Who is this route for?

This route is for a person aged 16 or over who wants to study with a licensed student sponsor on a course of further or higher education, a pre-sessional English course, a recognised foundation programme, or to take an elected post as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

What are the general requirements?

You can apply for a student visa to study in the UK if you are 16 or over and you:

• have been offered an unconditional place on a course at RQF level 3 or higher by a licensed student sponsor
• can speak, read, write, and understand English – you may need to pass an approved English language test before you apply
• You must have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself in the UK:
  • You must show that you have sufficient funds to pay outstanding course fees for the first academic year, and can demonstrate funds to cover your living costs for up to 9 months. The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (‘CAS’). It is entirely the decision of your academic institution when and if they issue you with a CAS, and you cannot apply for the visa without one.
  • If you’ve 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.
  • You’ll need to show you have enough money to support yourself – unless you’ve 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’ll need either:
    • £1,334.00 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London.
    • £1,023.00 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London.
  • 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’re a national of a listed country, you may not need to provide evidence that you can pay for your course, however, UK Visas & Immigration reserve the right to ask for documentation from you which confirms you can afford to pay for your course.
• You may require a tuberculosis test if you reside or have resided in a listed country within 6 months of the date of your application.

 You can:

• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer
• bring certain family members to the UK with you if you are a full-time student on a postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer. NOTE: IF YOUR COURSE STARTED ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 2024, YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO BRING DEPENDANTS WITH YOU IF ARE STUDYING A POSTGRADUATE LEVEL COURSE OF RQF LEVEL 8 OR HIGHER, OR A RESEARCH-BASED HIGHER DEGREE.
  • 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:
    • £845 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
    • £680 a month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London
• You may be able to work – how much depends on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time.

 You cannot:

• claim public funds
• 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)

When should I apply for the visa?

An application for entry clearance must be made no more than 6 months before the start date of the course stated on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (‘CAS’).

An application for permission to stay must be made no more than 3 months before the start date of the course on the CAS. You must apply before your current visa expires, and your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring.

How long will the visa be granted for?

The period of permission granted to an applicant before the start of the course who is applying for entry clearance will be either:

• the relevant period before the course date which is set out in the table below, if entry clearance is granted 1 month or more before the start date of the course; or
• 7 days before the intended date of travel, if entry clearance is granted less than 1 month before the start date of the course; or
• with immediate effect, if entry clearance is granted less than 7 days before the intended date of travel and less than 1 month before the start date of the course.

The applicant will be granted a period of permission dependent on the type and length of course as in the table below: