Professional Student Visa advice for international students who need help with CAS checks, financial evidence, documents, dependants, extension planning and post-study visa options.
The UK Student Visa is for international students aged 16 or over who want to study with a licensed education provider in the UK. The route replaced the former Tier 4 (General) student visa and is used for many university, college, English language and eligible further education courses.
To qualify, an applicant usually needs an unconditional course offer from a licensed student sponsor, a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, enough money for course fees and living costs, proof of English language ability where required, and parental consent evidence if the applicant is 16 or 17.
A strong Student Visa application is not just about completing the form. The course, CAS, financial evidence, study history, English language position, immigration history and dependants must all fit together clearly before submission. At Immigration Visa Expert, we help students and families review these points early so weak evidence can be corrected before it creates a refusal risk.
The Student Visa can be granted for the length of the course, subject to the maximum stay rules. Students aged 18 or over studying at degree level can usually stay for up to 5 years on this route, while students on courses below degree level can usually stay for up to 2 years.
Applications from outside the UK can normally be made up to 6 months before the course starts. Applications from inside the UK can normally be made up to 3 months before the course starts, before the current visa expires and where the new course begins within 28 days of the current visa expiry date.
The course must be eligible for Student Visa sponsorship. The education provider issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies after offering the place, and the applicant must normally use the CAS within 6 months of issue.
Eligible study can include full-time courses below degree level with at least 15 hours of organised daytime study, degree-level or higher full-time courses, certain overseas-course arrangements delivered in the UK, part-time courses above degree level, eligible English language courses at level B2 or above, and full-time Student Union sabbatical officer roles.
Some postgraduate-level science, engineering, technology or medicine-related courses may also require ATAS clearance before the visa application is decided. We can review whether the CAS, course level, start date, study history and any ATAS issue are consistent before the application is prepared.
The main eligibility areas are course sponsorship, CAS validity, financial evidence, English language, age-related consent where relevant, immigration history and whether the applicant is applying from a permitted location or switching from an eligible route.
English language can be shown in different ways depending on the applicant and the course. A higher education provider may be able to assess English for degree-level study, while other applicants may need a Secure English Language Test, eligible qualification or recognised exemption.
Students aged 16 or 17 must also provide appropriate parental or legal guardian consent covering the visa application, living and care arrangements in the UK, and travel to the UK.
The exact document bundle depends on the applicant’s age, nationality, course, sponsor, financial position, English language route, travel history and whether dependants are applying. For most applicants, the strongest approach is to prepare a clear evidence pack that directly supports the CAS, course fees, living costs, English language position, identity, immigration history and any age-related consent requirements.
Instead of giving applicants a long generic list that may not fit their case, we prepare a tailored document strategy based on the student’s course, location, sponsor, funds and personal circumstances.
At Immigration Visa Expert, our document check service focuses on whether the evidence is complete, consistent and suitable for submission. We review common problem areas such as financial timing, bank evidence, CAS details, parental consent, translations, TB testing, ATAS position, dependant documents and gaps between course dates and visa dates.
The current Student Visa application fee is £558 whether applying from outside the UK or applying inside the UK to extend or switch into the route. Each dependant must also pay the visa application fee if they apply.
The Immigration Health Surcharge is payable in addition to the visa fee. The exact amount depends on the length of permission granted. Optional priority or biometric appointment services may increase the total cost where available.
Students should budget carefully because a refusal can lead to lost time, stress, extra application costs and possible course start-date problems. A professional pre-submission review can help identify avoidable issues before fees are paid and evidence is uploaded.
Standard decisions are usually within three weeks for overseas applications and eight weeks for eligible applications inside the UK, after identity and evidence steps. These are estimates; further checks can take longer.
Dependants are now limited to specific Student Visa situations. A partner or child may be able to apply where the main student is government-sponsored and the course lasts more than 6 months, or where the student is on a full-time postgraduate course of at least 9 months that qualifies under the dependant rules.
For courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, most postgraduate taught courses no longer allow dependants. The course must usually be a PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based higher degree, unless another permitted category applies.
Dependants must also meet relationship and financial evidence requirements. Current dependant maintenance figures are £845 per month for study in London and £680 per month outside London, for up to 9 months, unless an exemption applies.
A Student Visa allows study in the UK and may allow limited work depending on the course, sponsor type and term-time restrictions. Students may also work as a Student Union sabbatical officer where permitted.
The route does not permit public funds, self-employment, work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, or study at an academy or local authority-funded school. The exact work conditions are confirmed after approval and should be checked before starting employment.
Eligible full-time degree-level or higher students sponsored by a higher education provider with a track record of compliance, and eligible overseas higher education study-abroad students, can normally work 20 hours per week in term time. Eligible full-time below-degree students at a higher education provider with that track record normally have a 10-hour limit. Other study, including part-time courses, normally permits no employment. Where employment is permitted, full-time vacation work is normally allowed. Assessed course-integral work placements have separate rules. Always check the conditions on your own permission before working.
A Student Visa can be extended where the applicant remains eligible and is continuing eligible studies. Where an applicant is already studying in the UK, the new course must usually show academic progress unless a permitted exception applies.
Applicants may also be able to switch into the Student route from inside the UK if they hold a visa category that allows switching. Some routes do not allow in-country switching, so this should be checked before relying on an inside-UK application.
Our support focuses on whether the new CAS, course level, academic progress position, finance evidence and timing are suitable before the extension or switch is submitted.
We can review your extension position, financial evidence, course progression and dependant issues before your current permission expires.
The Student Visa does not usually lead directly to indefinite leave to remain. It is primarily a study route, but it can form part of a longer UK immigration plan if the student later switches into a route that leads to settlement.
After successful course completion, many students consider the Graduate Visa, Skilled Worker Visa, Global Talent Visa, Innovator Founder route, family routes or another eligible route depending on their circumstances.
The Graduate route is changing: applicants who apply on or before 31 December 2026 can stay for 2 years after successful completion, while applicants applying from 1 January 2027 can stay for 18 months. Doctoral graduates continue to receive 3 years. Planning early is important because not every post-study route leads to settlement in the same way.
At Immigration Visa Expert, we help students and families understand the Student Visa route, identify evidence gaps and prepare a stronger submission before deadlines become urgent. Our role is to make the application clear, consistent and professionally presented.
We can assist with CAS review, financial evidence review, document checking, dependant eligibility, extension strategy, post-study route planning, refusal-risk review and written explanations where the facts need careful presentation.
Speak with an expert immigration adviser before your CAS, funds, dependants or course start date becomes a problem.
A person aged 16 or over may apply if they have a valid course offer from a licensed student sponsor, a CAS, sufficient funds, English language evidence where required and parental consent if they are 16 or 17.
From outside the UK, the earliest application point is usually 6 months before the course starts. From inside the UK, it is usually 3 months before the course starts, provided the current visa has not expired and the new course begins within the required timing window.
Current living cost figures are £1,529 per month in London and £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months. Course fees for 1 academic year may also need to be shown unless an exemption applies.
Funds must usually be held for at least 28 consecutive days. The final day of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date of application.
Not always. Some applicants benefit from nationality or passport-based evidence concessions, or have lived in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months. However, evidence can still be requested, so it should be prepared correctly.
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies is the reference issued by the licensed education provider. It confirms key course and sponsorship details and must be used before it expires.
Some postgraduate-level courses in sensitive subject areas require ATAS clearance. Whether it is needed depends on the course, subject area, level and nationality.
Only in limited cases. Dependants may be possible for government-sponsored students on courses lasting more than 6 months, or students on qualifying postgraduate research or doctoral-level courses of at least 9 months.
Some work may be permitted, depending on the course and sponsor. The route does not allow self-employment, public funds or professional sportsperson work.
Yes, where the applicant remains eligible, has a new CAS, meets the timing rules and can show academic progress unless an exception applies.
Some applicants can switch from inside the UK, but not from every immigration route. The current visa type and course start timing must be checked before relying on an in-country application.
The Student Visa does not usually lead directly to ILR. Many students plan a later switch to a work, talent, business or family route if they want a settlement pathway.
The next step depends on the refusal reason, deadline, course start date and available evidence. Some cases may need a fresh application, while others may need a challenge or urgent advice before the CAS or start date is affected.
Useful next-step guides for students, dependants and applicants planning a longer UK immigration journey.
Plan your post-study permission after completing an eligible UK course.
Compare Student route planning with a sponsored work route and settlement pathway.
Understand how IHS can affect your overall visa cost.
Check whether your postgraduate course may need ATAS clearance.
Get advice if your Student Visa has been refused or your evidence has been questioned.
Review the separate route for eligible children studying at an independent school.
We can review your Student Visa eligibility, CAS, financial evidence, document bundle, dependant position and longer-term UK visa options.
