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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · study

Student visa

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Study visa for international students enrolled with a licensed Student sponsor at eligible UK institutions.

Requires sponsorshipDoes not lead to permanent residencyVaries with course — up to length of course plus a short wrap-around.In flux
Processing time
Typically within 3 weeks from outside the UK.
Government fees
£558 application fee inside or outside the UK, plus Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 per year with part-year charging based on the actual permission length. Tuition and other study costs are separate.
Typical duration
Varies with course — up to length of course plus a short wrap-around.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed UK Home Office ↗

In short

Study visa for international students enrolled with a licensed Student sponsor at eligible UK institutions. Guidance updated 12 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/uk/student#answer

What is the Student visa in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

Student visa is a sponsor-led United Kingdom route. Indicative government fees are £558 application fee inside or outside the UK, plus Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 per year with part-year charging based on the actual permission length. Tuition and other study costs are separate; indicative processing time is Typically within 3 weeks from outside the UK; typical duration is Varies with course — up to length of course plus a short wrap-around. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with UK Home Office on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Student route is the UK's core study visa. Applicants need an unconditional offer (CAS) from a licensed Student sponsor, English-language proficiency, and financial evidence for tuition and maintenance. Students may typically work part-time during term and full-time during vacations, subject to rules.

Recent changes to this route

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed Student sponsor.UK Home Office ↗
  • ✓Sufficient funds for tuition and maintenance — thresholds updated in January 2024.
  • ✓English-language proficiency at the level required by the sponsor and the rules.UK Home Office ↗

Common blockers

  • !Sponsor ceases to hold a Student sponsor licence (rare but material).UK Home Office ↗
  • !Insufficient financial evidence — maintenance must be in the applicant's name or a qualifying parent/guardian.UK Home Office ↗

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Accept offer and receive CAS

    The institution issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies once the offer is unconditional and deposit paid.

  2. Prepare finances and English evidence

    Hold qualifying funds for 28 consecutive days; sit an approved English test if required.

  3. Apply online and attend biometrics

    Pay application fee and IHS and submit biometrics.

  4. Check your eVisa, travel and enrol

    Before travel, check your eVisa and link the passport you will use to your UKVI account. Follow the grant conditions and institutional enrolment instructions. Keep access to digital status evidence; do not rely on old instructions to collect a new BRP.

  5. Plan post-study route

    Most graduates switch to the Graduate route for post-study work (2 years now; 18 months for applications from 1 January 2027, 3 years for PhDs).

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Student visa, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Coordinate enrolment and attendance with the institution. Check the actual work conditions before accepting a job or freelance work.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Student visa instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to United KingdomFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in United Kingdom. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. ApplyApplicant
    Apply for the Student visa ↗

    Use this GOV.UK form to apply after your licensed Student sponsor issues a CAS.

    UK Home Office · verified

  2. Official guidanceSchool
    Check Student sponsor duties ↗

    Education providers use this official guidance to issue and manage CAS sponsorship.

    UK Home Office · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: £558 application fee inside or outside the UK, plus Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 per year with part-year charging based on the actual permission length. Tuition and other study costs are separate.. A decision then typically takes 3 weeks (applying from outside the UK; applying inside the UK usually takes up to 8 weeks). Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

Matches these professions

Student

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Frequently asked questions

Can Student visa holders work in the UK?+

Students on degree-level courses at Higher Education providers can typically work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations, with some restrictions. Below-degree courses often carry tighter limits.

Can I bring dependants on a Student visa?+

Dependant rights for Student visa holders were narrowed from January 2024. Only postgraduate research students (PhD and certain others) and government-sponsored students can typically bring dependants. Always check GOV.UK for the current rules.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in United Kingdom

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: UK Home Office

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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