UK Student visa

Who is this visa for?

• You are 16 or older with an offer from a licensed student sponsor
• You can support yourself and pay your course fees
• If you are 16–17, you may instead qualify for a Child Student visa at an independent school

Study routes

• Student visa — study a course of more than six months with a licensed student sponsor, such as a university or college
• Short-term study visa — study an English-language course for up to 11 months
• Child Student visa — for 4–17 year-olds studying at an independent school in the UK

Requirements

• You are at least 16 years old
• A licensed student sponsor has offered you a place on a course
• You have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course
• If you are 16–17, you may instead qualify for a Child Student visa at an independent school

Documents you will need

• Acceptance letter from your education provider (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies)
• Proof of financial support
• English language proficiency test results
• Academic transcripts and references
• Personal statement
• Evidence supporting any clinical attachment and OSCE/PLAB documentation — where applicable (medical study)

Money you need (maintenance)

As well as paying your course fees, you must normally show you have enough money to cover your living costs for up to the first 9 months of your course. The amount depends on where you will study. Figures below were checked on gov.uk in August 2026.

• Courses in London — £1,529 per month, for up to 9 months (up to £13,761)
• Courses outside London — £1,171 per month, for up to 9 months (up to £10,539)
• The money must be held for 28 days in a row, and the 28-day period must end within 31 days of the date you apply
• You do not usually need to prove funds if you have held a valid UK visa for at least 12 months when you apply, or if you are a national on the “differential evidence” list

Costs

A Student application has three main costs: the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and proof of your maintenance funds (above). Figures below were checked on gov.uk in August 2026 — confirm current amounts before applying.

• Application fee — £558 to apply from outside the UK, and £558 to extend or switch from inside the UK
• Immigration Health Surcharge — £776 per year of your visa (the discounted student rate), paid up front
• Dependants (where allowed) pay their own application fee and IHS

Working during and after your studies

Whether you can work, and how much, depends on your course level and is stated in your visa conditions. Many students studying a degree-level course at a higher education provider can work part-time during term and full-time outside term.

• Term-time work is capped at a set number of hours a week (for degree-level study at a university this is commonly up to 20 hours) — always check the condition on your visa/eVisa
• You cannot be self-employed or work as a professional sportsperson or coach
• After you finish an eligible course, the Graduate visa lets most graduates stay to work or look for work for 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates), without needing a sponsor

How long can you stay?

For most applicants aged 18 or over, permission is granted for the length of the course plus a short period afterwards: usually up to 5 years for degree-level study, or up to 2 years for courses below degree level. You can usually arrive up to 1 week before a course of 6 months or less, or up to 1 month before a longer course.

Related short routes differ: short-term study (English language) up to 11 months; a research stay up to 6 months; and PLAB medical candidates up to 18 months.

Processing time

Processing times vary by application type and location — confirm current timeframes on the official gov.uk pages before you apply.