensed sponsor
Your application cannot begin without a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is a unique 14-character reference number generated by your university through the Home Office’s Sponsor Management System. It is not a physical letter; it is a database record.
How to get a CAS:
- Accept an unconditional offer from a Home Office-licensed student sponsor.
- Pay any required deposit (most universities require this before issuing a CAS).
- Complete your university’s CAS request form — you will supply your passport details, UK address (if applicable), and a declaration of how you meet the financial requirement.
- Your institution issues the CAS number, typically 2–6 weeks after you submit the request.
Universities can issue a CAS no earlier than six months before your course start date (overseas applicants) or three months (in-country applicants). Applying for a visa before you have a CAS will result in a refused application.
Check your institution is on the Register of Licensed Sponsors before accepting an offer — this is the definitive list.
Step 2 — Prove your English language ability
All Student visa applicants must demonstrate English at CEFR level B2 or above through an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). The most widely used is IELTS for UKVI, which requires a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) at B2 — not just in the overall band score.
Approved SELT providers (2026):
- IELTS SELT Consortium (IELTS for UKVI)
- Trinity College London
- Pearson (PTE Academic UKVI)
- LanguageCert
- PSI Services
Important change from March 2026: All SELT tests for UK visa purposes must now be delivered fully by computer — paper-based sittings are no longer accepted. Check test centre availability in your country early, as slots can be limited.
Your test result is valid for two years from the date of issue. Some exemptions exist — for example, if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, etc.) or you have previously completed a qualification taught in English.
If you are applying for a degree-level or above course, many universities also accept their own internal English language assessment in lieu of a SELT, depending on their licence conditions. Confirm with your institution’s international admissions team.
Step 3 — Show you can fund your studies (the maintenance requirement)
The UK Home Office requires you to hold a minimum cash balance — called the maintenance requirement — for at least 28 consecutive days, with the last day of that 28-day period falling within 31 days of your visa application date. Funds held in investments, pension accounts, or property do not count; the balance must be in a bank or building society account accessible on demand.
Monthly amounts required (2026):
| Location of institution | Per month | Maximum (9 months capped) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
The cap at nine months means you never need to show more than £13,761 (London) or £10,539 (outside London) regardless of how long your course is. For courses shorter than nine months, multiply the applicable rate by the number of months remaining.
What counts towards funds:
- Personal bank/savings accounts (yours or your parents/guardians’)
- Official financial sponsorship letters from a government body, international organisation, or university bursary — your CAS will note if you have a formal financial sponsor.
If you use a parent’s or guardian’s account, include a birth certificate or other document showing the family relationship alongside 28 days of bank statements.
For a deeper look at how to evidence funds across different account types and countries, see the Proof of Funds for a student visa guide.
Exemption: If you have been in the UK on any visa for at least 12 months before you apply, you are exempt from the financial maintenance requirement entirely.
Step 4 — Gather your documents
Required for all applicants:
- Current, valid passport (or other accepted travel document)
- CAS number from your sponsor
- Proof of maintenance funds (28-day bank statements)
- English language test certificate (if not exempt)
Required in some cases:
- ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate — mandatory for certain STEM and defence- related postgraduate courses if you hold a nationality specified by the Foreign Office
- Tuberculosis test results — required for applicants from 91 listed countries (check gov.uk/tb-test-visa)
- Parental consent letters and birth certificate — if you are under 18
- Previous visa history documentation
Organise these documents digitally before you start your online application; uploading at the end of a part-completed form is common and avoids lost progress.
Step 5 — Apply online and pay fees
Application fee (from 8 April 2026): £558, whether applying from outside or inside the UK. This increased from £524 on 8 April 2026 as part of the government’s annual immigration fee review.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £776 per year, charged for the full duration of your visa. For a standard three-year degree you will pay approximately £2,328 on top of the £558 application fee before you even pack a bag. The IHS gives you access to NHS treatment on the same basis as a UK resident — a substantial real-world benefit worth factoring into your cost-of-study budget.
Apply at: gov.uk/student-visa. You must apply online; paper applications are not accepted.
Biometrics: Most applicants outside the UK must book a biometric enrolment appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) after submitting the online form. The appointment is where you provide fingerprints and a photograph; your passport is typically returned (or kept for visa stamping) at this point.
Processing times
| Application location | Typical decision time |
|---|---|
| Outside UK | 3 weeks |
| Inside UK (extension/switch) | 8 weeks |
You can apply from outside the UK up to six months before your course start date, and from inside the UK up to three months before. Applying as early as your CAS allows is recommended, especially during peak intake windows (August–September for September starts).
Priority service options — typically an additional fee for faster processing at VACs — exist in some countries. Check the VAC website for your country to see what is available.
Working while you study
A UK Student visa gives most students permission to work alongside their studies, subject to weekly hour limits:
- Degree-level course at a higher education institution: up to 20 hours per week during term time (full-time during vacations and if you are on a sandwich-year placement)
- Below degree-level courses: up to 10 hours per week during term time
- Foundation, pre-sessional, or preparation programmes: typically 10 hours per week
You cannot work as a self-employed person, set up a business, or fill a permanent full-time role. Your employer will check your visa via the Home Office online service. Check your specific CAS conditions, as they can restrict or expand on the standard limits for your programme type.
After you graduate: the Graduate Route
The Graduate Route (formerly known as the Post-Study Work visa) lets you remain in the UK to work — or look for work — after completing a qualifying degree at a licensed sponsor.
Current duration (as of 2026):
- Bachelor’s or taught Master’s degree: 2 years
- PhD or doctoral-level qualification: 3 years
Important upcoming change: From 1 January 2027, the Graduate Route for bachelor’s and taught master’s graduates will be shortened to 18 months. PhD holders retain their three-year entitlement. If your graduation window straddles this date, plan accordingly — apply for the Graduate Route while it is still valid at two years if you can.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Unquoted CAS number: Your CAS is valid for a limited window — confirm the exact expiry date with your university and apply before it lapses.
- 28-day clock management: Calculate backwards from your planned application date. If you are waiting for a pay day or a fund transfer to land, factor in bank processing delays.
- ATAS oversight: Forgetting to apply for ATAS (which can take 20+ working days) is one of the most preventable causes of delayed applications for postgraduate STEM students.
- VAC appointment delays: In high-volume countries (India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China), VAC appointments can be booked out weeks in advance during peak season.
- Switching from Standard Visitor: You generally cannot switch to a Student visa from inside the UK if you arrived on a Standard Visitor visa. You would normally need to leave and apply overseas.
For mock interview preparation, review the UK student visa interview questions to practise explaining your study plans, funding, and post-study intentions — the areas officers focus on most.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my family? If you are a full-time degree student at a higher education provider and your course is at least nine months long, you may be able to bring a partner and/or children as dependants. They must apply separately, pay their own IHS, and pass their own suitability checks.
What happens if my visa is refused? A refusal is not the end. The refusal letter will cite the specific immigration rules that were not met. In most cases you can re-apply with stronger evidence; some refusals carry a right of administrative review. See the visa refusal and reapplication guide for general advice on reading refusal notices and building a stronger second application.
Do I need to report to the police? Some nationalities are still required to register with the police (UKVI Police Registration). Check whether this condition appears on your visa vignette (the sticker in your passport); if it does, you must register within seven days of arriving in the UK.
Can I change courses once in the UK? Generally yes, but your sponsor must update your CAS record for any material change to your programme (including level, subject, or institution). Some changes require a new visa application.
Ready to start your UK application? Join the VisaMet waitlist for early access to our AI-powered eligibility checker, document screener, and mock visa interview tool — built to help students from every corridor prepare a stronger, faster application.
All fees and requirements are based on official UK Home Office guidance current as of June 2026. Always verify the latest figures at gov.uk/student-visa before submitting your application.