UK Student Visa 2026: Requirements, Fees & How to Apply

What is the UK Student visa?

The UK Student visa — formally known as the Student Route — is the main immigration pathway for international students aged 16 or over who want to study at a licensed UK institution. It replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa in October 2020 and is now entirely digital: successful applicants receive an eVisa, an online record of their immigration status linked to a UKVI account, rather than a physical Biometric Residence Permit.

The Student visa is not simply a study permission. It governs how long you can remain in the UK, what work you are allowed to do, and whether you can bring family members with you. Understanding exactly what the visa covers before you apply is essential — the rules are more detailed than many applicants expect, particularly around finances and English language evidence.

The visa operates under the UK's points-based immigration system. To be granted permission, you must accumulate 70 points: 50 points for holding a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor, 10 points for meeting the financial requirement, and 10 points for meeting the English language requirement.

Eligibility: who can apply?

You can apply for a Student visa if you are aged 16 or over and meet all of the following conditions:

• You hold an unconditional offer of a place on an eligible course from a licensed student sponsor, confirmed through a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• You have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself (see the finances section below)
• You can demonstrate the required level of English language proficiency
• If you are 16 or 17, you have written consent from both parents or your legal guardian

If you are under 18 and want to study at an independent (private) school in the UK, you may be eligible for the Child Student visa instead. The Student visa does not permit study at an academy or a local authority-funded (maintained) school at any age.

Which courses qualify?

Eligible courses under the Student Route include full-time degree-level programmes at Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 or above, part-time postgraduate courses at RQF level 7 or above (at higher education providers with a track record of compliance), below-degree-level courses at RQF level 3 or above that involve at least 15 hours of organised daytime study per week, pre-sessional English courses, and recognised foundation programmes.

English language courses must involve at least 15 hours per week of organised daytime study and lead to a qualification at CEFR level B2 or above. Your institution must be on the Home Office Register of Licensed Student Sponsors — always check before you apply.

What is a CAS?

A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is a unique reference number issued by your UK university or college once you have accepted an unconditional offer. It is a digital record — not a paper document — shared directly with the Home Office. You cannot apply for a Student visa without a valid CAS.

Treat it carefully: a CAS can only be used once. If your application is refused, you will need to request a new one from your institution. Your CAS is valid for 6 months from the date it is issued, so it is important to begin your visa application promptly after receiving it. The CAS contains details of your course, the fees, and your institution — any discrepancy between the CAS and your application form can result in refusal.

Academic progression

If you are already in the UK on a Student visa and wish to apply for a new one to study a different course, UKVI applies an academic progression check. Your new course must generally be at a higher RQF level than your current one. Moving from a bachelor's degree (RQF Level 6) to a master's degree (RQF Level 7) meets this requirement. If your new course is at the same level, your sponsor must provide a written justification explaining how it represents genuine academic progression or career development.

Financial requirements

You must demonstrate that you can fund both your course fees and your living costs while in the UK. The Home Office uses fixed maintenance figures that may not reflect your actual costs — they are the minimum amounts you must show, not a budget guide.

Living costs you must show

If your course lasts fewer than 9 months, you multiply the monthly figure by the number of months (rounding partial months up). These figures are for living costs only — you must also show that you can cover your first year's tuition fees (or the full course fee if the course is less than one year).

The 28-day rule

The funds must have been held continuously in your bank account for 28 consecutive days ending no more than 31 days before you submit your application. The account must not have dropped below the required amount at any point during that period — even a single day below the threshold will likely result in a refusal. This is one of the most common reasons Student visa applications are refused.

You can use a personal bank account in your own name, a joint account you hold with another person, or an account held solely in the name of a parent or legal guardian (with a signed letter of consent and evidence of your relationship). You cannot use overdraft facilities, credit cards, shares, bonds, or pension funds as evidence of funds.

Exemptions from the financial requirement

You are exempt from demonstrating financial evidence if you have been living in the UK with valid immigration permission for 12 months or more at the time of your application and are applying from inside the UK. Official financial sponsorship from a government, the British Council, a university, or a recognised international organisation also satisfies the financial requirement, provided the sponsorship covers both fees and living costs.

Low-risk applicants

Nationals of certain countries listed in the Immigration Rules are classified as 'low-risk' applicants. These applicants do not need to submit financial evidence or academic qualifications with their application, though the Home Office can request this evidence at any point during processing. Always have the documents ready even if you are not required to submit them.

English language requirement

You must demonstrate your ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at the level required for your course. Your institution will confirm the required level and method of assessment on your CAS.

Required CEFR levels

• Degree level and above (RQF 6+): minimum CEFR level B2 in all four components
• Below degree level: minimum CEFR level B1 in all four components

Ways to meet the requirement

The most common method is taking a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider. The five Home Office approved SELT providers are: IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, Pearson, PSI Services (UK) Ltd — Skills for English UKVI, and Trinity College London. Note that a standard IELTS certificate is not the same as an IELTS SELT — it must specifically be an 'IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) purposes' test taken at an approved centre.

You may be exempt from taking a SELT if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (such as the USA, Canada, or Australia), if you hold a degree-level qualification taught in English at a UK institution or confirmed as equivalent by Ecctis (now Qualification and Language Service), or if you studied in the UK before age 18 and obtained a GCSE, A-Level, or Scottish equivalent in English.

Documents you will need

• Valid passport (must be valid at time of application and entry to the UK)
• CAS reference number from your sponsoring institution
• Bank statements or financial evidence covering the 28-day window
• SELT certificate or English language evidence (unless exempt)
• Academic certificates or transcripts as listed in your CAS
• ATAS certificate if required for your course and nationality (postgraduate sciences and related subjects)
• Parental consent letter if you are 16 or 17
• Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you are from a listed country
• Translated copies of any documents not in English or Welsh

The ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate is issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and provides security clearance for certain sensitive subject areas at master's and doctoral level. Check with your university whether your course and nationality require it — you must obtain ATAS before submitting your visa application.

Fees and costs

For a standard 3-year undergraduate course, the IHS alone amounts to £2,328 — a significant additional cost to factor into your financial planning before applying.

How to apply: step by step

Timing your application

The earliest you can apply is 6 months before your course start date if applying from outside the UK, and 3 months before if applying from inside the UK. Peak application periods — typically June to September — can see processing times extend beyond the standard 3 weeks. Applying as early as possible is strongly recommended, particularly if you are relying on a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre, which may need to be booked weeks in advance.

How long can you stay?

Time spent on a Student visa does count toward cumulative time limits — the Home Office tracks all previous Student and Tier 4 permission. The 5-year cap for degree-level study can in some circumstances be extended to 5 years and 11 months for students at higher education providers with a track record of compliance. Certain courses — including medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, architecture, and some legal qualifications — are exempt from the 5-year cap.

Work rights on a Student visa

Most students on a degree-level course at a university with a track record of compliance can work in the UK, subject to restrictions. Your exact work rights will be confirmed in your visa approval notification and shown in your eVisa — always check before starting a job.

The 20-hour limit applies across all jobs combined and is calculated on a Monday-to-Sunday basis — you cannot average hours across weeks. Exceeding the limit even once is a breach of your visa conditions and can result in cancellation of your visa and a ban on future UK entry.

What you cannot do on a Student visa

• Work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• Be self-employed, freelance, or run a business (including gig-economy work such as food delivery or ride-hailing)
• Fill a permanent vacancy (even during vacations)
• Work for more than the permitted hours during term time
• Claim public funds (benefits and pensions)
• Study at a maintained (local authority-funded) school

Bringing family members

Since January 2024, the rules on bringing dependants (a partner and children) to the UK as a student have been significantly tightened. You can bring family members only if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You are a postgraduate research student (PhD or other doctoral qualification) on a course lasting at least 9 months, at an institution with a track record of compliance
• You hold a government-sponsored scholarship covering both fees and living costs for a course lasting at least 6 months

Undergraduate students and those on taught postgraduate (master's) courses can no longer bring dependants under the Student Route. This is one of the most significant recent changes to student immigration policy and should be carefully considered before choosing a course or institution.

Dependants who are eligible must apply separately and show maintenance funds of £845 per month (London) or £680 per month (outside London) for the duration of the course, up to a maximum of 9 months.

Extending or switching your visa

You can apply to extend your Student visa from inside the UK if you are continuing your studies, for example moving from a bachelor's degree to a postgraduate qualification at the same institution. You can also apply to switch to a Student visa from certain other visa categories, including the Graduate Route, Skilled Worker, Youth Mobility Scheme, and others. You cannot switch to a Student visa from a Standard Visitor visa or the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

After your studies: the Graduate Route

On completing a qualifying course, most international students can apply for the Graduate Route — a post-study work visa that allows you to remain in the UK and work (or look for work) without needing a job offer or employer sponsorship. It is one of the most significant benefits of studying in the UK.

The Graduate Route cannot be extended and cannot be applied for from outside the UK. Application fee: £880 (rising to £937 from 8 April 2026), plus the IHS at £1,035 per year. Most graduates use the Graduate Route to find employment and then switch to a Skilled Worker visa with employer sponsorship — the main route toward Indefinite Leave to Remain and eventual British citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information purposes only and reflects our understanding of UK Student visa rules as of March 2026. Immigration rules change regularly — always verify current requirements on GOV.UK or consult a qualified UK immigration adviser before applying. Moving to the UK is not a regulated immigration adviser and does not provide legal advice.