Visa requirements
Are you an international student? Find out what visa you need to study at 91¸£Àû.
Visa requirements for international students
Check if you need a visa
You may need a visa to study in the UK if you are an international student coming to 91¸£Àû. You can check what visa you need on the .
This page explains the different visas you might need. There is also information on the visa application process. Plus, a list of FAQs will help answer any questions you may have.
Are you a EU/EEA or Swiss national? Please visit this page for more information.
What visa do I need to study in the UK?
International students will fit into one of three visa categories. Below we provide guidance on what visa you will need and how to apply.
Students with pre-settled or settled status
If you have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you do not need a visa. However, you might need to prove your immigration status.
For more information on how to prove your immigration status, visit the .
Students studying in the UK for less than six months
If you are studying in the UK for six months or less, you will need a Standard Visitor visa.
Students studying in the UK for more than six months
If you are studying for more than six months in the UK, you will need a Student Route visa. This applies to you if you are coming to 91¸£Àû to study a full-time degree-level course. Not sure if you fit into this category? .
There are quite a few steps involved in applying for a Student Route visa, but we are here to help. This page provides you with all the information you need to make an application.
For more detailed information, visit the .
How to apply for a Student Route visa
Full guidance on how to apply for a Student Route visa is available on the . But we’ve summed up the application process for you below.
If you are applying for a Student Route visa from outside the UK, visit our guide for overseas students.
A useful guide can also be found at the .
You will not be able to apply for your Student Route visa until you have your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number. You can apply for a CAS as soon as you receive an unconditional offer from us. Read more about applying for CAS.
The CAS is not automatically issued. You must pay your non-refundable deposit first (if you are a postgraduate taught student), upload your supporting documents (if required), and then submit a CAS request via our Online Student Information System (OSIS). You can do this up to six months before your course start date.
You must submit your Student Route visa application with the correct supporting documents. If you do not supply the correct documentation, your application will take longer to process.
You will need the following:
- Current passport/travel documentation (this must be the same as the document listed on your CAS)
- CAS reference number
You may also need:
Financial documents
You must show the full amount needed (course fees plus maintenance) for a 28-day period. A bank statement should be printed on the 29th day. Your bank statement closing balance must be no more than 31 days before the date you submit your Student Route visa application.
If you are using your parents' bank statements, they must be accompanied by a letter of consent from parents and proof of the relationship. For example, a birth certificate can be used to prove the relationship.
The Immigration Rules Appendix Finance gives very precise instructions strictly to ensure you meet the financial requirements.
Academic and English qualifications
The qualifications you submit must be the same ones as you used to receive an offer to study with 91¸£Àû. These qualifications are also the ones listed on your CAS.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
This certificate is required for some science and engineering courses. If your course requires clearance we will not issue a CAS until we have received a copy of the ATAS certificate. You can apply for an ATAS certificate up to 9 months before the starting date of your course.
Tuberculosis (TB) Medical Certificate
Some international students need to have a TB test from a UKVI approved test centre. This only applies to students who are coming to the UK for more than six months and are residents of certain countries. .
Letter of consent from parents
If you are under 18 years of age, you will need a letter of consent from your parents.
Official English translations
If any of your supporting documents are not in English, you will need to provide official translations.
Once all your supporting documents are prepared, it’s time to submit your application. The application will need to be submitted on the .
When you are filling out your application, you will need to do the following:
- Pay your visa application fees of £524
- Pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee
We provide more information on these two topics below.
Create a UKVI account for your eVisa
The Home Office is digitising the UK border and immigration system in 2025. Physical immigration document such as Biometrics Residence Permits (BRPs) and visa vignettes are being phased out and will be replaced by an .
For more information, please
For more details on how to convert to eVisa including video tutorials, please visit Visa, Immigration and CAS.
Due to these changes, you will need to adjust how you verify your permissions and demonstrate them to other organisations.
For a useful guide and frequently-asked questions about e-visas, please
​This section provides you with an overview of our services and relevant information to support you as an international student with any visa/immigration queries during your studies. Please click on the relevant page to access the information you are looking for.
If you would like to book a drop-in appointment for immigration advice, please use our .
More information and support for international and EU students can be found on the and on the .
Once your student route visa application is successful, you will have the necessary information on how to open your UKVI account and view your e-visa.
Immigration Health Surcharge
You will have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your Student Route visa application. This surcharge is in addition to the Student Route visa application fee.
The IHS entitles you to use the National Health Service (NHS) if you become unwell or have an accident while studying in the UK.
The amount you must pay for IHS depends on the length of your visa:
- £776 for each year of study
- £388 for periods of less than 6 months (e.g., additional four months of leave granted at the end of your studies)
You can find out how much IHS you need to pay by using
You will be invited to book an appointment to submit your biometric information. The appointment will be at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Biometric information includes your fingerprints and a digital photograph.
You will need to scan and upload any supporting documents ahead of your appointment. The required documents will be outlined in your 'Document checklist' at the end of your online visa application.
After you have submitted your Student Route visa application, you will have to wait for the UKVI’s decision. They will complete biometric, criminal and travel history checks.
You may be called for a credibility interview.
Check out .
How to prove your finances
When applying for your Student Route visa, you must show you have enough money to study in the UK. You need to prove you can cover your course fees and living costs for the first year of your course. The Home Office refers to these living costs as .
Course fees
You must show enough funds to cover one year of tuition fees. Your course fees will be listed on your offer letter and on the relevant course page on our website.
You can deduct any fees you have paid towards your tuition fees from the total amount you need to show for your fees.
Maintenance requirements
You must have enough money to support yourself while studying in the UK. The Home Office uses fixed amounts, which may or may not reflect your actual living costs.
Sponsored students
If you are fully funded by an official financial sponsor, you will need an original letter from your sponsor confirming:
- The duration of the sponsorship
- How much they will cover towards your tuition fees
- How much they will cover towards your living costs
If your official financial sponsor is not covering all your course fees and maintenance, you must prove you have the rest of the money required. You can use any combination of the forms of evidence listed above.
To check what counts as a sponsored student, read the on the Home Office website.
Credibility interviews for a Student Route visa
You may be required to attend a credibility interview. This will usually be conducted by video link with a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) officer. If you are applying from inside the UK, face-to-face interviews are available at Home Office centres across the country.
During your interview a member of Home Office staff may ask you:
- About your course
- Where you want to study
- Your reasons for studying in the UK
- How you plan to finance your studies
The UKVI officer must be satisfied you are a genuine student. They will also ensure your English language ability is at the correct level. If the officer is not satisfied, you might be called for a further interview or your application may be refused.
More information is available on the .
Protect yourself from online scams
We want you to stay safe online. The UKCISA provides the latest guidance on frauds and scams.
FAQs about Student Route visa applications
It’s not unusual for Student Route visa applicants to have some questions. We round up the most frequently asked questions below.
If you have a question not covered here, our Visa and Immigrations team will be able to help. Email us at [email protected]
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) process all applications as soon as possible. They are unable to offer refunds for visa fees once you have visited the Visa Application Centre and submitted your biometrics.
If your student visa is granted but it is too late to travel, the money paid for your visa application fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS) will not be refunded.
UKVI provides priority and super priority services. These services enable your visa to be processed quicker than other visa applications.
Applications for the priority service are typically processed within five working days with an extra fee. To use the service, select ‘priority service’ when you apply if you verify your identification at a visa application centre. However, you will need to check the service is offered in the country from which you are applying.
To apply for a Student Route visa, you must have received a CAS reference number from us. You should apply for a CAS as soon as you have accepted an unconditional offer with us. More information on requesting a CAS can be found above.
For updates on the status of VACs in your country check with:
- TLS Contact if you are in Europe, Africa and parts of the Middle East
- VFS Global for all other countries
Appointments are continually being released. If you cannot get an appointment time to suit you, keep checking back on the VFS or TLS websites.
Some countries have more than one appointment centre. So, if you cannot get a suitable appointment at your preferred location, you can check availability at other nearby locations.
You should apply for your visa as soon as possible. Making an early application ensures you have plenty of time to attend your visa appointment. You are also more likely to receive your visa before your course begins.
Overseas applications can be made up to six months before the course start date.
If your Student Route visa is refused, upload your visa refusal letter onto OSIS and contact the CAS team at 91¸£Àû [email protected] .
International students often ask us if they can bring their partner and children with them to the UK.
If you are on a research-based postgraduate degree, such as Masters by Research or MRes (Level 7 Research Course), MPhil or PhD, you can apply to have your family join you as dependants. Your partner and children under the age of 18 count as dependants.
Students on undergraduate and taught masters degrees cannot bring dependants to the UK. One exception is if a student is financially sponsored by the UK or an Overseas Government.
How to apply for a dependants’ visa
You will need to apply for a visa for each of your dependants. You can do this at the same time as you apply for your own visa or after you have received your visa.
When making the application on behalf of your dependents, you must provide proof of your relationship. You will also need to show proof of finances to fund their maintenance. This is in addition to the proof of finances you need for your own application.
The application will be reviewed against your Student Route visa immigration status and the type of degree you will be studying at 91¸£Àû.
To find out more about bringing a spouse or children to the UK, the Home Office provide guidance on their student visa and family members page.
Got a question?
Our international team is always happy to help. Send us a message and the appropriate department will email or call you back.
