Student visa

The Student visa is for people who want to study in the UK on a course run by a licensed student sponsor. You must be 16 or over. If you are 16 or 17, you need your parents consent and must provide evidence of it, and you may be able to apply for a Child Student visa instead.

You need an offer from the education provider first. The provider then gives you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS, which you need for your application.

GOV.UK sets these conditions:

• An offer from a licensed student sponsor for a course.
• Enough money to pay for your course and support yourself.
• The ability to speak, read, write and understand English.
• Parental consent, if you are 16 or 17.

Depending on your situation you may also need a tuberculosis (TB) test and, for a master degree or above in some subjects, an ATAS certificate. Check this early, because getting these can take time.

You need enough money for one academic year of your course fees, up to 9 months, and for your living costs. The course fee amount is on your CAS. For living costs GOV.UK currently sets:

• £1,171 per month for up to 9 months if you will study outside London.
• £1,529 per month for up to 9 months if you will study in London, which means the City of London and the 32 London boroughs.

You must have had the money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that period must fall within 31 days of the date you apply. If you bring family members, you need extra money for each of them. GOV.UK links to its family members page for those amounts.

The Home Office has announced that the maintenance requirement will rise from 30 November 2026 to match student maintenance loans for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. We have not been able to confirm the new monthly amounts, so check the money page on GOV.UK if you apply on or after that date.

The application fee is £558, whether you apply from outside the UK or you extend or switch from inside the UK. Everyone who joins you pays the same fee.

You also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application. For students it is £776 for each year, based on how long your visa lasts.

From outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is 6 months before your course starts. From inside the UK, it is 3 months before your course starts. If you are already in the UK, you must apply before your current visa expires, and your new course must start within 28 days of that expiry.

You usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and within 8 weeks from inside the UK. You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

If you are 18 or over and study at degree level, you can usually stay for up to 5 years. For courses below degree level you can usually stay for up to 2 years.

After your course you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa. That visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years if you finish a PhD or other doctoral qualification.

You can arrive up to 1 week before your course starts if it lasts 6 months or less, and up to 1 month before if it lasts longer. You must not travel before the start date on your visa.

You may be able to work, and the hours allowed depend on your course and whether it is term time. Check the conditions on your visa and follow them closely.

You cannot be self-employed. You cannot work in certain jobs, such as professional sportsperson or sports coach. You cannot claim public funds or pensions. Breaking your visa conditions may stop you from returning to the UK.

You may be able to bring your partner and children. Each person who joins you must pay the visa fee and show the extra money. The rules are set out on a separate GOV.UK page, so read it before you decide to bring them.

• Check that the visa suits you, including the course you can take and whether your family can join you.
• Prepare your evidence: your documents, proof of English, and a TB test if you need one. Check whether you need an ATAS certificate.
• Apply online, either from outside the UK or to extend or switch from inside the UK.
• Prove your identity.
• If you are successful, set up a UKVI account to access your eVisa and link your travel document.
• Check what you can bring into the UK and be ready to show your status at the border.