UK Student Visa: Fees, Eligibility and Application Process

A UK student visa is important for Indian students aspiring to study in the United Kingdom. The UK is known for its high-quality education system, and many Indian students seek to benefit from the academic opportunities available at top UK universities. To successfully secure a student visa, applicants must navigate specific requirements, including financial proof, English language proficiency, and acceptance from a licensed institution.

As of last year, there were approximately 600,000 international students in the UK, with Indian students constituting the largest group, accounting for around 30% of all non-EU students.  UK Study Visa Applications can be submitted up to six months prior to the course start date, with a typical decision time of around three weeks.

International students can apply for a UK student visa once they reach the age of 18. For those aged 16 or 17, parental consent is required. This visa permits students to reside and study in the UK for the duration of their course. The length of stay permitted under the visa varies based on the applicant's age and the level of education pursued.

• If you are 18 or older and enrolled in a degree-level program, you may stay in the UK for up to five years.
• For courses below degree level, the stay is generally limited to two years.

The cost of applying for a UK student visa is £490, which does not include the healthcare surcharge that is also required as part of the application process.

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UK Student Visa Types

There are 3 types of United Kingdom student visa that one can apply for studying in UK universities.

• Short-term Study Visa: For students who want to study an English language course for up to 11 months
• Student Visa: For students aged 16 and over coming to the UK for higher education. It was formerly termed as a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, popularly called a Tier 4 Student Visa
• Child Student Visa: This visa is for children between 4 and 17 years old who wish to study at an independent school in the UK. It was formerly termed Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

For students seeking full-time higher education in UK, a Tier 4 United Kingdom study visa is applicable. There are two categories of Tier 4 UK student visa, that prospective candidates can apply for:

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UK Student Visa New Rules

The UK government has announced significant changes to the student visa requirements, effective from January 2, 2025.

• Students studying in London must demonstrate they have GBP 1,483 per month, while those studying outside London need to show GBP 1,136 per month.
• Applicants must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover living expenses for up to nine months.
• Students who have lived in the UK on another visa for at least 12 months are exempt from showing proof of maintenance funds

Starting January 2024, only postgraduate students or those enrolled in government-sponsored courses are allowed to bring dependents (such as spouses or children) to the UK. Undergraduate students will not be permitted to bring family members.

Read More: New Rules for UK Student Visa

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UK Student Visa Eligibility

You can apply for a Student visa to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over, though you will need your parent's approval. You can also apply for UK Dependent Visa if you want to bring your spouse, partner or any other dependents. If you are 18 or above, there is no need for approval. The other eligibility criteria for a United Kingdom student visa application are:

• You have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
• You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course — the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
• You can speak, read, write and understand English

If you’re 16 or 17, and you want to study at an independent school in the UK, you may be eligible for a Child Student visa instead.

Read More:  Requirements for study visa in UK

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Student Visa UK Application Process

As an International student looking for a Tier 4 student visa are required to apply at least six months before the commencement of the program. The overall UK student visa process is mentioned below.

• Step 1: Apply to your chosen university and receive an unconditional offer
• Step 2: Get your Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)
• Step 3: Begin the application process
• Step 4: Calculate your student visa UK fees and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• Step 5: Prove your knowledge of the English language (if required)
• Step 6: Complete your application and have it accepted before you arrive in the UK

Read More:  UK Student Visa Timeline 

UK Student Visa Documents Required

To apply for a student visa, you will require multiple UK student visa documents. This includes:

• Details of passport
• ATAS Certificate (if required for your nationality and course)
• Official academic records or certificates
• Exam results for English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.
• Tuberculosis test results
• Criminal record certificate
• Proof of funds for your entire period of stay in UK.
• Parents or legal guardian letters if you are under 18.
• Recent passport-size photograph

Check Out:

Places to apply for a UK Student Visa

There are multiple visa application centers in India where you can visit and apply for a UK student visa. The addresses for various Visa Applications Center are given below:

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UK Student Visa Processing Time

The processing time is very important since it allows you to understand the timeframe. The waiting time for UK Student Visa decisions begins when:

• Either you show up for the scheduled interview and provide your biometric information (photograph and fingerprints) at the visa application center or,
• When you confirm and verify your identity using UK Immigration: ID Check app (depending on the type of visa you're applying for).
• For applicants wishing to work or study abroad in UK, the decision regarding the student visa and work visa application should be received within 3 weeks after the interview.
• You can opt for a priority service, where UK Visa decisions will be made 5 days after your UK visa interview, or the super priority service, which offers next-day collection. These services will have additional UK study visa fees.
  - Collection within 24 hours: 1.05 lakhs INR
  - Collection within 5 days: 52,600 INR

Before applying or a decision is made on your application, you are not advised to make any travel arrangements. This is because you will only receive a refund if the visa application center has not yet begun processing your application.

Read More: Processing of UK Student Visa 

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UK Student Visa Validity & Extension

The time for which you can stay in UK depends on the kind of program chosen. If you're 18 or older and studying at a university level, you can usually stay for up to 5 years. If your study is below university level, you can usually stay for up to 2 years. You can also get work visa after study in UK.

UKVI also offers students a provision to extend their Tier 4 visa, in case they need extra time to complete their course or start a new one. To be eligible for extension of UK student visa, students must

• Be present in UK at the time of application
• Fulfill the eligibility requirements of Tier 4 visa
• Have a sponsor to fund full or partial studies. It can be
  - a Tier 4 Sponsor, UK University
  - an overseas provider
  - an independent school

Read More: UK visa sponsorship requirements

To apply for an extension, students need to complete an online application before their current visa expires, but a minimum before 3 months of course commencement on CAS. Furthermore, you need to pay additional charges for UK study visa extension, which will include

• 490 GBP (51,550 INR) for extension
• Immigration health surcharge of 470 GBP (49,450 INR) per year
• Biometric verification: No Fee as of now

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Graduate Student Visa

If you finish your studies in UK, a Graduate visa lets you stay there for at least 2 years. If you have a PhD or another advanced degree, it's even longer - 3 years. To get this visa, you must be in UK when you apply, and it starts from the day your application is approved. Make sure to apply before your current UK Student visa or Tier 4 student visa expires. The general eligibility criteria and requirements for UK study visa F is listed below:

• Be present in UK at the time of application
• You have completed a bachelors in UK, postgraduate degree, or another eligible course for a minimum duration with your UK Student visa.
• Your university or college has informed the Home Office that you've successfully finished your course.

Check Out:

• UK Job Visa Requirements
• How to Apply for the Graduate Route Visa

UK Student Visa Rejection Reasons

A successful visa application for UK is not luck, but a result of good preparation. You must be well-prepared in advance and do your best so that the application does not get rejected. Some major reasons why your UK student visa may get rejected are:

• Missing documents:
  • The students must go through the visa policy guidance and must be prepared with all the documents in advance.
  • Every document provided has to be original.
  • In case you are unable to provide any original document, then you must provide an explanation letter along.
• Failure to meet financial requirements:
  • Every student has to show up to 1,334 GBP (1.4 lakhs INR) per month to stay in UK to cover their cost of living in UK.
  • The students have to show this amount for their entire course duration.
• Incorrect document format:
  • The students must provide the documents in the given format.
  • Every translated document shall contain the date, name, signature, and contact details of the translator.
• Genuine student interview:
  • In the interview, the applicants are asked a number of questions about their choice of course and future plans.
  • The students are required to be very clear about their thoughts and must be able to convince the interviewers about their choice of studying in UK.

Read More: 

• UK student visa rejection reason
• How to Appeal UK Student Visa Rejection?

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UK Student Visa Cancellation Process

There are few circumstances where you need to cancel the visa. To help you with the process, we have given below is a simple guide on how to go about it:

UK Student Visa: Before You Cancel

• You don't need to cancel your application if you only want your passport and other documents back.
• If you initially applied from within UK and now wish to apply for a different visa, you can skip the cancellation process.

UK Student Visa: Cancellation Considerations

• Once your cancellation is received by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you cannot reverse the decision.
• Be aware that canceling while in UK might result in a loss of your permission to stay.

How to Cancel Your Application?

• Your cancellation process depends on how you were instructed to prove your identity during the application.
• For Those Told to Attend an Appointment:
  • If you applied within UK, fill out the online form to withdraw your application.
  • If you applied outside UK, sign in to your account and navigate to 'Section 6: further actions' to cancel your application.
  • Don't forget to cancel any scheduled appointments at the visa application center.
• For Those Who Used the Smartphone App
  • Cancel your application online by signing in to your account, visiting your dashboard, and selecting 'Withdraw this application' for the specific application you want to cancel.

When you arrive in UK with a Tier 4 student visa, a representative from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) will meet you. They will verify your passport details. If everything is in order, the UKBA officer allows you to enter UK and start your study abroad adventure!

FAQs

Ques: What are the Student visa requirements for UK?

Ques: Is IELTS compulsory for UK visa?

Ques: Is getting UK Student visa easy?

Ques: Can I use my father's bank statement to apply for visa?

​Ques. How much does a UK Student visa cost?

Ques. How can I get a UK Student visa?

Ques.How many years does a UK student visa give for students to stay in the country?

Ques. What are the new rules for UK Student Visa 2024?

Ques. Can I work in UK with a student visa?

Ques. What are the main reasons for UK student visa rejection?