The Student visa is preferred for an individual (aged 16 or over) who wishes to study a full-time degree course in the UK at a recognized Institute. It is the replacement of the former Tier 4 (General) Student visa. Dependent partner & children may also join the Applicant on this visa subjective to the criteria after 1 January 2024 and the Applicant may switch to a Graduate or Skilled Worker visa after completion of their course.
You must be over 16 & you must have:
If you are already in the UK & wish to switch to this visa, then you must not be on the following visas: Visit, short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic worker in a Private Household, Immigration Bail, Permission to stay outside of Immigration Rules unless this was granted for finding a new student Sponsor.
Please see all requirements in detail below to fully understand the eligibility criteria. If you do not meet any of the requirements from below, you may also check for the exceptions mentioned in section (F), in case it is applicable to you.
To understand the complete chart of qualifications level have a look at Home office guidance.
Documentary evidence needed to prove this shall be discussed below in the documents section.
International Students applying after 1 January 2024 are not permitted to bring dependants with them on a student visa subject to recent changes in Immigration Rules. However, a few types of students are still allowed to bring dependants which shall be discussed below in section (F) Exceptions.
Those who are already in the UK and have initially applied before 1 January 2024, can continue to extend their stay without meeting exceptions since this rule is not retrospective.
You must have sufficient funds to prove that you can pay any outstanding course fee for single academic year i.e. up to 9 months, to your Sponsor/Institution. Any amount that is already paid to the Sponsor can be deducted from the funds required.
You must also have funds for your living costs while you are studying in the UK and the amount varies depending on your location:
The total amount required depends on the length of your course. If your course duration includes part of a month, it will be rounded up to the next full month. However, the total amount of funds needed is capped at a maximum of 9 months.
For the Doctorate extension scheme these values are different:
This amount must be withheld for at least 28 days in a row.
If you are accompanied by partner/children, you need to prove additional funds:
If you do not meet any of the above requirement, you may check the exemptions for the financial requirement below in (F) section.
Documentary evidence needed to prove these requirements shall be discussed below in the documents section.
Documentary evidence needed to prove this shall be discussed below in the documents section.
Although this requirement is not as strict under this route like in family visa, however you are asked about suitable accommodation meaning it is exclusively occupied by you and your Dependant(s) if any and meets the public health standards. This could also be provided by your Sponsor/Institution, or you could rent a suitable place for yourself later when you arrive to the UK.
If you have paid any amount to your Sponsor for accommodation then this can be deducted from the funds required, however this deduction is capped at £1,265.
Following is the brief guide on all the documentary evidence you will need to prove the abovementioned requirements:
Our associates will help you collate all these documents and make sure these are submitted to UKVI on your behalf when you apply. Sign up through our enquiry form now to receive a free consultation on your matter.
Following are the Home Office fees & expected time for Student visa decision that varies depending on the following routes & factors:
The earliest you can apply is 6 months before the start date of your course.
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before the start date of your course, and the course must be scheduled to start after maximum 28 days of your previous visa expiry, otherwise if your course will start after more than 28 days you must leave and reapply from outside the UK.
Same for additional family members/dependants added to your application.
In addition to the Home Office application fee, you might also need to pay healthcare surcharge i.e. £776 per person in Student visa for each year of stay (this can be multiplied for the number of years your Course will last up to for obtaining the total amount) under this route in order to avail free NHS and this is not optional.
Urgent procedure
If you wish to skip the queue and get a faster decision from the Home Office, you can also choose from the following services:
*The timeline & fees abovementioned does not include or specify our processing time for your application and legal services fee at any point, and it shall be conveyed to you after consultation.
Please note:
A decision may take longer if the Home Office needs to request additional information from you or verify your details with other government departments. You will be informed if this occurs.
Route to Citizenship
The Student visa does not actually lead to settlement but you may switch to any other visa like Skilled Worker if you find work in the UK or Graduate visa if you are looking for work and so on. Your time on Student visa in the UK does not count towards the qualifying period to be eligible for settlement.
During your time in the UK as a Student you will be able to study and work only:
Otherwise (all other students), you are not permitted to work.
Moreover, you will also be having free access to (NHS) Healthcare during your time in the UK, but this does not apply to prescriptions, dental treatment, eye treatment and assisted conception.
However, you shall not be able to access the welfare benefits from Public Funds until you gain settlement status (not available on student route). Also, you cannot change Sponsor/Institution unless you update your visa.
Upon approval of your visa, the date you can travel to the UK depends on the length of your course:
The validity of your visa depends on your age (if 18 or above) and the course you are studying:
Take the first step towards your future by starting your application with us. We understand that Student visa requirements are complex, meaning it requires proper documentation, issuance of certificates & letters as well as strong legal representations to support the application. Therefore, we highly recommend you leave that to experts and relax! Our expert lawyers will guide you through the process, ensuring all documents are checked and the necessary evidence is provided to UKVI while addressing any potential issues.
Reach out to us at info@visamerch.com or fill out our short form for a prompt response and a free 15-minute consultation with our appointed immigration lawyer!
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