UK Student Visa 2024: Types, Application Process & Eligibility

Royalty, cups of tea and diversity are some things that make going to the UK appealing. But the United Kingdom is a lot more than just some tourist destination. With most of the top 10 universities in the world located here, studying in the UK is no doubt the dream of many who wish to study abroad. Those who wish to study here will require a UK Student visa before arriving in this country. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before you apply. 

What is a UK Student visa?

If you are 16 years of age or older and have been given an offer of a spot on a course by an authorised student sponsor, you may apply for a student visa to study in the UK without a doubt. Right? Having the resources—which will vary depending on your situation—to support yourself and pay for your degree is one of the major points of consideration while going in for the UK study visa process. We have listed the most common reasons for UK visa rejections for you to stay immune and follow your dreams worry-free. Find out more about UK student visa in depth with our UK student visa guide below. 

Types of Student Visas to Apply in UK

• Student Visa (General)

Previously known as a Tier 4 visa, this type of UK student visa is for students aged 16 or above who want to study at the post-secondary level. While you navigate through the blog further, here is a student guide on acquiring a tier 4 UK student visa that might help

• Child Student Visa

It was previously known as the Tier 4 child visa. This is one of the types of student visa UK this UK student visa is valid for students between 4 years to 17 years studying at the secondary level 

• Short-term Student Visa

This type of UK student visa is very helpful in the UK study visa process for students who want to enrol in short courses of six months or English language programmes with up to eleven months' duration

How to Apply

Applying for a UK student visa is a tedious process but we all know the fruits that you are about to reap post your acceptance letter from your dream college or university and fetching the visa. Thus, it’s all worth it, isn’t it? Let’s dive into the process of the same:

Step 1: Apply to your chosen university and receive an unconditional offer.
Step 2: Get a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) once you accept the offer.
Step 3: Begin the UK student visa application process.
Step 4: Pay an Immigration Health Surcharge fee as part of your application.
Step 5: Prove your knowledge of the English language.
Step 6: Complete your application and get it accepted. 

Eligibility requirements

To be able to get a student visa, you must satisfy the immigration rules for the Student route points-based system. This requires that you score assessment ‘points’ against three sets of objective criteria to achieve an overall pass of 70 points. You can also check this list for the UK study visa requirements.
The following checklist will help you determine if you are eligible:

Acceptance Letter to a recognized institution

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), issued by the institution, serves as proof. 

The financial mean to pay for your stay

You need enough money to cover your living expenses for your stay in the UK and the money needed to pay for the course. 

Proficiency in English

You must complete an English Proficiency Test from an authorised vendor, such as CEFR or IELTS, while applying for the visa. Students seeking a degree-level programme need a CEFR B2 level or an overall IELTS score of 5.5.

UK Student Visa Application Process

If you live outside the UK, you can apply up to six months before your courses start. Before going to a Visa Application Center in your country to submit your biometrics, you must begin the online application on the UK government's website.
Your education provider will provide a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once they have extended you a spot on the programme. When registering online, you must input this number. Depending on your country of residency, you will receive instructions on how to proceed after submitting an online application. Parents or legal guardians must give their permission to applicants for child student visas.

UK student visa fees and costs

The UK student visa fee is £363 if you apply from outside the country and £490 if you do so from within the country. Each additional member of your family who joins you must pay their charge. While you check your finances, please learn how to open a bank account in UK. You must also demonstrate that you have the financial resources to support your stay and pay the visa fee. You must also take care of the student visa UK age limit for a zero obstacle process when you begin to apply for UK student visa.

UK Student Visa Checklist

To get your UK student visa, you should make sure that you have the following documents: 

• A valid passport
• Academic certificates and transcripts
• Tuberculosis screening certificate (applicable for some countries)
• Financial proof (for funding your studies)
• Receipt of immigration health surcharge payments form
• English language proficiency test (IELTS) mentioned in the CAS form
• Two photographs (passport-size)
• Original birth certificate (with translation for non-English document)

Students under 18 also need the following documents:

• Proof of parental consent 
• Proof of your parent or legal guardian's relationship with you

Timeline for visa processing

It will take about 3 weeks to hear back about your UK student visa application if you submit it from outside the UK. It will take about 8 weeks to decide on your application if you submit it from within the UK (switch to a student visa). If you are still thinking about applying to the UK, our student guide on colleges that admits without an IELTS score may be of great help.

How long is a UK Student Visa valid?

According to your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and the uk student visa new rules 2023, the length of your visa depends on how long your study lasts. Based on the length of the course, the following table displays the additional post-study time that is awarded at the end of a UK student visa. 

A Flourish table

Can you extend your UK student visa?

To stay longer and pursue a different programme of study, you can extend your visa. This applies even if you have a general student visa right now. Your UK study visa renewal will also incur additional costs, including a 475 GBP extension fee and a 300 GBP annual immigration health surcharge. Verification with biometrics costs 19.20 GBP. Also, if you are extending your stay to launch your dream career or pursue your studies further, you might need to get a UK sim card.

To extend your visa, you must:

• Possess a (General) UK student visa.
• Possess a confirmation of acceptance for studies, which proves that you have an unconditional offer of a spot in a course from a licenced student sponsor.
• Demonstrate that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course (academic progress requirements).

How long can you stay after your UK student visa expires?

The UK’s Graduate Route welcomes international students to apply to work during their stay in the UK or look for work upon graduation. International students with an undergraduate or master’s degree from the UK can apply to stay in the UK for up to two years after their studies. PhD graduates can apply to stay for up to three years. 

Can you work with a UK student visa?

Student visa holders can work either full-time or 20 hours per week during the academic year. Holders of Child Visa Routes who are 16 years of age or older are permitted to work full-time during the summer and 10 hours part-time during the school year. Students with short-term study visas cannot work. 

A Flourish table

Although the process of applying for a UK student visa is not that difficult as long as you have all the required documents, it is extremely important to note that the entire application process can be quite time-consuming and lengthy, so make sure to start the process as soon as you can. Ready to set off on your journey to study in the UK and explore its top universities? You know what you need to do next. Just like you are applying for your UK visa, make sure to also book your student accommodation early and avoid the waitlist! You can also read our blog on how to become a UK resident as a student.