Getting your student visa for the UK is a simple process with clear steps. Use our guide to UK study visas and pursue your dream course in the UK.
Are you dreaming of living your best student life in the United Kingdom? The vibrant academic environment, renowned universities, and diverse cultural experiences make the UK an appealing destination for international students. Before you embark on your academic journey in the UK, there's an essential step you’ll need to follow: obtaining a UK student visa.
Whether you're planning to pursue an undergraduate, postgraduate, or research program, understanding the UK study visa requirements and procedures is crucial to having a smooth start. So let’s get started!
The majority of international students coming to the UK to study require a student visa to do so. International students who plan to study in the UK for less than 6 months do not require a visa.
There are a number of requirements that you must pass to get your UK study visa.
Scotland does not use the same RQF levels as the rest of the UK. To use the Scottish SCQF levels, check out this interactive framework to determine what level your course falls under.
In order to secure your UK study visa, you may also need to provide some additional documents. Below you can find a list of the documents required for UK student visa:
Depending on your degree and university there could be additional documents required for UK student visa. It's best to consult the degree page to ensure you've everything ready to apply.
To get a UK study visa, you’ll have to show you can support yourself financially while covering your course fees.
This amount will vary depending on where you choose to study.
At the moment of application, you'll need to make sure that the bank balance required for the UK student visa remains untouched for at least 28 consecutive days.
Depending on your nationality, you may not need to provide this evidence to get your student visa. You can find a list of countries exempt from the financial evidence on the UK Government website.
You can apply for your student visa up to 6 months in advance. Let’s walk through the steps of the application process
Check out this guide for the visa application form to see what you can expect to answer.
Regardless of whether you’re applying from within or outside the UK, the cost of the UK study visa is £490. This is also the case if you are extending your current visa or switching to a student visa.
Should you need a decision quicker than the usual wait times, you can pay an additional £250 for the “priority service” to have your decision in 5 working days. You can also pay an additional £956 for the “super priority service” and have a decision by the end of the next working day.
You may also be required to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS) to apply for your study visa. This surcharge allows immigrants to access the National Healthcare Service (NHS) during their time in the UK. The cost of the healthcare surcharge for UK student visas is £470 per year. If you plan to study in the UK for 6 months or less, you’ll pay half the yearly cost at £235.
If you apply for a UK student visa while living outside the UK, you can expect a decision within 3 weeks. If you’re already living in the UK and want to extend your current student visa or switch from your current visa to a student visa, it’ll take up to 8 weeks to get a decision.
If you need a decision faster than these times, paying extra for priority services is possible.
If the duration of your course is 6 months or less, you may arrive up to 1 week before the start date of your course.
If the duration of your course is longer than 6 months, you may arrive up to 1 month before the start date of your course.
You’re not permitted entry to the UK before the start date indicated on your visa, regardless of your course start date.
If you’re worried about finding a place to live before you arrive in the UK, you can book your accommodation with HousingAnywhere in advance without needing to be in the country.
Once you’ve gotten your tier 4 study visa, you can work part-time or during vacation. During term time, you can work up to 20 hours a week. During vacation periods, you can work a full 40-hour week. Student visa holders can work on a temporary contract only, so you won’t be able to get a permanent contract while studying in the UK.
If you’ve to complete work placement during your course, you may work full-time during the term. However, work placement shouldn’t be longer than 50% of your total course length unless otherwise indicated.
The length of time you can stay in the UK after getting your visa depends on the length of your course and what you study. For example, if you complete a degree-level course on a UK study visa, you may be able to switch your visa to a graduate visa and stay up to 2 more years to find employment that can support your work visa.
Now that you see how simple the UK study visa process is, it’s time to start preparing for your move! Searching for student housing in London, Birmingham, and other popular UK student cities can be intense. HousingAnywhere allows you to find and book your student accommodation before you even land in the UK. Why not make your move to the UK as easy as you can?
Please reach out to content@housinganywhere.com if you have any suggestions or inquiries about the content on this page.
In this article
Who needs a visa to study in the UK?
What are the requirements for getting a UK study visa?
The application process for the UK study visa
How much does a UK study visa cost?
What is the processing time for a UK student visa?
How soon can I move to the UK once my student visa has been approved?
Can you work if you have a UK study visa?
How long can you stay in the UK with a study visa?
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