Student Visa

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 General student visa.

You can apply for a Student Visa to study in the UK if you are 16 or over, you have enrolled in a course with a licensed institution and have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course. 

We urge you to find a school or institution that is adequate for your needs, and follow the admission process through their application systems. You can contact them and they will assist you. Major institutions have departments to assist potential international students with their queries regarding visas and studies. 

Once you have enrolled to a course you will have to pay your fees (or a part of these) for the institution to issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). With your CAS you can then apply for your Student Visa.

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. You will usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You must provide:

• Your current passport or travel document.
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies – CAS.
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course.
• You may also need: tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test to enter the UK, click here for more information. 

Depending on your circumstances and studies, you may require additional evidence such as evidence of living in the UK, ATAS certificates, evidence from any financial sponsor if you have a sponsorship, etc.

You may be able to:

• Extend your visa if you are eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK.
• Switch to a Student visa from another visa if you are already in the UK (except tourist visa).
• Switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for 2 or 3 years after successfully completing your university course.

It costs:

• £524 to apply for a Student Visa from outside the UK + NHS fee as explained below.
• £524 to extend or switch to a Student Visa from inside the UK + NHS fee as explained below.

You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you including partners and children.

Additionally, you must pay for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (NHS fee) as part of your application. How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts, for more information please click here.

For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa 

Please get in touch if you have further questions and we will offer you attention tailored to your needs. 

Short-term study visa

In addition to the Student Visa above described, you can also apply for a Short-term study visa to study English language in the UK if you are 16 or over. This visa is for English language courses only lasting up to 11 months.

Please note that you cannot work (including unpaid work), study any other course or change your course, bring family members to the UK with you, apply for benefits and this visa cannot be extended.

It costs:

• £214 to apply for a Short-term study visa from outside the UK + You’ll also have to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (NHS fee)  as part of your online application. 

You must provide:

• Your current passport or travel document.
• Evidence that you have been accepted into an English language course within an accredited institution (hyperlink to: https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english/your-course) that will last longer than 6 months and up to 11 months.
• Proof that you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your return journey.
• Evidence of your proposed accommodation in the UK during your course. 
• You may also need: tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you’re from a country where you have to take the TB test to enter the UK, click here for more information. 

For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english

Please note that if you are under 18 you will need to provide additional documents to apply for a Student Visa or for a Short-term study visa.

Graduate visa

This visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for 2 or 3 years after successfully completing your university studies. 

To apply for this visa you will need to:

• Be in the UK with a Student Visa
• Complete your university studies
• Your passport or travel document
• Your BRP (if you have one)
• The CAS you used to apply for your Student Visa

You can apply once your education provider has confirmed to the Home Office that you have completed your studies, even if you have not yet graduated or have your certificate. 

Your Graduate visa will be granted for 2 years after completing most university courses and for 3 years if you have a PhD or doctoral qualification. 

It costs:

• £880 to apply from within the UK (you can ONLY apply for this visa from within the UK) + You’ll also have to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (NHS fee)  as part of your online application. It costs £1,035 per year, meaning you will have to pay £2,070 for a 2-year visa and £3,105 for a 3-year visa. 

With this visa you can work in most jobs, be self-employed, open your own business, do voluntary work and travel in and out of the UK as you pleased. You cannot apply for benefits or work as a professional sportsperson. 

This visa cannot be extended but you can change to a different visa, generally to the Skilled Worker visa (hyperlink to Skilled Worker visa page in our website).

Your partner and children can continue to be your dependants with this visa in the UK, as long as they are already your dependants on your Student Visa.  They will have to pay for their own application and NHS fee. 

For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa