Student Visa

The Student Visa to the United Kingdom is available to applicants who are of the age 16 or above and wish to attend a higher education course in the country. The Student Visa to the United Kingdom has replaced the General Student Visa for the United Kingdom. 

Brtishpassportsuk.co.uk can guide you about the process of getting a Student Visa for the United Kingdom and the various requirements when applying. We can also help you ensure that you have all the necessary supporting documents as well as resolving any doubts that you have. Do get in touch with us at 0207 043 2167 or send an email to info@rapid-visas.co.uk for all your queries regarding the Student Visa for the United Kingdom.

What is a student-visa: it is the visa issued to people who wish to study in the United Kingdom and have already enrolled in a course with an educational institution. Applicants have to be at least 16 years of age for applying for a Student Visa United Kingdom. Other eligibility conditions are:

• An applicant needs to have secured a place in a course offered by a licensed student sponsor. The education provider will send the applicant a reference number or a number confirming the acceptance for studies (CAS) after they have accepted him as a student. The application for a Student Visa needs to be made within six months of getting the CAS.
• The applicant needs to have adequate funds to pay the fees for the course and support themselves during their United Kingdom stay. The amount depends on the individual circumstances of the applicant.
• The applicant needs to be able to speak, read, write and understand the English language
• The applicant is required to take the consent of his parents if he is 16 or 17 years old and furnish the proof of the same with the application.

If the applicant is 16 or 17 and wishes to study in an independent school in the United Kingdom, he can apply for a Tier-four child Student Visa. Eligibility for this visa includes an unconditional offer of a place in a course at an independent school, adequate funds to support your study and stay in the United Kingdom and the consent of the parent or guardian to study in the United Kingdom.

The new Student Visas will start from January 1, 2021.

A UK Student Visa is available for several full time and part time courses. Here are the details:

• A course studied for full time that results in a qualification below the degree level with an organised day time study of minimum 15 hours per week. The qualification can be Registered Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3, 4 or 5.
• A course studied full time for a degree level qualification or above which means RQF level 6,7 and 8.
• A full time course of degree level or above that is equivalent to a United Kingdom higher education course and is part of a longer course out of the United Kingdom.
• A part-time course for an above degree level qualification or RQF level of 7 or above.
• A recognised foundation program for doctors or dentists who are postgraduates.
• An English language course for B2 level and above as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR.

The applicant will be required to have an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate or ATAS if he intends to study or carry out research on topics that are sensitive at RQF level 7 or above. The qualification rules for a student-visa vary for Scotland.

Other people who can apply for this include:

• Applicants who are going to take up a full-time position as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer after getting elected.
• Applicants who are applying for extension of their stay in the United Kingdom on Doctorate Extension Scheme.
• Doctors and dentists who are postgraduates can apply for this visa if they have a sponsorship for a recognised foundation program and have completed a recognised United Kingdom degree in medicine or dentistry. Also they have received that degree from a student sponsor who is registered and spent the final year plus a minimum of one more year of studies in the United Kingdom.

The application fee for a Student Visa from outside the United Kingdom is £348. However, if the applicant is already inside the United Kingdom and is applying for a Tier-four visa extension or switch to a Student Visa, they will have to pay a Tier-four visa cost of £475. Applicants will be required to pay an additional amount for healthcare surcharge.

An applicant of a Student Visa needs to have the adequate funds to pay the fees of their studies plus support their stay in the United Kingdom. This amount can vary from one applicant to another.

Each applicant requires adequate money to pay the fee for the first academic year and this amount is mentioned on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Letter. Candidates who have been in the United Kingdom with a valid visa for a minimum period of 12 months are not required to prove that they have adequate funds.

In addition to having adequate funds for fees for the first year, the applicants have to show that they have enough money to support their United Kingdom stay. The amount required is dependent on the area where you are going to stay in the United Kingdom. London refers to the City of London and the 32 boroughs.

Applicants planning to study in London will require £1,265 per month (for up to 9 months) while applicants planning to study for courses outside London will require £1,015 per month (for up to 9 months).

Applicants under the Doctorate Extension Scheme are required to prove that they have £2,530 for courses in London, or £2,030 for courses outside London.

Apart from these requirements, an applicant bringing their family members are required to have additional money to support them as well.

Applicants who are enrolled at a residential independent school will be required to have visa maintenance funds equalling the amount required to pay their boarding fees which is mentioned on their CAS.

The applicants are required to have the required amount of funds for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period is required to be within 31 days of the date of the visa application.

Applicants who have a student loan or a financial sponsorship are required to provide evidence of the same.

Some applicants are exempt from the requirement of proving that they have the adequate funds. These include:

• Students having a UK visa for 12 months prior to their Student Visa application date. These applicants need to currently be in the United Kingdom.
• The applicant is applying as a student union sabbatical officer.
• The applicant is applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised foundation programme.
• Applicants who are British Nationals Overseas or from a country listed under the differential evidence requirement. They will, however, be required to provide this evidence before a decision on their application is taken. The United Kingdom Visas and Immigration or UKVI office will contact the applicant if they wish to see this evidence.

All Student Visa United Kingdom applicants have to prove their knowledge of the English language. The applicants are required to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider. The test is aimed at assessing the applicant’s reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Applicants enrolled in below degree level courses are required to pass the B1 level of English while candidates enrolled in degree level or above courses are required to show that their knowledge of English Language is of B2 level.

For applicants who are studying with a higher education provider, the assessment of his English language can be completed by them. Although the applicant can be asked to appear for a different test, the level has to be equivalent to B2 level outlined by the CEFR.

United Kingdom immigration laws allow certain exemptions from the English Knowledge Tests. Exemption is available to applicants who have earlier proved their Knowledge of English in a previous visa application. Applicants who are coming to the United Kingdom for a study abroad programme which is a part of a university degree course in the USA also need not show any proof of their knowledge of English.

Applicants who have completed their qualification equivalent to a United Kingdom degree in one of the following countries or are from one of the following countries are exempt from proving their knowledge of English:

• Jamaica
• Saint Kitts & Nevis
• Ireland
• Saint Lucia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• New Zealand
• USA
• Bahamas
• Guyana
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Malta
• Dominica
• Australia
• Barbados
• Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
• Belize
• Grenada

Student Visa United Kingdom applicants are required to provide:

• A current passport or other valid travel documents.
• CAS or the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from the course providing institution.
• Proof of having adequate funds to pay the course fee plus support your stay in the United Kingdom. This varies from applicant to applicant.
• A valid ATAS certificate, if required.
• Applicants who are below 18 are required to submit proof of parental or legal guardian consent. The consent needs to be for the visa application, living and care arrangements in the United Kingdom and travel to the United Kingdom.
• Results of a tuberculosis test, if required.
• Written consent for your application from your financial sponsor who is sponsoring your course fees and living costs. The sponsorship needs to have been received in the last 12 months.
• Any additional documents required depending on the individual circumstances of an applicant.
• Copy of the birth certificate or another document that shows the names of the parents of the applicant.

When Can I Apply for a Tier-four Student Visa United Kingdom?

The time of applying for a Tier-four student-visa depends on whether the applicant is applying from inside the United Kingdom or outside the country. When an applicant is outside the United Kingdom, they can apply six months before they start their course. For applicants who are already in the United Kingdom, the earliest they can submit their application is 3 months before their course starts. These applicants also need to ensure that they apply before the expiry of their current visa and that their new course needs to begin 28 days of the expiry of their current visa. The tier 4 student-visa application form is available online.

How to submit an application for a Student Visa United Kingdom?

Applicants for a Student Visa for the United Kingdom can be made online. The application process also involves the applicant providing a proof of their identity either by giving their fingerprints and photograph by a visa-application centre or using the United Kingdom Immigration: ID Check app to scan his identity documents. In the latter situation the applicant also creates his United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

The general processing time for a Student Visa for the United Kingdom application is three weeks or less. Applicants giving biometric information in a visa-application centre can check for faster processing of their applications by paying a fee.

Applicants for tier-four visa extension or switching from another type of visa to Student Visa can be made.

Can I Bring My Family to the United Kingdom on My Student-Visa?

Applicants can bring their partner and children to the United Kingdom as dependents subject to certain conditions including the type of course and the duration of their stay. A Tier four Student Visa holder can bring dependents if:

• Their course duration is nine months or longer.
• They are a full time student of a postgraduate level course which means RQF level 7 or higher.
• They are a government sponsored student in a course of over six months.
• They are a doctorate extension scheme student.

Tier four Student Visa holders’ dependents are required to submit certain documents to prove their relationship and their ability to manage their financial situation. The visas of the dependents of Student Visa holders will end on the same date as that of the Student Visa holder.

What Happens If I Need to Change Something in My Application?

Applicants who wish to change something in their application after they have submitted it can contact the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration authorities. They can seek withdrawal of their application. However, the fee is refunded only if the authorities have not initiated the processing of the concerned application.

What Can Delay the Processing of My Student-Visa Application?

At times, the UKVI contacts an applicant whose application is complex and will take longer to process. This can be because:

• There is a need to verify the supporting documents submitted with the application.
• The applicant is required to attend an interview.
• Of some unique personal circumstances such as a criminal conviction of the applicant.

How Do I Know If My Student-Visa Has Been Approved or Rejected?

The decision on your student-visa application is conveyed through a letter. If the application is rejected, the reason is mentioned along with whether the applicant can go for an administrative review or apply for immigration decision appeal.

If the application is successful, the applicant is either given a Biometric Residence Permit (For the ones who gave their biometric information at a visa centre) or a Digital Immigration Status (for the ones who used the UK Immigration: ID Check app).

Successful applicants are sent a sticker or a vignette that has to be pasted in their passport. The sticker shows that your visa has been granted besides mentioning its validity and the conditions attached to it. Common conditions attached to a student-visa include no access to public funds, the student may not work or may be restricted to working part time.

The applicant is also informed whether he needs to register his personal details with the United Kingdom Police authorities.

What Happens If My Vignette Has Some Error?

Any error in your vignette has to be reported immediately before you come to the United Kingdom. However, if you notice the error only after arriving in the United Kingdom, you must report it to the UKVI within 3 months of arriving. Failure to do so will mean that you will have to make a new application.

What is the Biometric Residence Permit?

A biometric residence permit is compulsory for visitors to the United Kingdom who come to the country for more than six months. The card has to be collected before the expiry of the vignette sticker or within ten days of arriving in the United Kingdom whichever is later.

Do check the details mentioned on the BRP for their accuracy. Any spelling mistakes or other errors needs to be reported within ten days of collecting the card.

How Long Can I Stay in the United Kingdom on a Student-Visa?

The duration of your stay in the United Kingdom will depend on the duration of your course and your earlier qualification. People who are 18 and above and pursuing degree level courses can usually stay in the United Kingdom for a period of up to 5 years. However, if the education being pursued is below degree level, they can stay for up to 2 years.

A tier four visa extension can be applied for if the person is eligible to continue his studies in the United Kingdom.

My Student-Visa Has Been Approved. When Can I Travel to the United Kingdom?

Student-visa holders or Tier four visa holders can arrive in the United Kingdom up to one week before their course starts if its duration is six months or less. However, if the duration of your course is more than six months you can travel to the United Kingdom up to 1 month before the start of your course.

When Can I Extend My Student-Visa?

A Tier four student-visa holder can apply for the extension of his visa to stay longer in the United Kingdom and continue his course or study a new course. The requirements for Tier four visa extension include:

• The applicant must already be having a Tier four student-visa.
• The applicant must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed sponsor.
• The applicant needs to be able to show that the new course is of a higher academic level than the current course.
• Applicants who have been in the United Kingdom for less than 12 months will also need to provide proof of having adequate funds to support their stay in the United Kingdom.

You can also apply for the extension of your dependents’ visa along with the extension of your own visa. The partners or children also have the option of getting their visa extended at a later date but before the expiry of their current visa.

The United Kingdom immigration laws provide for certain exceptions to applicants requiring to prove that their new studies are at a higher level than the existing ones.

Rapid-visas.co.uk can help you in your student-visa applications, guide you about the whole process, the requirements and the applicable rules. Our team has years of experience in providing immigration services and consultancy to thousands of clients. We can also assist you in finding out more about rules for re-entering the United Kingdom after tier four visa expires, switching from tier four to a tier two visa and its requirements and the process of applying for a visa for your dependents. Get in touch with us at 0207 043 2167 or send an email to info@rapid-visas.co.uk.