Complete Guide to Obtaining a UK Student Visa!

In this guide, there will be a breakdown of everything you need to successfully apply for and gain a UK Student Visa.

1.    Overview

Individuals who are 16 years and above are eligible to apply for a student visa to pursue their studies in the United Kingdom. Whether you are planning to take an undergraduate course or a graduate course, meeting the age requirement is the first step to commencing your academic journey in the United Kingdom. Also, there are other targets an applicant has to meet to qualify for a UK Student Visa.

       i.          You must have received an offer of admission or a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. A Licensed Student sponsor means your chosen educational institution must be officially recognized and approved by the UK government to host international students.

     ii.          You need to demonstrate or prove that you have adequate financial resources to support yourself during your stay and pay for your course. The exact amount required varies depending on your circumstance such as place of study and the duration of the course.

    iii.          You must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English at a required level. This guarantees you can participate in your academic program and adapt to life in the United Kingdom.

   iv.          If you are aged 16 or 17, you will need to provide evidence of consent from your parents or guardian as part of your visa application process.

     v.          Students who are 16 or 17 years old and are willing to study at an independent school in the UK are eligible for a Child Student Visa instead. This visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa.

2.    When to Apply for the Student Visa

The application process for a UK Student visa varies depending on whether you are applying from outside the UK or from within the UK.

i.                 Applying from outside the UK

The earliest you can begin the visa application process is 6 months before the official start date of your course. Once your application is submitted and you complete the biometric appointment the decision or results on the visa application will be provided within 3 weeks

ii.               Applying from inside the UK

The earliest you can begin the visa application process is 3 months before the official start date of your course. It is very important to to apply before your current visa expires and the start date of your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiration date. Once your application is submitted and you complete the biometric appointment the decision or results on the visa application will be provided within 8 weeks

iii.             How long you can stay

The length/longevity of your stay depends on the length of your course and what study you have already completed in the UK. If you are 18 years old or above and your course is at degree level (such as a Bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree), you are qualified to stay in the UK for up to 5 years. However, if your course is below degree level (such as a diploma or a foundation course), you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

iv.             Extending your stay in the UK

If you wish to continue your studies in the United Kingdom, you will be able to extend your visa provided meet the eligibility criteria. If you already live in the United Kingdom on a different type of visa, you will be allowed to switch to a student visa. Furthermore, after completing your studies, you can choose to switch to a Graduate visa.

v.               When you can travel to the UK

If your course lasts 6 months or less you can arrive up to 1 week before your course begins. You can arrive up to 1 month before if your course lasts more than 6 months. However, it is very important to note that you cannot/must not travel to the UK before the official start date stated on your visa, no matter when your course starts.

vi.             Cost Involved

a.    If you are applying for a Student Visa outside of the UK, the application fee is £524

b.    If you are already in the UK and applying to extend or switch to a Student Visa, the fee is also £524

This fee is per individual. So, if your partner or children are joining you must pay a visa fee for each person since they will need to submit a separate application. An amount for healthcare surcharge will also be paid. The amount involved depends on how long your course lasts.

vii.           What you can do and cannot do

a.    You are permitted to study and work as a student union sabbatical officer if you are elected.

b.    You may be able to work while studying – what you will earn depends on what you are studying (course level) and whether you are working in or out of term time.

c.     You are not allowed to access public benefits, such as income support, housing benefits, or pensions.

d.    You cannot work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports.

e.    You are not allowed to be self-employed.

f.      You are not allowed to study at an academy or a local authority-funded school also known as a maintained school.

g.    If your application is successful, what you can and cannot do on a Student Visa will be communicated to you.

3.    Courses you can apply for

You ought to 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 have offered you a place on the course.

       i.          A Full-Time course – a minimum of 15 hours a week of organized daytime study

     ii.          A Full-time UK Higher education Course

    iii.          A part-time course

Read more on qualification levels in the UK (RQF Level 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Your education provider will provide you with a Reference Number called a Confirmation of Acceptance Studies (CAS) after you gain admission.

You must enter the reference number provided in your CAS on your visa applications which you must apply for within 6 months of receiving your CAS

4.    Resources Needed (Financial)

You must have enough money to cater for your course and your stay in the UK. The total amount of money should be able to support your schooling and living in the UK. The total amount of money you need depends on your circumstances and what you are applying for.

       i.          Course Fees

You need enough money that will pay for the cost of your course for 1 academic year, thus up to 9 months. More often than not, the amount that will cater for 1 academic year is quoted on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If you are currently living in the UK and have lived in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to prove you have the quoted amount of money for your visa application.

     ii.          Amount of Money Needed for Upkeep (“financial requirement”)

If you have not been in the UK with a valid visa for a minimum of 12 months on the date of your application, you will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

The total amount of money you need depends on where you will be studying

a.    £1,483 per month for up to 9 months, thus £1,483 x 9 = £13,347 for courses in London (City of London and the 32  London Boroughs

b.    £1,136 per month for up to 9 months, thus  £1,136 x 9 = £10,224 for courses outside London

If you board at a residential independent school, you will need to pay boarding fees instead. The amount needed for that will be quoted in your CAS.

In case you come along with family members(partners or children), you will have to prove you have enough or extra money for each family member.

5.    You do not need to prove you have money to support yourself if:

       i.          You have lived in the UK with a valid visa for a minimum of 12 months before the date of your student visa application

     ii.          You are applying as a student union sabbatical officer

    iii.          If you are from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ you must provide evidence that proves you are from

Underlisted are the countries;

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, the 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.

6.    Applicants must prove knowledge of English.

You can prove your knowledge of English by:

       i.          Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider

     ii.          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

    iii.          Have a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English – if you studied abroad, you will need confirmation that your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD

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

CEFR Scale

a.    Degree level or above – Equivalent to CEFR level B2

b.    Below degree level – CEFR level B1

If you are studying with a higher education provider, they may assess your level of English themselves. You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are from one of the following countries.

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.

7.    Traveling with your Partner and Children (Dependants)

For your dependents to come to the UK or remain longer in the UK

You must be

       i.          A government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months

     ii.          Full-time student on a postgraduate level course that lasts 9 months or longer

Dependents are

a.    Husband, Wife, Child, or Civil Partner

b.    Unmarried Partner

c.     Child Under 18 Years

Evidence in the sense of a marriage/civil partnership certificate for your partner or a birth certificate for your child should be presented

8.    Documents you’ll need to apply for UK Student Visa

Applicants must provide these when applying for a UK Student Visa

       i.          A current passport or other valid travel documentation

     ii.          A confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider

You may also need to provide

a.    Proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – this will vary depending on your circumstances

b.    A valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it

c.     Proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you are under 18 years

d.    Proof of your relationship status with your parent or guardian if you are under 18 years

e.    Your recent tuberculosis test results

f.      A written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you have received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months

g.    There may be the need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances

h.    A blank page in your passport is needed for your visa if you need to give your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) at a visa application centre.

If you are under 18 years old, you will be told to do this during your application process;

       i.          A written consent from both parents or legal guardians. In an instance where one parent has sole responsibility, you will need consent from just one parent.

The consent must include

a.    Your visa application

b.    You’re living and care arrangements in the UK

c.     Your travel to the UK

d.    Provision of a birth certificate or other government documents that will show the names of your parents

Visit the UK Government Application website to get more understanding to make your application process successful.