📗Student Visa
You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you:
have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
can speak, read, write and understand English
have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17 - you’ll need evidence of this when you apply
You can apply for student visa:
From outside the UK: The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
From inside the UK: The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your course starts. You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must begin within 28 days of your current visa expiring. You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks.
Converting to Student Visa/Graduate Scheme from the UK
If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years. You may be able to:
extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example, to continue your studies in the UK
switch to a student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK
switch to a Graduate visa to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your course.
You can arrive before your course starts. This can be either:
up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months
You must not travel to the UK before the start date given on your visa, no matter when your course starts.
Visa and Healthcare Surcharge Fee (2024)
The fee for applying for a Student or a Child Student visa from outside the UK is £490, to equal the amount charged for in-country applications.
The fee to apply for a Graduate visa is £822.
IHS is now £1,035 for each year of the visa for adults, and £776 for students and individuals under 18.
You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.
When you apply for your student visa you must provide:
a current passport or other valid travel documentation
a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
You may also need to provide:
proof you have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course - this will vary depending on your circumstances
a valid ATAS certificate if your course and nationality require it
proof of parental or other legal guardian consent if you're under 18
proof of your relationship to your parent or guardian if you're under 18
your tuberculosis test results (tuberculosis test from appointed hospitals listed on the UKVI website)
written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you've received sponsorship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
If you’re under 18 you’ll need written consent from both parents or legal guardians (or one parent if they have sole responsibility). This must include their consent for:
your living and care arrangements in the UK
You’ll also need to provide a copy of your birth certificate (or another government-issued document) that shows the names of your parents.
Pro Tip: Use this link to calculate your IHS fee https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay
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