Visa Guide

UK Student Visa or UK Visa Types:

According to preliminary data released by the Department of Home Affairs, around 44,000 applications for a student visa were received in the last 6 months of 2022. Students, who wish to study in the UK for more than 6 months, need to know about the following 3 UK Study Visas or UK visa types:

• Short-term Study Visa: Short-term UK Study Visa is for those who want to study an English language course for up to 11 months
• Student Visa: This visa category is for students coming to the UK for higher education. It was formerly termed as a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, popularly called a Tier 4 Student Visa
• Child Student Visa: This visa is for children who are between 4 and 17 years and wish to study at an independent school in the UK. It was formerly termed as Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

UK Student Visa Eligibility

• A student must have received an offer of a full-time academic course from a licensed student sponsor
• A student must have sufficient financial resources to support himself/ herself during the duration of the course
• A student must be able to speak, read, write and understand English
• If a student is aged 16 or 17, he/ she needs consent from his/ her parents

UK Student Visa Cost:

If students apply from outside the UK, the fee for the UK Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 (General) Student Visa) is £363 (approx. Rs 34,594). In addition, you have to pay a healthcare cost based on the duration of your stay.

The methods of payment are stated below.

• Online using either a MasterCard or Visa card.
• Through demand draft at the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank. 
• Through Cash at the visa applicaticentreter and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank. 

Students must note that if they wish to switch to a UK Student Visa from inside the UK, they will have to pay a fee of £490.

UK Student Visa: Documents Required

UK Student Visa Requirements: Applying for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documentation than applying for a tourist visa. Aspirants must provide the required documentation, as well as supporting financial and academic records. Before heading to the consulate for the visa interview, make sure to review the UK Student Visa checklist.

You should have the following documents before applying:

• A completed student visa application form
• If you’re below 18 years of age, you need to get proof of your parents’ or guardian’s consent
• A letter of acceptance on the course – Your approved education provider will issue you an acceptance letter (CAS or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and a visa letter, both of which are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study.
• The visa letter must be issued within six months of your application.
• Students must apply for a study visa to the United Kingdom within 6 months of receiving their CAS.
• Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
  • Proof of funds – The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study as well as your living expenses for up to 9 months (1 academic year).
  • The amount you will need is depends on whether you are applying as a child or an adult, as well as whether you will be studying in or outside of London.
  • You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days.
  • The end of that 28-day period must be no more than one month before the application deadline.
  • You must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees) for a period of up to nine months i.e. £12,006 for nine months ( £1,334 per month) if you are living in London and £9,207 for nine months (£1,023 per month) if you are living outside London.
  • However, if a student has been in the UK, with a valid visa, for at least 12 months, he/ she does not have to show proof of funds for visa application

• The visa fees payment confirmation receipt
• ATAS certificate if your nationality and course need it
• Payslips
• Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
• Scoresheet of exams like TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.

Types of Courses valid under UK Student Visa

• A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is below degree level and organised daytime study of minimum of 15 hours a week
• A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above
• A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above which shares the same platform as that of a UK higher education programme
• A part-time programme which would help to obtain a qualification which is above degree level 
• A known foundation course for PG doctors or dentists
• An English language programme at B2 level or above in the Common European Framework of Reference Languages

UK Student Visa Process: How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a UK Student Visa. UK Study Visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged.

Step 1 – The first step is to check if you qualify for the student visa or not. You need to show that you have:

• A confirmed place at the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).
• Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.

Step 2 – Get your documents ready

Step 3 – Apply online: You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website. When you have completed your online application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa applicaticentreter. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.

Step 4 – Pay your application fee. There are 4 ways to pay your visa application fee.

• Payment at Standard Chartered Bank – You can pay your fee at some branches of Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favour of the ‘British High Commission’.
• Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank – You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favour of the ‘British High Commission’.
• Payment at the visa applicaticentreter – You can pay the visa application fee at the visa applicaticentreter when you submit your visa application.
• Pay online – You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Step 5 – Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date. You must book and attend an appointment at the visa application centre to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.

Students are allowed to withdraw their applications. For this, they need to contact UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration). If their application processing has not started, their fee will be refunded.

UK Point-based Visa System:

Students should be informed that the UK Visa is a point-based visa system, and that applicants must meet all of the Immigration Rules and have a total of 40 points.

UK Student Visa Part-time Work

If you are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or higher at a UK college that is on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies,’ you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week for (UK Student Visa) and full-time during vacations or summer breaks. Students should be aware that if their programme is below the UK degree level (for example, foundation or pre-sessional English), they can work for 10 hours per week. Furthermore, students with a Short-term Study Visa are not permitted to work.

UK Student Visa: Dependents:

The spouse or children are granted a Dependent Visa for the same period of time as the principal applicant. This only applies to the Master’s degree application. Your course must be at least 9 months long and at RQF level 7 or higher. Undergraduates cannot take dependents with them to the UK.

Your dependents apply as a ‘dependent on a Points Based System migrant’ if you have a student visa. Each dependent must submit a separate application and pay a separate fee.

Along with your own maintenance funds, you need to show an additional £845 (within London) or £680 (outside London) for each dependent for each month that you are applying for, up to a maximum of 9 months.

If you already have a scholarship, you can use it to cover the living expenses of your dependents. The scholarship letter must state that the money are also for your dependents.

UK Student Visa: Additional Information:

If you want to work there after finishing your education, you must first apply for a Graduate Visa, followed by a Tier 2 visa for Highly Skilled Workers. So, in addition to your student visa, you do not receive a work permit. A work visa must be applied for separately. If the leave is for more than a year, your spouse may work in the UK. If your visa was granted for less than 12 months or you are participating in a programme of study below the degree level, your spouse will be unable to work in the UK.

Premium Visa Services:

While a normal UK Study Visa can take at least three weeks to obtain, students can opt for the Priority Visa Service or the Super Priority Visa Service to shorten the visa processing time for an added fee. UK Visas and Immigration aims to make a decision on your Priority Visa application and contact you to let you know that your passport is ready for collection within 5 working days of receiving your biometric information. The identical procedure is accomplished in 24 hours under the Super Priority Visa Application. Candidates should note that the cost of this service is separate from the visa application fee and is non-refundable if the visa application is refused.

• UK Priority Visa has an additional cost of £500
• UK Super Priority Visa has an additional cost of £800
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 How can I check the status of my UK student visa application?

The Embassy will review your application before notifying you of the outcome. Depending on your nationality, your visa application may take up to 2-3 weeks to be processed. To avoid rejection, ensure that everything on your application is completed and not pending. Certain circumstances may require more time. You will be able to trace your application number using your receipt. For the same, you will need to provide the reference number that was given to you on the day of your appointment. Those who choose for SMS services will be notified by SMS and email.

Scholarships for Studying in the UK:

The education system of the United Kingdom is regarded as one of the best in the world. However, most international students need financial assistance to continue their education. To help international students accomplish their goals of studying in the United Kingdom, various sorts of scholarships are available. The following is a list of some of the best fellowships for studying in the United Kingdom.

 UK Student Visa: When to Apply for Visa Extension:

Applicants wanting to apply for a UK student visa should do so at least three months before the start of their course and within six months of getting a CAS. Make sure you apply before your current visa expires. Also, your new course should be starting within 28 days of your present visa’s expiry. You may stay in the United Kingdom until a decision is made.

UK Student Visa FAQs

• Q. What are the eligibility criteria for getting a UK Student visa?
  Following are the basic requirements for UK Student Visa:

• Candidates must have an unconditional offer from a recognized educational institute for pursuing a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor
• Appropriate funds to support yourself and for the course

• Q. Do I need a UK student visa to study in the UK?
  If you are a national from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you do need a visa to pursue your higher education in the UK. Students from all other nationalities need to have a valid UK student visa to study in the UK.
• Q. If a student is going just for one semester, in that case also he/she needs a visa?
  Yes, even if you are going for a short-term say less than six months, then you can apply for a Short Term Study Visa.
• Q. At the latest when one can apply for a study visa?
  One can apply for 6 months before the start of their course. Also, candidates usually get a decision on their visa within 3 weeks.
• Q. How early one can come to the UK before the program starts? And for how long one can stay here?
  Students need to note the following points:

• If your course lasts 6 months or less then you can come to the UK up to one week before the beginning of your course.
• If your course lasts, more than 6 months then can come to the UK for up to one month before your course starts.

• Q. What is a CAS document?
  Your educational institute will send you a reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) once they admitted you for the course. Candidates need to enter this number on their visa application. Read more about CAS here
• Q. What are the conditions to extend my UK Student Visa?
  In order to extend your UK Student Visa, you need to fulfil the following conditions:

• You must be in the UK on Student Visa
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must have an unconditional offer
• You must fulfill academic progress requirement
• In case if your stay in the UK has been of less than 12 months, then you need to provide financial proofs as well

• Q. What is the fee for UK Student Visa extension? In how much time can I expect a decision?
  In order to apply for UK Student Visa extension, you are required to pay a fees of £490. You also need to pay a healthcare surcharge. If you wish to receive a decision in the normal course of time, you can expect to wait for 8 weeks.
• Q. What proof of English language proficiency do I need to provide?
  In order to prove your English language proficiency, you need to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider or have a GCSE A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, etc. Amongst Secure English Language Test (SELT), you can opt for one of the following:

• LanguageCert
• Pearson
• PSI Services (UK) Ltd
• IELTS SELT Consortium

• Q. What are the documents required for UK Student Visa?
  The following documents are required for UK Student Visa application:

• A valid passport
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Proof of finances
• Parent/ guardian consent if you are less than 18 years of age
• Tuberculosis test results

• Q. What are the financial requirements for UK Student Visa application?
  The following points will give you an idea of the financial requirements for UK Student Visa application:

• £1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) in case if you are pursuing a course in London
• £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) in case if you are pursuing a course outside London
• If you bring your dependants, then you need to prove an addition £845 a month (for up to 9 months) in case if you are pursuing a course in London and £680 a month (for up to 9 months), in case if you are pursuing a course outside London