STUDENT VISA
The student visa allows you to enter or stay in the United Kingdom to study on a further or higher education course. You will be allowed to stay for the duration of your course and may be eligible to switch to another visa afterwards. It's one of the most popular visas with almost 400,000 applications granted in 2024.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Study your chosen course
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Stay for the duration of your course (usually 2-5 years)
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Do a limited amount of paid work
(usually 20 hours per week during term-time and no limit during the holiday period)
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Bring your family (dependants) unless you are studying a research-based degree (i.e. PhD or Master's by research)
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Stay in the UK if your educational sponsor withdraws your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
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Do work on a self-employed basis
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Claim public funds (benefits)
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO
REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport
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You must have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months at the time you apply.
Purpose of Travel
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You must be able to show you are a genuine student intending to study your chosen course in the UK. A part of this is established by obtaining a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your student sponsor.
Finances
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You must be able to provide evidence that you can pay your course fees.
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You must be able to provide evidence that you can meet the maintenance requirement. This varies depending on the length of your course and the location of the university or college. As of Spring 2025, students must have £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for living costs in London and £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for living costs outside of London.
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Students must also pay a healthcare surcharge as part of their visa application, which entitles them to access the NHS during their stay in the UK.
English Language
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You must be able to show you are a genuine student intending to study your chosen course in the UK. A part of this is established by obtaining a CAS from your student sponsor.
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You must demonstrate English language on the CEFR scale in all four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) to at least level B1 for pre-sessional or below-degree level courses and at least B2 for UK degree courses and above.
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If you are applying for a student visa from outside the UK, you must take a SELT from one of these approved test providers:
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Pearson
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PSI Services (UK) Ltd
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IELTS SELT Consortium
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LanguageCert
Applications from outside the UK: £524
Applications from inside the UK: £524
Immigration Health Surcharge: £776 per year
Your course fees will be determined by your sponsoring institution, all of which publish their yearly fees on their websites. The maintenance fees will change depending on if you are studying in or outside of London.
If applying from outside the UK, the earliest you can submit your visa application is 6 months before your course start date. This is 3 months for those applying from inside the UK.
TERM AND FEES
PROCESSING
Current processing times for student visa applications are approximately 3 weeks for applications made outside of the UK and approximately 8 weeks for applications made inside the UK.
Depending on your eligibility and which country you apply from, you may be able to pay for an enhanced service. The 'priority service' should provide you with a decision within 5 working days from the date of your biometrics appointment. The 'super priority service' is even faster, providing a decision within 1 working day.
Successful Application
If your application for a student visa is successful, you will receive a visa vignette inside your passport. This will confirm the length and conditions of your entry clearance.
Application Refused
If your application for a student visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. There is no right of appeal but you may wish to consider an administrative review if you believe an error has been made. Your CAS cannot be reused if you decide to apply again; you must request a new CAS before applying.
OUTCOME
WHEN YOU CAN TRAVEL
If your student visa is approved, you can travel to the UK before your course starts. This can be:
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up to 1 week before (if your course lasts 6 months or less)
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up to 1 month before (if your course lasts over 6 months)
You must not travel to the UK before the start date stated on your visa, no matter when your course begins.
NEXT STEP
Once you have successfully completed your course, you will be able to remain in the UK for the remaining validity period of your visa. If you want to remain beyond this, you may wish to switch to a Graduate visa which will enable you to look for work for up to two or three years. If you have a job offer from an employer who has a sponsor licence, you may wish to apply for a Skilled Worker visa instead.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Student visas can be complex, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the university application process or have a history of refusals. Mistakes can have a significant impact on future immigration applications to the Home Office, which means it is very important to have experts by your side who can make the process easier and give much needed confidence to make a strong application.
At Lace Law LLP, we offer comprehensive support throughout your student visa journey. From your initial consultation to the final decision, you will have a dedicated expert who will meticulously prepare your application, maintain regular communication, and promptly respond to any concerns along the way. We pride ourselves on this personal approach, which we feel not only provides a greater experience to you, but also increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Don't let the process be more stressful than it needs to be. Contact us today to have a dedicated partner by your side on your immigration journey.
