Who can apply for a Student visa
You can apply for a Student visa if you are 16 or over and have an offer of a place on a course from a licensed student sponsor, usually a university or college. You must have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course, and you must meet the English language requirement. If you are under 18 you need your parent’s or guardian’s consent.
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
The central document is the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which your sponsor gives you once it has assessed you. The money, English and other evidence then have to match what the CAS says. Many refusals come from a mismatch between the CAS and the supporting documents, such as bank statements held for the wrong period. Some postgraduate science and technology courses also need an ATAS certificate before the CAS can be issued.
How much money you need
| Where you study | Per month, before 30 November 2026 | From 30 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| London | £1,529 | £1,570 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £1,203 |
You must show the monthly figure for up to nine months, so £13,761 or £10,539 now and £14,130 or £10,827 from 30 November 2026, plus any course fees for the first year that you have not yet paid. The date of your application decides which figure applies, not the date the course starts. The money must have been in your account for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before you apply. You do not need to show it if you have already held a UK visa for 12 months or more.
Cost and timing
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £558, from outside the UK or for an extension or switch inside the UK |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 a year for students, paid for the whole visa. See the health surcharge |
| Apply from outside the UK | Up to six months before the course starts; decision usually within three weeks |
| Apply from inside the UK | Up to three months before your current permission ends; decision usually within eight weeks; the new course must start within 28 days of the old visa ending |
How long it lasts
A visa for a course at degree level or above can be granted for up to five years. A course below degree level can be granted for up to two years. The length depends on the course length plus a short period on either side.
Working while you study
At degree level you can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time, and full time in vacations. On a course below degree level the limit is usually 10 hours. You cannot work as a professional sportsperson or coach, and you cannot be self-employed. Check the conditions on your visa, because breaking them can affect later applications.
Bringing family
Only students on postgraduate research courses, or on certain government-funded courses of 12 months or more, can bring a partner and children. Check this before you commit to a course on the assumption that family can join you.
After your course
Most students who want to stay move onto the Graduate visa or switch to a work visa such as the Skilled Worker visa. Switching before your course ends is possible only in limited cases.
If you are refused
A Student visa refusal generally carries no right of appeal. The remedies are an administrative review, where the refusal rests on a clear mistake, or a fresh application that fixes the problem. See administrative review and visa refused: appeal, review or reapply.
How we help
We check your CAS, funds and English against the rules before you apply, prepare the application, and advise after a refusal or a breach of conditions. A consultation is from £99.
