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 written consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17

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.

Your Course

You can do one of the following courses:

• a full-time course leading to a qualification that’s below degree level (RQF level 3, 4 or 5) with at least 15 hours a week of organised daytime study
• a full-time course leading to a qualification that’s degree level or above (RQF level 6, 7 or 8)
• a full-time course at degree level or above (RQF level 6,7 or 8) that’s equivalent to a UK higher education course and is being delivered as part of a longer course overseas
• a part-time course leading to a qualification that’s above degree level (RQF level 7 or above)
• a recognised foundation programme for postgraduate doctors or dentists
• an English language course at level B2 or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

You can also apply for this visa if you’re taking up a full-time elected position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

Postgraduate doctors and dentists

You can apply for this visa if you’re sponsored to do a recognised foundation programme and you’ve:

• finished a recognised UK degree in medicine or dentistry
• received that degree from a registered student sponsor
• spent your final year and at least 1 other year of studies leading to that degree in the UK

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

You must have been accepted on to a course in the UK with an unconditional offer and have been provided with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from your education provider. Once you have been issued CAS, you must apply for your Student visa within 6 months.

Finances

You need enough money to pay for your course for 1 academic year (up to 9 months). The amount you need to pay will be on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months, you do not need to prove you have this money for your visa application.

Maintenance

You’ll need to show you have sufficient funds for your maintenance on the UK.

How much money you need depends on where you will be studying. You’ll need either:

£1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London

£1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

If you’re boarding at a residential independent school, you’ll need to pay boarding fees instead. The amount you need to pay will be on your CAS.

You must show that you have sufficient funds in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you can apply. If you wish to apply with your dependent family members, you will need to show additional funds for their maintenance.

You do not need to show these funds if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months on the date of your application, or if:

• you’re applying as a student union sabbatical officer
• you’re applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised foundation programme
• If you’re a British Nationals Overseas (BNO) or from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’

Other requirements

You will need to meet the English Language requirement. The required level depends on which course you are applying to study in the UK. If you’re studying at degree level or above, your Higher Education Provider (HEP) can assess your level of English themselves.

If you are applying from outside the UK, you may need to obtain a tuberculosis test certificate, unless you are applying from an exempt country.