UK Student Visa FAQs

A Student visa (formerly Tier 4) lets you study in the UK at a licensed education provider. You must be 16 or over and hold an unconditional offer, confirmed by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), from an institution on the Home Office register of licensed student sponsors. Children aged 4 to 17 attending independent schools apply for a Child Student visa instead.

You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts if you are outside the UK, or up to 3 months before if you are extending or switching from inside the UK. Apply as early as possible — your CAS is only valid for 6 months from issue.

Most decisions come within 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK and 8 weeks inside the UK. Paying for the priority (£500, about 5 working days) or super priority (£1,000, next working day) service speeds this up where available.

• A valid passport or travel document
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference
• Financial evidence meeting the 28-day rule
• Proof of English language ability
• ATAS certificate, TB test certificate and parental consent, where required

No. Each CAS is unique to a single visa application and is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued. If your application is refused, ask your institution to issue a new CAS before reapplying.

No — the UK stopped issuing physical BRP cards at the end of 2024. Your immigration status is now a digital eVisa. You create a UKVI account, link it to your passport, and use the ‘view and prove’ service to show your status to universities, employers and landlords.

• Application fee: £558 (from 8 April 2026), whether you apply from outside the UK or extend/switch inside the UK
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 per year (discounted student rate)
• Optional priority decision: £500, or super priority: £1,000

Estimate your total with our visa fee calculator.

You must show one year of course fees (from your CAS) plus living costs of:

• £1,529 per month for courses in London (max £13,761 for 9 months)
• £1,171 per month outside London (max £10,539 for 9 months)

The funds must be held for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of your application. Money already paid to your sponsor for fees or university accommodation is deducted.

Yes — the Immigration Health Surcharge (£776 per year for students) is paid as part of your application and gives you full access to the UK’s National Health Service on the same basis as residents. Applications from outside the UK for 6 months or less do not pay the surcharge.

Yes, with limits:

• Degree level and above: up to 20 hours per week during term time
• Below degree level: up to 10 hours per week during term time
• Full-time during official vacations for both

Self-employment and professional sport are not allowed. Your exact conditions are stated in your eVisa.

• Degree-level study: usually up to 5 years in total at degree level
• Below degree level: usually up to 2 years

Your visa normally covers your course length plus a short period afterwards (4 months for courses longer than 12 months).

Yes. You can extend to continue studying (for example progressing from a bachelor’s to a master’s) if you have a new CAS from a licensed sponsor and can show academic progression. Most people in the UK on other visa types can also switch into the Student route from inside the UK — the extension/switch fee is the same £558.

For an English language course lasting 6 to 11 months you can use the Short-term study visa (£228 plus health surcharge). Courses under 6 months can usually be done as a visitor. You cannot work on either route, and you cannot extend or switch into a Student visa from inside the UK.

Only if you will study certain sensitive science, engineering or technology subjects at postgraduate level and you are not from an exempt country. Your university will tell you if your course needs Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance — apply for it before your visa, as it can take several weeks.

Only in limited cases. Since January 2024, dependants are allowed only if you are studying a PhD, other doctorate or research-based higher degree, or you are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months. Each dependant pays the £558 fee plus the health surcharge and needs additional maintenance funds (£845/month in London, £680/month outside, up to 9 months).

Yes. After successfully completing an eligible degree you can apply for the Graduate visa from inside the UK. If you apply on or before 31 December 2026 it lasts 2 years; applications from 1 January 2027 get 18 months. PhD and doctoral graduates receive 3 years. It costs £937 plus the standard £1,035-per-year health surcharge.

You must be in the UK on a Student visa and have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course with a licensed sponsor that has a track record of compliance. You can apply as soon as your university confirms your completion to the Home Office — you do not need to wait for graduation or your certificate.

Yes. The Graduate visa allows work at any skill level, including freelancing and self-employment (professional sport excepted). It cannot be extended, but you can switch into other routes — most commonly the Skilled Worker visa with a licensed employer, or the partner route if you qualify.

No. You must be physically present in the UK, still holding your Student visa, when you apply.

Search our student sponsor list, which mirrors the official Home Office register and is refreshed automatically every day. You can also browse sponsors by city or institution type. If an institution is not on the register, it cannot issue a CAS and you cannot get a Student visa to study there.

For official information visit GOV.UK or your local visa application centre. Your chosen university’s international student office is also an excellent free source of advice. For complex cases, use a regulated immigration adviser.