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You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you鈥檙e 16 or over and you:

• have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
• have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
• can speak, read, write and understand English
• have consent from your parents if you鈥檙e 16 or 17 - you鈥檒l need evidence of this when you apply

This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

When to apply

When you can apply depends on whether you鈥檙e applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.

You鈥檒l usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

How long you can stay

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you鈥檝e already completed in the UK.

If you鈥檙e 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it鈥檚 below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

Read the guidance to find out exactly how long you can stay.

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

• extend your visa if you鈥檙e eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK
• switch to a Student visa from another visa if you鈥檙e already in the UK
• switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course

When you can travel to the UK

You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:

• up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
• up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months

You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.

Fees

It costs:

• 拢490 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK
• 拢490 to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK

You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.

Healthcare surcharge

You鈥檒l also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

How much you pay depends on how long your visa lasts.

Your partner and children

You may be able to bring your partner and children (鈥榙ependants鈥�).

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer

You may be able to work - how much depends on what you鈥檙e studying and whether you鈥檙e working in or out of term-time.

You cannot:

• claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
• work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• be self-employed
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

If your application is successful, you鈥檒l be told what you can and cannot do on a Student visa.

You must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor.

To prove this, your education provider will send you a reference number (called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)) once they鈥檝e offered you a place on the course. You need a CAS before you can apply for your visa.

Courses you can study

You can do one of the following courses:

• a full-time course leading to a qualification that鈥檚 below degree level (RQF level 3, 4 or 5) with at least 15 hours a week of organised daytime study

• a full-time course leading to a qualification that鈥檚 degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8)

• a full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8) that鈥檚 equivalent to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas

• a part-time course leading to a qualification that鈥檚 above degree level (RQF level 7 or above)

• a recognised foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists

• an English language course at level B2 or above in the

You can also apply for this visa if you鈥檙e taking up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

You may also need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate if you鈥檙e studying or researching sensitive topics at RQF level 7 or above.

Postgraduate doctors and dentists

You can apply for this visa if you鈥檙e sponsored to do a recognised foundation programme and you鈥檝e:

• finished a recognised UK degree in medicine or dentistry
• received that degree from a registered student sponsor
• spent your final year and at least 1 other year of studies leading to that degree in the UK

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

Once they鈥檝e offered you a place on the course, your education provider will send you a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

You must enter this reference number on your visa application.

You must apply for your visa within 6 months of receiving your CAS.

You must have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself in the UK.

How much money you need depends on your circumstances and what you鈥檙e applying for.

Course fee

You need enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to prove you have this money for your visa application.

Money to support yourself (鈥榝inancial requirement鈥�)

You鈥檒l need to show you have enough money to support yourself - unless you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application.

How much money you need depends on where you will be studying. You鈥檒l need either:

• 拢1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• 拢1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

If you鈥檙e boarding at a residential independent school, you鈥檒l need to pay boarding fees instead. The amount you need to pay will be on your CAS.

London means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you鈥檒l need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company.

Read the guidance on finances for student applications for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

When you do not need to prove you have money to support yourself

You do not need to prove the financial requirement if:

• you鈥檝e had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of your Student visa application - you must currently be in the UK
• you鈥檙e applying as a student union sabbatical officer
• you鈥檙e applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised foundation programme

If you鈥檙e from a country listed under the 鈥榙ifferential evidence requirement鈥�

You do not need to prove you have enough money to support yourself if you鈥檙e a British national overseas or from one of the following countries or territories:

• Australia
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Croatia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• The Dominican Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

However, you might be asked to provide this evidence before you get a decision on your application.

If you do need to provide it, you鈥檒l be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after you鈥檝e submitted your application.

Read the guidance on finances for student applications for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

You must prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

• passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
• having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English, gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under 18
• having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English - if you studied abroad, you鈥檒l need to for confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor鈥檚 degree, master鈥檚 degree or PhD

Level of English

You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a certain level on the .

What you鈥檙e studying	Level
Degree level or above	Equivalent to CEFR level B2
Below degree level	CEFR level B1

If you鈥檙e studying with a Higher Education Provider

If you鈥檙e studying at degree level or above, your Higher Education Provider (HEP) can assess your level of English themselves. This means they may ask you to do a different test.

This must still be equivalent to a CEFR level B2.

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you鈥檙e from one of the following countries or territories, or you鈥檝e completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of them:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• the Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• the British overseas territories
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• UK
• USA

You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies:

• you鈥檙e a national of Canada
• you鈥檙e applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA
• you proved your level of English in a previous visa application

When you apply for your Student visa you must provide:

• a current passport or other valid travel documentation
• a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider

You may also need to provide:

• proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
• a valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it
• proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you鈥檙e under 18
• proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you鈥檙e under 18
• your tuberculosis test results
• written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you鈥檝e received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) at a visa application centre. You鈥檒l be told if you need to do this when you apply.

If you鈥檙e under 18

If you鈥檙e under 18 you鈥檒l need written consent from both parents or legal guardians (or one parent if they have sole responsibility).

This must include their consent for:

• your visa application
• your living and care arrangements in the UK
• your travel to the UK

You鈥檒l also need to provide a copy of your birth certificate (or another government issued document) that shows the names of your parents.

You must apply online for a Student visa.

Check which documents you鈥檒l need to apply.

Apply outside the UK

As part of your application, you鈥檒l need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and what type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

How long it takes to get a decision

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply inside the UK

You may be able to apply to:

• extend your Student visa
• switch to a Student visa from another type of visa

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision .

After you apply

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Your partner and children (鈥榙ependants鈥�) may be able to apply to come to the UK or stay longer in the UK.

You must be one of the following:

• a government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months
• a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer

If your postgraduate level course starts on or after 1 January 2024, it must be either:

• a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8)
• a research-based higher degree

Your dependants

A dependant partner or child is one of the following:

• your husband, wife or civil partner
• your unmarried partner
• your child under 18 years old - including if they were born in the UK during your stay

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply, for example:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate for your partner
• a birth certificate for your child

Find out what other documents you can use to prove your relationship.

Your child

You鈥檒l need to prove that your child is both:

• not married or in a civil partnership
• living with you, unless they鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university

You鈥檒l need to provide 2 of the following documents confirming their address:

• a bank statement
• credit card bills
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• an official letter from their university or college

If your child pays you rent or upkeep, you鈥檒l need to give details.

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and child must each have a certain amount of money available to them. This is in addition to the money you must have to support yourself.

How much money they need depends on where you will be studying. They must have either:

• 拢845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• 拢680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

If you鈥檙e applying at the same time as your partner or child (you鈥檙e applying together as a family), you鈥檒l need to prove you have both money to pay for your course and to support yourself and additional money for each of them.

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you (they鈥檙e applying separately) they only need to prove they have money to support themselves.

You (or your partner or child) must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date they apply for their visa.

If you have a student loan or financial sponsorship, you鈥檒l need to provide evidence of this from your loan or sponsorship company. If your loan does not cover your partner or child, you鈥檒l need to prove you have money to support them instead.

When they do not need to prove they have money to support themselves

Your partner or child does not need to prove they have this money if they鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months.

If you and your partner or child are from a country listed under the 鈥榙ifferential evidence requirement鈥� and you鈥檙e applying at the same time, they do not need to prove they have money to support themselves.

However, they might be asked to provide this evidence before they get a decision on their application.

If they do need to provide it, they鈥檒l be contacted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) after they鈥檝e submitted their application.

Apply outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

They鈥檒l need your application number - you get it when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

As part of their application, they鈥檒l need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre.

They may be able to pay to get their visa faster or use other services depending on which country they鈥檙e in - check with the visa application centre.

How long they can stay

If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Apply inside the UK to extend or switch

Your partner or child can apply to extend or switch their visa either:

• at the same time as you apply to extend or switch your own visa
• at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your partner or child cannot apply to switch in the UK if they have one of the following visas:

• a visit visa
• a short-term student visa
• a Parent of a Child Student visa
• a seasonal worker visa
• a domestic worker in a private household visa

Fees

Each person will need to pay:

• 拢490 for the visa
• the healthcare surcharge

They鈥檒l need to have their fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

How to apply

Your partner and child must apply online. They must either:

They鈥檒l need your application number - you get it when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

As part of their application, they鈥檒l need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point.

They鈥檒l also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

• upload them into the online service
• have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they鈥檒l be told if they can when they apply.

If their application is successful

They鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of their immigration status).

Their decision email or letter will tell them how to get access to their eVisa. They鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you鈥檙e in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for your child鈥檚 dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on whether your child is inside or outside the UK. Your child must either:

You鈥檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You may be able to extend your Student visa to stay longer and continue your course or study a new course. This includes if you currently have a Tier 4 (General) student visa.

To extend your visa you must:

• be in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor - shown by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• show that your studies are at a higher academic level than your current course (called the 鈥榓cademic progress requirement鈥�) - there are some exceptions

If you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you鈥檒l need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Showing academic progress

If you鈥檙e currently studying in the UK, you鈥檒l usually need to show your studies will be at a higher academic level than your current course.

Your new course must be one of the following:

• at a higher academic level than your current course
• at the same level and related to your previous course or career aspirations - it must be degree level or above at a Higher Education Provider (HEP)
• intercalated to a medicine, dentistry or medical science course you started studying under your Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)

You do not need to show your studies are at a higher level if you鈥檙e doing one of the following:

• resitting exams or repeating modules
• applying for the first time to a new institution to complete a course you started at an institution that lost its student sponsorship licence
• applying after working as a student union sabbatical officer to complete a qualification you started studying under your last Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)
• completing a PhD or other doctorate that you started studying under your last Student visa (including a Tier 4 (General) student visa)
• continuing your medical, dentistry or medical science degree after completing an intercalated course
• applying to extend your stay to complete your studies because you鈥檝e done (or want to do) a work placement or study abroad programme

Read the guidance for more information about when you need to prove your studies are at a higher level.

If you鈥檙e applying to work in the UK

You can get a CAS if you鈥檙e applying to work as a student union sabbatical officer.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply for a new visa before 1 December. Your new course must begin by 29 December.

You must also apply within 6 months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.

If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Fees

For each person, you鈥檒l need to pay:

• 拢490 to extend this visa
• the healthcare surcharge

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Apply

You must apply online.

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

How long it takes to get a decision

A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you鈥檒l be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

You may be able to switch to a Student visa if you already have permission to be in the UK.

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following visas:

• a visit visa
• a short-term student visa
• a Parent of a Child Student visa
• a seasonal worker visa
• a domestic worker in a private household visa
• leave outside the immigration rules

Eligibility

To switch to a Student visa you must:

• be in the UK
• have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed student sponsor - shown by your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

If you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for less than 12 months, you鈥檒l need to prove you have enough money to support yourself in the UK.

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to switch their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

For example, if your visa expires on 1 December, you must apply for a new visa before 1 December. Your new course must begin by 29 December.

You must also apply within 6 months of getting a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

You can stay in the UK until you get your decision.

If you applied for an administrative review because your application was refused, you can stay in the UK until you get your review decision.

Fees

For each person, you鈥檒l need to pay:

• 拢490 to switch to this visa
• the healthcare surcharge

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Apply

You must apply online.

As part of your application you鈥檒l need to prove your identity.

How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and the type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

How long it takes to get a decision

A decision will usually be made within 8 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If you need to change something in your application after you鈥檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to withdraw your application by contacting UKVI. Your fee will only be refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.