United Kingdom Student visa
The UK Student route — which replaced Tier 4 in 2020 — is the main study visa for higher and further education in the United Kingdom, lodged online on gov.uk with biometrics at UKVCAS or an overseas Visa Application Centre. The published 15–30 working day window applies to outside-UK applications and assumes biometric enrolment is complete; in-country switches and dependant applications follow separate timelines. The 220 GBP application fee sits alongside the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently 776 GBP per year for students), maintenance funds held in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days, and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies issued by a licensed UK sponsor. Dependant restrictions tightened from January 2024 — most postgraduate-taught and undergraduate students can no longer bring dependants, with PhD candidates and certain government-funded students still eligible. The Graduate route currently allows eligible graduates to remain in the UK for two to three years after course completion without sponsorship.
| Visa required | Varies — verify on the official source |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | Varies — verify on the official source |
| Processing time | 15–21 days (source) |
| Visa fee | 558 GBP (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Student route eligibility
- Hold a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK sponsor.
- Demonstrate maintenance funds (around 1,334 GBP per month inside London or 1,023 GBP outside London for up to nine months) held in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days before lodgement.
- Meet English-language requirements — UKVI-approved IELTS, OET, or sponsor-confirmed equivalent.
- For postgraduate study in restricted science, engineering, or technology fields: hold an ATAS certificate.
- Submit a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic if applying from a listed country.
- Hold a passport valid for the duration of the course where possible.
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently 776 GBP per year) inside the gov.uk flow before the visa fee step.
- Provide biometrics at a UKVCAS or overseas Visa Application Centre — the 15–30 working day clock effectively starts from biometric receipt.
- For applicants under 18: provide parental or guardian consent, birth certificate, and financial-relationship evidence.
- Comply with the conditions of stay — maintained enrolment, the term-time work-hour cap, attendance reporting by the sponsor, and dependant restrictions tightened from January 2024.
Documents checklist
Student-route applications are gated by the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and the maintenance evidence — both must be in shape before lodging on gov.uk, or the rest of the file cannot rescue the case.
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference from a licensed UK sponsor.
- Passport bio page with validity covering the planned course period.
- Recent digital photograph meeting Home Office specifications.
- Maintenance evidence held in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days before lodgement.
- Bank statements showing the maintenance funds and tuition deposit, with an opening line older than 28 days.
- Tuition receipts for any payments already made to the sponsor.
- Academic certificates and transcripts referenced on the CAS, with translations where applicable.
- English-language test result (UKVI-approved IELTS, OET, or sponsor-confirmed equivalent).
- ATAS certificate for postgraduate study in restricted science, engineering, or technology fields.
- Tuberculosis test certificate for applicants from listed countries.
- Parental or guardian consent and birth certificate for applicants under 18, plus financial-relationship evidence.
- UKVCAS appointment confirmation and receipt.
- Translations into English where any document is not in English.
- Immigration Health Surcharge payment confirmation, paid in the gov.uk flow before the visa fee step.
Application steps
- Receive an offer from a licensed UK sponsor and obtain the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number after the institution reviews academic and financial evidence.
- Hold the maintenance funds in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days before lodgement, ensuring the opening line on the statement is older than 28 days.
- Open gov.uk and start a new Student visa application; complete the online form using the CAS reference and the academic and personal details listed on it.
- Pay the 220 GBP visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently 776 GBP per year) inside the gov.uk flow.
- Book a UKVCAS or overseas Visa Application Centre appointment; the 15–30 working day clock effectively starts from biometric receipt.
- Upload supporting documents through the UKVCAS document-upload service or hand them in at the appointment: passport, photograph, maintenance evidence, academic certificates, English-language test result (if required), ATAS certificate (where required), and tuberculosis test (where required).
- Attend the biometric appointment to give fingerprints and a photo.
- Wait for the decision by email or courier; routine outside-UK cases sit in the 15–30 working day band.
- Receive the passport with the visa vignette (or activate the eVisa) and complete the BRP collection at a Post Office in the UK after arrival, where applicable.
- Travel to the UK ahead of the course start date, register with the institution's international office, and follow attendance and reporting requirements throughout the studies.
Processing time
15–21 days (source) (typical). Processing times may vary.
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 558 GBP (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
For the UK Student route, the 220 GBP fee is the application charge taken on gov.uk; it covers the Home Office's assessment of the CAS, the maintenance evidence, and the academic and personal-history checks.
It does not include the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is paid in the same flow but charged per year of stay, nor biometric enrolment at UKVCAS, document scanning, ATAS where applicable, or optional priority services. Payment is by card at submission; the IHS is a separate card payment.
The published 220 GBP figure is reviewed periodically by the Home Office, so the live rate on gov.uk should be the reference before paying.
Common mistakes to avoid
UK Student route applications usually decide in 15–30 working days from outside the UK, with a 220 GBP application fee — but the file is gated by the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and the Immigration Health Surcharge, both of which catch first-time applicants off guard.
- Lodging without a CAS reference number. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is issued only after the institution has reviewed academic and financial evidence; without a CAS the application cannot start.
- Forgetting the IHS. The Immigration Health Surcharge is paid online during the application — currently several hundred GBP per year for students — and is on top of the 220 GBP visa fee.
- Underestimating the maintenance requirement. Maintenance funds must be held in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days before lodgement, with a fixed monthly figure for inside-London and outside-London courses.
- Submitting financial accounts that are not in the applicant's or parent's name. Joint, sibling, or unrelated accounts do not satisfy the rules and force a refusal under finance grounds.
- Skipping ATAS clearance for sensitive subjects. Postgraduate study in certain science, engineering, and technology fields requires an ATAS certificate before the visa is issued; missing it forces a withdrawal.
- Treating attendance and reporting as optional. Sponsors must report missed sessions to UKVI; attendance below the threshold can void the visa even after entry.
- Working beyond the cap. Student-route holders can usually work 20 hours per week in term time; exceeding the cap is a common cause of curtailment and removes eligibility for the Graduate route.
- Using a passport that expires before the course. The visa cannot be issued for a period longer than the passport — short validity shortens the residence permit and forces an in-country variation later.
Country context & recent trends
The Student route's 15–30 working day window applies to outside-UK applications and assumes biometrics enrolment is complete. In-country switches and dependant applications follow separate timelines that often run longer.
Recent rule changes
Dependant restrictions tightened from January 2024 — most postgraduate-taught and undergraduate students can no longer bring dependants, with PhD and certain government-funded courses still eligible. The Immigration Health Surcharge increased to 776 GBP per year in early 2024, and Graduate-route work rights remained but were reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee in 2024. The 220 GBP fee on gov.uk is reviewed in the annual spring fees-order cycle.
Peak intakes
July–September is the dominant window for autumn intakes; January–February covers the smaller spring intake. UKVCAS biometrics slots in Lagos, New Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi, Dhaka, and Beijing tighten earliest in these windows — book the biometric appointment immediately after the gov.uk submission.
How it compares to nearby destinations
For international students weighing Western European study destinations, the UK Student route sits alongside Ireland and Schengen-area study visas, each with different cost and duration profiles.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (Student route) | Yes | 15–30 days | 220 GBP |
| Ireland (Stamp 2) | Yes for many | ~ 4–8 weeks | ~ 60–100 EUR (visa fee) + 300 EUR (residence permit) |
| Germany (Student visa) | Yes for many | ~ 6–12 weeks | ~ 75 EUR |
| Netherlands (Student MVV) | Yes for many | ~ 2–4 weeks | ~ 174 EUR (sponsor-paid often) |
The UK's 220 GBP fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge stacks above continental European peers, but the Graduate route's two- to three-year post-study work rights remain a significant differentiator for many applicants.
Frequently asked questions
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How long does a UK Student visa take to decide?
The published target is 15–30 working days for outside-UK applications, starting from biometric enrolment. In-country switches and dependant applications follow separate timelines that can run longer, especially during the August–September enrolment peak.
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What does the 220 GBP fee actually cover?
The 220 GBP charge on gov.uk covers the Home Office's assessment of the CAS, maintenance evidence, and academic and personal-history checks. It does not include the Immigration Health Surcharge (currently 776 GBP per year), UKVCAS biometric enrolment, ATAS where applicable, or optional priority services.
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Can I bring my partner and children?
Dependant restrictions tightened from January 2024: most postgraduate-taught and undergraduate students can no longer bring dependants, while PhD candidates and some government-sponsored students remain eligible. The CAS letter indicates whether dependants are allowed for the specific course.
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How much money do I need to show for maintenance?
Maintenance funds must be held in an acceptable account for 28 consecutive days before lodgement, with a per-month figure for inside London (around 1,334 GBP) and outside London (around 1,023 GBP), capped at nine months. Joint or third-party accounts (other than the applicant or parent) do not satisfy the rules.
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Can I work while studying?
Student-route holders can usually work 20 hours per week in term time and full-time during scheduled breaks, depending on the course level. Exceeding the cap is a common cause of curtailment and removes eligibility for the Graduate route.
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What is the Graduate route after my course?
The Graduate route currently allows eligible graduates to work in the UK for two years (three years for doctoral graduates) without sponsorship after course completion. Eligibility hinges on completing the course at a licensed sponsor and on having held a valid Student visa during the studies.
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What if my Student visa is refused?
Refusals can sometimes be reviewed under Administrative Review on procedural grounds, but the practical step for most applicants is to address the specific refusal reason — usually maintenance evidence, English proficiency, or CAS issues — and re-lodge. The university's international office can usually advise on whether a quick re-lodgement is realistic before the course start date.